The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1908-05-18
SERVICES At CHRIST CHURCH.
Abstract Of Sermon Preached Friday Evening
By Archdeacon Jsffsris.

Our text is found in the 9th chapter OF
st. Matthew, the 3Sth verse: Then
there were two thieves crucified with Him,
the one on the right hand and the Other
on the left" I am sure, dear friends, that
no one who has read carefully and fire
uuently the description in the gospel OF
the cruci6xion of the Master can fail to
have noticed that most of the humiliation
Of that awful scene lay in the fact that
the Master was not permitted to die alone.
The crucifixion was in itself sufficiently
disgraceful, and yet you must see that ii
the Master had been permitted to die
alone and had not been placed between
those murderous thieves, the world would
have been tempted to have forgotten the
disgracefulness of the scene and been
carried away by the exulting part of the
triumph of the sufferer, aud yet it was
not to be. There they stand tonight;
three crosses in row and the cross of
Jesus in the midst Then were there two
thieves crucified with him, the one on the
right hand and the other on the left; Jesus
In between; that there might be no doubt
- to the disgracefulness of the scene; that
there might be no doubt that he was bear.
ing the sins of the sinner; there was my
Master hung between two thieves; He
was burdened with the transgressions of
the transgressor.
Let MS take look for moment at these
crosses. And first the right hand one. l
venture to call that the railing Cross.
The man that hung on that wss railing at
Jesus all the time After He was hung
and while they were mailing Him to it
I can see Him now, turning over to His
right and looking with His right eye with
hatred at the middle sufferer, saying, 81
wish could get down from here, and
take spear and pierce your side. If I
could only get my right hand free, l would
slap you on the face. Oh, God, liar, and
blasphemerl Thou who destroyeth the
temple and rebuilt it in three days, save
myself and u.s." l submit to you tonight
that no man can hear Him going on that
way at the middle cross and not think
little meaner of Him. What was the
source of all this bitterness against Christi
It was the bitterness of the Uncovered
human heart against God and Christ. See
the hOpelessness of His look, hear the
desparing cry OF heart that is going out
into darkness. His past sin, His present
crucifxion, His future darkness of the
shadow. He groans, and He signs, and l
can see Him. hopeless and homeless for
ever, splashing a. he falls down the bot.
tomless pit to the seething caldrons of
hell. How typical this isl As man
lives 20 he dies. It is 30 sweet to say let
me die the death of the righteous. Oh,
yesi You want the thing without pay
ing for 1t brother, do you not 2 If
man lives the life of the righteous, he will
die the death of the righteous.
VIII you look for moment at the
other cross. I call that not the railing
but the repenring cross. This man would
also like to get his hands off the nails.
He too is looking at the middle cross, but
not that he might slap him, but that he
might smoothe his brow. He too would
like to get down on the ground, but not
to pierce his side with the spear, but that
he might also help him down. He sees
his life blood dropping away. He save,
"Oh, have been q sinner. Oh, Yes,
this is ali right, deserve this. My God,
l am an awful sinner. I cannot die thus,
cannot live thus. What shall do2
shall turn" You remember,
dear friends, to have heard in his coming
and going, that this man upon the middle
cross could forgive sinners. This poor
thief had heard it too, and he said, Here,
Lord, If this is your business, you have
never had q worse cese than mine. | am
IN awful sinner. cannot die thus. do
not ask to be. relieved from the cross. I
10 not ask to 60 to heaven with you.
10 not ask to keep out of hell. do not
lsk any thing except not to be utterly
forgotten" Then, see the middle cross
ooking with tender and languid eyes,
md that gives him courage and he says:
Lord, when you 60 into your kingdom
md the angels are shouting halleluiah
'ver your wounds, how happy would
,e if you would only think of me once
1ord, remember me when you are up in
Iour kingdom, just think of poor me-"
Ind did he get knock for it? Did the
middle cross say you are just getting
THAT you deserved No. Turning, to-
Yards the left side, he said, My son,
viii bear this cross and l will bear thine
ESQ. Today, dear heart, thou shalt be
With me In paradise" And the man looked
nd he believed and he was changed.
Peace Gained his heart.
Look at the right hand man dying with
ut Christ. Look at the left hand man