Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-05
THE SIGN SEEKING SPIRIT
b. RTsHoP w. a. CANpLER.

domination of men by mere power could
have satisfied by any possibility the
ends at which He aimed. He wished
nothing less than the hearts of men,
and. hence, He declined to rule by force
men who did not cleave to Him by af-
lection.
This fact accounts for the only sign
which He allowed that the sign-seekers
IDENTIFY Offering His resurrection as the
final proof of His Messiahshfp. So
also at an earlier day in His ministry,
on the occasion of His first cleansing
of the Temple, He made a similar an
swer to the demand for a sign. Then
answered the Jews and said unto Him.
What sign showest thou unto US, see
ing that thou doest these things? Jesus
answered and said unto them, Destroy
this Temple, and in three days I will
raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty
and six years was this Temple in builo-
ing, and wilt thou rear it up in three
days? But He spake of the temple Of
His body. When therefore He was ris-
en- from the dead. his disciples remem-
bered that He had said this unto them.|
(John ii:1S-22) BY His resurrection
from the dead He came into the plen-
titude of that spiritual power through
which the hearts of men are cleansed
and through which His spiritual king
dom is established on the most imper-
ishable foundations. Wherefore ST.
Peter said at the Pentecost, This Je-
sus hath God raised up, whereof we
are all witnesses. Therefore being by
the right hand of God exalted, and hav-
ing received Of the Father the promise
of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth
this, which We now see and hear" (Acts
1852 and 33.) Again we read of Peter
saying on another occasion, THE God
of our Fathers raised up Jesus, whom
We slew and hanged on a tree. Him
bath God exalted by His right hand to
be Prince and a Savior to give re-
pentence to Israel and forgiveness of
sins. And we are his witnesses as to
these things; and so is the Holy Spirit.
whom God hath given to them that obey
Him" lActs v:30-35) To the same
purpose spoke st. Paul at Antioch of
Pisidia concerning the spiritual conse~
quences of the resurrection Of Jesus:
I'VE declare unto you glad tidings, how
that the promise made unto the faith
ers, God hath fulfilled the same unto
us their children, in that He hath raised
up Jesus again; as it is also written
in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son,
this day have begotten thee. Be
it known unto you. therefore, brethren,
that through this man is preached unto
you forgiveness of sins" (Acts viii:32-
3S and 3S.)
1t is most instructive to note in the
history of the church that men were
brought TO accept Christ after His res
direction through the power Of the Holy
Spirit who had resisted all the force
of the miracles which He wrought in
their presence before His resurrection.
We read this passage from one of the
earliest chapters of christian history:
"And the word of God increased; and
the number of disciples multiplied
greatly in Jerusalem; and great COM
pany of the priests were obedient to
the faith" (Acts vi:7) Their hearts
were cleansed by a spiritual power,
when they had resisted heretofore
every sign wrought before their eyes.
Hence they were obedient to the faith"
rather than being the servile subjects
of signs.
These things of Christ's spiritual
kingdom need to be re-studied by some
who call themselves christians and
christian preachers in our day. They
are drinking too deeply of the sign
seeking spirit. They are not relying
upon the spiritual power of the self
evidencing and risen Christ; but they
are waiting for signs and trying to
work by signs to accomplish spiritual
ends. They are seeking to make CO.
ercive appeals to the carnal reason, or