Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-24
Rev. c. H. Rieketts Speaks on The
 Manifested Christ-Notes.

Rev. Charles H. Ricketts spoke or The Manifested Christ at the Congre- ganonal church Sunday morning, talk { ing ms text from John IA: 21, and Will manifest myself to him." He spoke/in part as follows:
 The fourteenth chapter of the gospel of yohn lss' the most peaceful of all our Lcrds d1scourses. It is entirely free rom all warlike imagry There is no 3ugle call to arms, no blast of trum- pets, no clash of swords, and not even [ the tread of Christian soldiers marching as to war;
 There is not even a trace of the pelngerent spirit which, from the standpoint of the higher Christian revelation so<defaces the early and the middle ages.
 There is no portrayal of the biacAer side of the human heart that makes even portions of the blessed Bible re- pulslve It is a triumphant anthem
 making known in sweetest strains the inner Relationship that subsists be- tween the heart of the Redeemer and his disciples. It is a symphony in which faith, trust and mutual love are the attributes. It was the fuller ex- position of the keynote in the An nuncla5tion, .on earth peace, good will toward men," It was a sort of Holy or iolles in which our Lord unveiled ms lnmost soul to his followers, as ne saw what was kindly concealed from them. the outline of the coming cross
 Nothing reveals the grandeur of our fSavlour's spirit more forcibly than lthe circumstances under which He ad- dressed his followers. The infamous wretch who had betrayed Him for the paltry bits of silver had just kissed H1m-and with that kiss burning into His very soul-a kiss that would have
 made an ordinary man, under the cir cumstances, beside himself with rage
 ly yJcc~ rNf 1,r~T~ 1 <.l.-- ana hypocrisy-we find Him so for g1Iful of Himself and His wrongs, Tn Sp1te or the near approach of AnnaS /and Caiaphas and Pilate, together with the insults, the scourging, the crown of thorns and the crucifixion. as to en- ter into spiritual communion with His Idisciples. I say in spite of all this and forgetful of all this, we hear Him talk of love as tha highest manifestation of the Divine Personality. In that calm ness and peace we see the triumph ,f spirit over matter. It is the "still small voice. of peace and love, rather than the voice of hurricanes. or earth quakes, or even the din of war that is to conquer the earth. It reminds one of the eternal peace and potency of the sea just beneath the perpetual un- rest of the surface. It is this .speace of God. that passeth all understand ing" the manifestation of God in Christ that alone will wear the crown of immortality. It is this manif fvsta- ton of Christ to His followers that I must be familiar with if I am to be Christlike in all my ways It is this that will change me into the same image from glory to glory
 As His spirit rose in majesty above every earthly trial He comforted His disciples with the hope of heaven. The pathway to their future home, thoue., strewn with thorns would not be cheerless, because He was the ssway such security was derived from the Father who was Almighty but He and the Father were one. With this assur-- ance why should their hearts be troubled? Aye. why should any heat. anywhere on the broad earth. at any time, be troubled, as long as it has the same transcendent and glorious promises? But Christ was to separate His bodily presence from them. and still be with them through the Com forter, the Holy Spirit whom He would send in His stead. And this brings us to the idea of the continuous mani festation of Christ to His disciples as recorded in the text
 The speaker then brought up two main thoughts: G) The undarlyinr is made: ta) voluntary action: (b) mutual understanding: f2> What does the manifestation itself involve? fa) Quickening of the believer to a fuller and richer Christian life: fb) A larger and more intelligent conception of how the Christians life works in us. (cl The only substantial consolation in seasons of trial: (d) The consecratinn of every talent and gift to Him.