The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-09

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year. First, that spiritually. we
might have a copious refreshing of
Gods grace for our W deep need;
and, second, that we might succeed,
before the year Is over, in sharing
that soul enrichment with a large
number Of other people.
In what I have said thus far I have
tried to intimate, as strongly as pos
sible. that I believe that Jesus Christ
is the worlds hope. That, indeed. Is
my profound conviction. The Old
Testament prophets anticipated Him
with such enthusiasm that no Ian
guage Of theirs seemed quite ade-
quate to portray the completeness
and glory of the Messianic hope.
Isaiah expresses the expectation OF
Israel as to the character and work
of the coming One when he pictures
a man looking down toward the caDi-
tai Of the enemy's country and hold
ing a conversation with a mighty war
rior who is returning, flushed with a
great victory. Who" asks the man
Of Israel, ARE you, coming up from
Edom. with dyed garments from
Bora? Who are you, SO glorious In
your apparel, marching in the great
ness of your strength" Back comes
the ringing answer, II that speak in
righteousness, mighty to save"
Again the man Of Israel questions:
How does it happen that you are
covered with blood? Your apparel Is
as red as though you had been in the
wine vat" And the great stranger
replies, II have trodden the wine
press alone" That dramatic passage
indicates that the Messianic hope in
vested the Christ with the character
of a champion, a defender. a con-
queror. That hope has long since
been realized.
Not only has this conquering
Christ vanquished u greatest enemy
but He Is fulfilling, as fast as the
world will let Him, all the other ex-
pectations Of society concerning Him.
I~srael's great Messiah-prophet caught
another vision. He saw the redemp-
ton of the world through Jesus.
through the gospel Of Jesus, and
through the followers of Jesus. And
these are the words with which he
described the vision: "The spirit of
the Lord Jehovah Is upon me; be-
cause Jehovah hath anointed me to
preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the broken
hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound"
Jesus is to unlock. not only our own
prisons. but after that He Is to en-
power us to carry forward the work
of the worlds emancipation.
Let US thank God that as prisoners
of hope our expectation is in Him.
The year will be happy and success
full in proportion to our realization of
life through Him: in proportion to
our personal acknowledgement OF
the need Of His shepherd-care;
in proportion to the faithfulness
with which we shall act as the
ambassadors Of spiritual liberty.
He who is our greatest Hope
will liberate us from life's dreadful
tyrannies. He will lead US into the
pastures Of tender grass. He will an
ticipate every roughness Of the road;
every premonition Of storm; every
assault Of the enemy. He will send
us forth. knighted to do His will.
Wherever, in moor or fen or forest.
we find His footprints. there we may
safely go. Best of all, He is not far
from any one Of US. Admirable, in
deed. is the spirit that breathes in
these lines:
With the wild, wan grasses on my spear,
7 ride forever. seeking after God;
Nv hair GROWS whittier than the thistle
And ali my limbs are loose.
But in my eve is the star of an uncon-
.quered hope,
And in my heart one hope forever sings:
That at the next white-tnrning of the road
My eyes may rest on Him.
But we do not need to ride forever
seeking after God. He is seeking
after US. If we have missed Him, it
is only because we have been too in
tent on some far-off glory. II will
lift up my eyes unto the hills" ex-
claimed the Psalmist. But we do not
need to look so far. He stands close
beside us. He is nearer to us than
breathing. closer than hands and feet.
We shall find Him as we seek to serve
Him, and as we try to bring others to
His service. Sweeter than music will
be His word of commentator: In
asmuch as We did it unto n Of the
least of these Ny brethren, ye did it
unto Me-"
IT'S the weakness in strength that I cry
for; my flesh that I seek
In the Godhead! I seek and I find it. O
Saul, it shall be
A face like my face that receives thee; a
Man like to me,
Thou shalt love and be loved by, forever;
a Hand like this hand
| Shall throw open the gates of new life to
thee. See the Christ stand!