The Penn's Grove record., 1911-01-20

Jesus Christ.-H Peter ], IL
The risen Savior executes three Of
fees. He is our prophet revealing to
US by his word and spirit the will OF
God for our salvation. He is our
priest, offering up of himself a sacri-
flee to satisfy divine justice and
reconcile US to God, and in making
continual intercession for US. He is
our king. In his kingly Office he sub
dues us to himself; he rules and de-
tends us: he restraints and conquers
all his and our enemies.
That we may search ourselves and
see first if we are citizens of his king
dom, and second, how loyal We are to
that kingdom, let us note what are the
conditions of citizenship. We shall
find these conditions by references
which originate in the king as he
stands in his relation to US, and in this
manner be able to show what is our
religion toward him.
The first phrase which we are
taught as setting forth the manner
of Christ's execution of the Office OF
kingship toward US is that he subdnes
us to himself. We talk much of Christ
subduing the world. We pray, some
times ~half-heartedly and sometimes
with great meaning, that his kingdom
may come, that his will may be done
In earth as it is in heaven. We con-
jure before our minds eye the law
breakers, the fragrant sinners # the
world. We draw meiodramatic pic
lures of the thief, the drunkard. the
roue, the murderer being subdued TO
the will of Christ.
There is something about the mid
night mission which appeals TO u
dramatic ense. We love to dwell
upon the ~rescuing of the perishing:
we love to sing about throwing out
the lifeline; we love to talk about the
gospel being preached in all foreign
lands. We swell with pride when we
hear how Korea is coming to Christi
how China and Japan are being en-
lightened by his light. We are ready
to shout and say, that is good, fine,
let it go on. The time will soon come
when the earth is as full of the knowl
edge Of the Lord as waters cover the
seas"
Now friends, that's all objective and
external. It's all good; but the first
thing anyone should see to when he
prays that Gods will be done in
earth as it is done in heaven is that
he himself be subdued to Christ.
There are church members who will
work for others and give money to
missions land both these things they
should dol but who fo4eanetely stop
Just at that point and do not permit
themselves to be subdued.
The first question for you and me
to say is, Has Christ subdued US I'M
to himself?" Do you know there was
and is a profound psychological and
spiritual reason or meaning behind
the "mourners' bench" of our Metho-
dist brethren. We like the phrase,
"mourners' bench" There may be
better ones. Perhaps the idea would
be better expressed if we said, I h
self-abnegating bench" the place
where men are willing to say, Il sur
render myself" Not Il surrender five
hours a week to the work OF the
church, not 81 surrender one hun
dred dollars a year to carry on his
work." not 81 surrender a nominal al
legiance to the kingdom, and am glad
that the kingdom is spreading not
that I surrender my name to b reH
of some church and condescend to let
nv greatness reflect credit and glory
upon the church of Christ. But that
surrender myself, that l surrender
my will which is the same as saying
hat / am subdued.
Brethren, the first condition of en-
trance into this kingdom is not regis
tering our names on he church rolls,
or on the charity lists, or on b work
ers' tablets. good though these things
may be; but the first element is being
subdued to the king.
The second thing is that when We
are subdued he rules and defends US.
Now he ulership of Christ is not a
hard rule. He is not a d~espicable and
~unfeeling tyrant. MY yoke" he said.
sis easy and my burden is light" 1t
Is necessary for us to bear the burden,
the woke must needs be worm. But
the burden cannot crush US and the
woke does not gall when we are sub
dued to his will.
If we are subdued his ruling will
seems mild and gentle. 1t will not be
arbitrary; it VIII not be merely that
he might crush us beyond all hope Of
instruction. He does not restrain
from traitorous acts so much by
threats of dire punishment as by show
ing us the pain it will cause his heart.
He rules US not so much through fear
as through the great power of love.
But none the less he must rude.
We all want the defense of the gov
We walk these streets at
night with a feeling of greater or less
security, because we feel that the gov
eminent of the city, through its pc
lice, is defending US.
So it is in this kingdom of Christ
It is only while W are under the rul-
ership of the king that he can defend
us.
Now the third and last thing inyolV
ed in this execution of the Office Of
kingship is that Christ restraints and
conauers all his enemies, who are our
enemies as we'll. Notice how this
comes merging quietly out of cur last
thought. For to revert to our illus
tration: While We are loyal citizens
of the city, the l~awbreakers are the
common enemy Of the city and Of
ourselves. But when we have outlaw
ed ourselves then We have become an
enemy to the city.
.