The Penn's Grove record., 1908-10-30
THE PULPIT.
. SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. M. L. BURTON, PHI. B.
Theme: Jesus as Prophet.

Brooklyn, N. y For the. union
services of the churches on the
Heights, the preacher Sunday was the
Rev. Marion Leroy Burton, Ph.D.,
pastor-elect of the Church of the Pill
grims. His subject was Jesus the
Prophet" He selected his text from
Matthew "21;10-11. And when He
was come into Jerusalem, all the city
was moved, saying, Who is this? And
the multitude said, This is Jesus the
Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." DR..
Burton said in substance:
The central question of all this in
Christian life is, how does Jesus save
us; how are we to profit by Christ's
life? 1t is impossible in this short
time to answer but n phase of the
three which our Saviour lived, as
Prophet, Priest and King. Yet each
conveys its part of truth upon a pro-
per concept of His holy life. How
ever, 1t is well to concentrate upon
the prophet side of His life, not to i'm
ply at all any sense of separateness
between them. We cannot give at
tention now to the kingly aspect, but
to that of prophet, which Jesus lived
for our salvation. What was it that
caused the multitude to follow Him,
and, as St. Matthew tells us, take
Him for a prophet? 1t was He who
proclaimed the truth and in this light
we can see how Jesus is related to
our life.
Without going into the questions
and different divisions which natur-
a1lU QriSh mn oil cidao lot we oa-o;lor
how He lived as a prophet. In what
sense does He stand as our prophet?
In the first place, We know that He is
a prophet in regard to God. He has
revealed how God is taking us be-
meath His forgiveness and patience
and ever watchful care -how we
cease to exist without Him. Let us
note, in the first place, Jesus revela-
ton of Gods attitude toward sinful
ness. There are those who declare
sin Is underestimated, but if we are
wise, we can understand Jesus true
attitude in regard to sin. 1t is shown
in His denunciations, in His opinions
of the. leaders of the day, in the Ser
MOI on the Mount, all of which show
His conception of sin. Not only the
MAI who is the adulterer,. but he who
lives in conditions of lust; not only
the murderer, but he who inspires the
act and remains silent; not alone the
p%erjurer, but he who fails to be truth
full by keeping silent. These are
likewise" sinners.
But Gods attitude toward sin con-
Germs not alone our outward acts, for
the inner being is brought into ac-
c~ountability and cannot escape. Jesus
has called upon us not only to do
something that makes for our saliva
ton, but also to have in mind that we
should be something. It is of the in
ner self that the victory over sin has
to be won. We should have a life not
OF action alone, but also of being.
Jesus has taught the world the terri
bic consequences which are to follow
u wrongdoing, that the man who
sins will condone it by suffering. He
has told of the penalties of sin. He
who deceives the little one had better
tie a milestone about his neck and
perish in the sea-. What awful penal
ties that follow the sinner! But not
alone has Jesus revealed to us Gods
attitude toward sin, but in the second
instance He has revealed God, through
Himself, and has shown His manifold
purposes of our destiny.
Let us study the character and life
OF Jesus and we shall see that He has
revealed God to us and shown His
clemency and patience. Why was it
the multitude followed Him? Be-
cause they took Him for a prophet?
1t is not that alone, but because of
His magnetic personality, which at
tracted all to Him and made Him be-
loved OF all men. No wonder the
twelve disciples came at His call and
served Him with true love and faith.
1t was not confined to this inner cir
Gle, however, that Jesus attracted
men about Him by His wonderful per-
sonage. Nicodemus came to Jesus.
The centurion was wont to seek Him
out for counsel. The multitude list
ened to His words of wisdom. He
was a friend of the publican and sin
ner. At the day of the feast the
Greeks came and said, "We would see
Jesus" He spoke in infinite love and
drew all to Him. He sought to lead
them through the paths of His truth
and to teach them quietly, sincerely,
OF life and their salvation. How mar
Vicious and how perfectthat He should
lead men toward the truth and a bet
ter and less sinful life. Witness Him
teaching the multitude to the path
ways of truth and see Him carry them
to His Word. He knew that much of
His teachings fell on barren soil and
took no root, but He was patient with
His people. Oh, the beauty and pa
thos of the parting with His disci.
pies! 1t passes all understanding.
1t was a crisis in the life of Jesus,
He taught them the truth, and He led
them out in vital existence.
Teaching the people, Jesus was pa.
tent at all times. Even the same
twelve men who gathered at His cal
to preach the Gospel to the world of.
ten forgot His teaching of the Word
On the way to the Last Supper they
q~uarreled among themselves as tc
who was the greatest among them
But He was patient and forgave them
Did not the priests take before Him
an adulteress, and when the
had fled, did He not say, Where are
those who condemn thee? Neither
do l condemn thee. Go and sin nc
more" Oh, the infinite love and for
giveness of the Master! Then Jesu.
tells of the Prodigal Son and show.
that forgiveness with the Father i!
possible. Peter sinned three times
and Jesus forgave him. And no
alone has He forgiven the sinners
but the marvellous basis for our won
der is that He suffered to save them
Jesus was willing to suffer for Hi
truth, so that His attitude toward
God and men might be recognized a.
the true way.
These characteristics of the life O
our Master reveal Gods attitude to
ward us and His purpose in in1nit
love. Jesus has said that God is onl,
satisfied to save men. He would hav
us know the eternal verities of life
Did Jesus forgive? Then, it is il
Gods will that He forgive the repent
ant. Did Jesus love? Then, Coz
loves His servants and has natieno