Semi-weekly herald., 1911-02-23
DURANGO CHURCH GOING CAM
PAiGN SERMON.
tBy Rev. W. F. Highly at St. Marks.

In an earlier age OF Christianity, and
even up to the present generation, 1t
has been the delight of theologians and
preachers to search the Scriptures of
the New Testament for their testi-
mony of Christ, finding in the lives OF
hero. prophet or patriarch, incidents
typical of events in the life OF Christ.
The Jews knew their Old Testament
the lineaments of the Messiah which
seem SO clearly outlined to US after
the event. 1t required special in
spiration and a special increase of di.
vine insight to enable the very apos-
ties themselves to see that the life
OF Jesus and his sufferings were In
direct fulfillment of the scriptures OF
Moses and the prophets AS the world
In Old Testament times was a prepa.
ration for the coming Of Christ, so
is the modern world consequence
and effect of that coming. Reduced
to personal terms it means this: That
the Incidents in His life are typical
of incidents in our own lives: That
every experience of our Lord has its
parallel in our own experience: That
every word he uttered and every deed
He did is of value to us, II we would
mould our lives as they should be.
We cannot dwell too strongly on
the reality of Christ's humanity. We
cannot over emphasize the fact that
he was man like us, and that He
accomplished His life work by the
exercise of powers within the reach of
sceptics who deny the divinity OF
Christ do not stop there. They go on
to deny the very existence of the man.
They say that such person never
existed, that the gospel narrative Is a
fiction invited years after the time it
portends to portray. They deny the
divinity of Christ because they do not
believe in the divine possibilities OF
man.
Our lives are but feeble copies OF
the one great original. His life and
We may not be tortured to death on
the cross as He was. But we all have
our cross to bear. and to some extent
at least we all suffer the pangs of the
crucifxion. If 1t seems that Christ's
life was different from ours, in that
IT was without ain. the difference is
only apparent, for He has given us
the power and taught us the way to
be without sin if we choose.
What is this way? In what respect
must we model our lives after His
that we may be sinless? Simply by
practicing the presence of God. Christ
was always conscious of Gods near.
ness to Him. He knew that God was
closer than anything in the world.
And He prayed-mark this well-He
prayed that we might be one with
God as He was one with Cod that He
might be in US, and we in Him and
both in God. And the means we are
to use In attaining this end is the
means He taught us to use-prayer.
Much thought and attention has been
given to the study OF prayer, and even
resume of what has been written on
this subject would more than occupy
the time allotted to this sermon. But
1t may be that ! can clear up one
point which has of late years been a
stumbling block to many. Some years
ago scholar tu"ped his attention TO
the efficacy of prayer and brought to
bear upon the study the wisdom and
scientific method of mini stepped in
the study OF psychology. He hit upon
AN explanation of the very real and
Obvious effects of prayer by what has
since been called reflexaction. That
is to say; those who lead the prayer
full life. manifestly became better and
happier, but the change was due to
the effects of their own thoughts upon
their mental and physical organism.
1, is very simple psychology; peaceful,
reverent and loving thoughts put our
minds and bodies into calm and un.
disturbed condition, trust in God does
away with worry, and the result is in
crease Of health to mind, body and
soul. The obvious truth in this led
some people to eliminate God from
the equation altogether and to say
that the answer to prayer did not come
from God but was merely reflex, NE
chanical This inference is absolutely
without foundation. Science does not
conflict with religion, nor do away
with the power of God Science is
not, as some people seem to think. a
mighty force which accomplishes all
the wonderful works OF nature. 1t is
a mere explanation OF those works, a
partial tracing of the manner and
method OF God in His dealings with
the universe. In olden times God
ruled the seas with His mighty hand
and sent forth storm and tempest
when 1t pleased Him, and puny man
with his frail sail boat had to wait
the advent Of fair weather before en-
trusting himself to the dangers OF the
great. deep. He seemed to be entire.
ly dependent on the providence OF