The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-05-14

VS.. ,3l-JZ lneSt TWO verses contain
what seems to be an anathema against
the Pharisees.i Verse 28 suggests
that in casting out devils, Jesus was
working not by his own power, but by
that OF the Holy Spirit In these
verses t3I-32) he declares that words
spoken against the Holy Ghost con-
st:tute an objectionable sim He did
not say What you Pharisees said
about ca sting out devils through Beel
zebub was basphemy against the Holy
Ghost" but it is clear that was what
ne meant The thought seems to have
taken possession OF mems minds. Men
swore now against or by God, or by
Christ But we have never heard, or
heard OF, any man swearing by the
Holy Ghost 1t is that which Christ
appears to have declared to be ''the
objectionable SIN.
VS.. .,S. When his discourse ended
his enemies returned to the attack.
"A sign, they cried Give us a
sign" The whole nation was expect
ing the Messiah. When he came
| there were 10 be signs and wonders
Had there not been wonders enough?
What more satisfying sign could he
give than he had already given? No
man believes who does not wish 10
believe. Signs would be wasted on
| such gencr; ton. He knew it. So
he answered as he did.
Nss. 1910 Il will give this evil
| generation only one sign" His accu-
| sation OF the nation was severe Evil
ard adultcrous" are hard words. The
sign is Jonah. 1t was comparison.
AS Jonah so I. He was swallowed
up for three days So shall | be- 1t
| is not necessary tn insist that Jesus
by this allusion to the story of the Old
| Testament made it sure that the story
was historic 1t proves that he knew
the story. and knew that his hearers
did. and that it was commonly bel:ev-
| ed The interest lies in the three
In the similarity between the suffer
inc Of Jonah and what he was to suffer.
and in the fact that he first told OF his
| own death and burial Had he car
RED the illustration clear through he
would nave said, as apparent death
cave up its hold on Jonah and he came
back into the world. so real death will
give mp its hold on me. and | shall rise
| again He could have so said. for he
knew it. So the sign he gave was a
perfect one.
| Nss 4r42 Jesus in these verses
makes a new assertion OF his own
| greatness. In the lesson of tco weeks
| ago he declared that he was greater
han the temple That. no doubt.
| gave offensc. In these two illustra-
tons he declares first. Il am greater
han Jonah; second. Il am greater
than Solomon Both must have Of
| tended. because he declared that Gen
| tiles should appear against them at the
| Judgment and would cause them to lie
| condemned
| From that time the gap between
| him and the Pharisees steadily widen
ed His popularity waned But his
| adhcrcntS chung closer than ever. But
his course was toward the cross. From
it there was no escape. He knew It.
| nd when it came he met ii as only a
man as he could, and by ii he achieved
| our salvation.
| Evil spirits are more easy 10 Subdue
| than the intolcrant hearts oi the most
religious men al the world
| To arouse an emotion toward Christ
is not hard. To diSs:pate the emotion
| is no harder.
| The mcannesS of the harisecS was
only equalcd by their inability To com
| prchend moral grandeur.
Ii would be a happy world il the
devil would only begin to fight him,
self lie would not then have time to
tempt men.
| But it is not sale To wait for that
| , -,,,,. 1 a a he saved