The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-11-16

was uluerent with him. His expert
ences on the spirit plane before COM
Ing into the world were all In asso-
citation with life, perfection of life.
"In him was hfe"-uncontaminate
because he was holy. harmless. unde.
nled and separate from sinners; bis
life came not from Adam.
He knew that In his perfection he
had a right to life. II be would live
In perfect accordance with the Divine
requirements. But he knew also that
by special Covenant with God. "a
Covenant by sacrifice" he had agreed
to the surrender of all his earthly
rights and to allow his life to be taken
from him. The Father had promised
him great reward Of glory. honor
and Immortality through resurrection
from the dead. but this was dependent
upon his absolute obedience In every
particular-in word. In thought, In
deed. The question was. Had he been
absolutely loyal to God In every partic.
ular? II not death would mean to him
an eternal extinction of being. not only
the loss OF heavenly glory promised az
reward. but the loss Of everything.
Can we wonder that he did not un.
derstand? The hour seemed SO dark.
and he said. MY soul is exceeding
sorrowful." He knew that he was 10
die. He knew that death was neces-
sary. But here. now. looming up be-
fore him on the morrow was shame
ful execution as a blasphemer. as n
criminal. as violator of Divine law.
Could IL be possible that in anything.
even slightly. he had taken to himself
the honor due TO the Father? Could II
be possible that In any degree he had
held back. even In his mind. from
full obedience to the Fathers will?
Did this crucifixion as a criminal pos
sibly mean the loss of Divine favor!
Was IL necessary that he should die
thus? Might not this cup Of ignominy
passl So he prayed in a great agony
And although the older Greek manu-.
scripts do not contain the statement
that he sweat great drops of blood.
~
experience would not have been at
all impossible In nervous. strained.
mental agony. But we note the beau
tiful simplicity of the statement with
which his prayer concluded-"Never-
theless. my Father. not my will. but
thy will. be done"
How childlike and beautiful the
faith and trust, even amidst strenuous
agitation! St Paul says that he was
heard In the thing which he feared
How? Gods answer came by angelic
hands. An angel appeared and minis
tered to him-ministered to his neces-
sity. Are they not all ministering
spirits, sent forth to minister to those
who shall be heirs Of salvation?" (Hc-
brews 4. A. We are not Informed In
what words this heavenly ministry
was expressed to the Master In his
lowllness and sorrow. but we do know
that IL must have been with full as
surance Of the Heavenly Fathers IA.
vor and sympathy and love. He was
heard In respect to the things which
he feared. He received the assurance
that he was well-pleasing to the Fa
ther: that he had been faithful to his
Covenant. and that he would have the
resurrection promised.
"BshoId the Lamb Of God"
From that moment onward the Mas
ter was the calmest of all who had
any association with the great events
OF that night and the following day
Officers. servants. Sanhedrin, priests
Herod and his men of war. Plate and
his soldiers. and the shouting rabble-
all were excited. all were distressed
Jesus only was calm. This was be-
cause he had the Fathers assurance
that all was well between them. AS
this blessed assurance gave the Mas
ter courage. so his followers since have
found that. IF God he for us. who
can be against usY' IL we have the
peace Of God ruling I'm our hearts. It
Is beyond all human comprehension