The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-12-05

ure; then said I, 10, am come Tin
the roll OF the book II 10 written Of
mel 10 do Thy will, o God"
The words sweep through the en-.
tire range OF sacrifice than mere con.
formity TO law, the subordination OF
the entire nature, body. mind and
spirit TO the will Of God.
In Christ's passion the reply 10
the demand for sacrifice was not liba-
tons OF wine. nor blind obedience to
Law. but the accepting Of divine will
In place OF individual desire.
In this triumphant yet melancholy
entrance into Jerusalem on Palm
Sunday. amid the loud hosannas, we
catch the undertone OF self-oblatlon.
Through the shouting crowds lie is
indeed the meek one. saying: 10, I
come to do Thy will, o God"
With magnificent accuracy the
prophet Zachariah long before caught
the blended ideas OF Christs glory
Having salvation lowly." Christ 10
the unique figure OF all history be-
cause in Him selfsacrifice reaches
absolute perfection. The appeal OF
these palms Is the Dynamic OF the
Gospel. Christ leads us all TO self.
sacrifice.
II has been said that every form
OF religion seeks to bring men to the
point Of offering something to God.
10 the end that God may bestow the
sense OF agreement. OF reconciliation.
OF peace On the lowest plane are
those who bring mere possessions
sheep, fruits. money. This is heath
snism, something OF the same crop
ping out In all religions Above
these are those who ask to be ac-
cepted for what they do-thc typo
class here being observers OF the
Jewish law In the highest group
are those who offer themselves.
The first would avert wrath by
sacrifice: the second would aid In
sanctity by obedience the third
would rise TO perfection by self-obla'
ton. Al each step in the ascending
ladder OF faith the Almighty lifts
the sinner nearer TO Himself. He
takes at first OF his goods. leaving
the creature TO enjoy the rest; He
places next His law upon our wills,
bidding us overcome instinct and
passion. and initiate Him. Lastly, He
asks for the whole heart, the whole
life, that lie may dwell In us and
we in Him. that Godhead may ap-
pear IN humanity.
No figures are too strong. too vio-
lent to carry the thought that the
old self.ridden spirit is gone and that
a Christly spirit has come. II may
be physically the same man, but yet
the changed estimates and standards
and ideas make him regenerate and
new in Christ Jesus. He is indeed
alive from the dead.
Religion is not a precise formula.
not lifeless creed, but a glorious
experience, real life. II Is not dis
covered by analysis. but appropriate
ed by faith II is the change from
the movement OF machine to the
motion of life.
How, as you pass through a pic
ture gallery. do you turn coldly from
one canvas TO find yourself spell
bound before anotherH The one
rouses no sentiment-indeed. begets
the sense OF WEAKNESS. OF emptiness
but the other instantly brings you
into communion with the person
whose portrait you see, or perhaps
causes to steal over you the soft
balmy air OF a day in June, as the
eye loses itself in the glades OF or
chards, along which you can almost
hear the bees humming.
Even SO the awakened soul feels
that Gods blessed truths and Christs
example, that once touched no 70
sponsive chord. appeal now TO the
inner soul and summon It's deepest
affections. It's most strenuous powers
into action.
Let me frankly face two obtec
tons. The first is effacement OF In
diyiduality. You say. surely this is
TO sink entirely the personal human
will in the divine; there must surely
be scope for mans self.hood; we are
not to be absorbed In any Mind, how
ever holy and divine; each 10 To
work out his own salvation. God
working within each separate will.
But to follow tie divine will Is not
TO slay our own. We rather. as the
loftiest form OF resolve, determine to
let God reign over the throne OF the
soul. We are to reverence the In
ward purity feeling that We dwell In
Him and He In uS our life minglins
with His TIL we can say, Il live, yet
not /; Christ liveth in me-"
For the second objection. let me
guard you against thinking that this
supreme Offering OF your will TO God
takes away your happiness; rather II
will increase and establish your
peace. The heart that leaves all to
heaven and reposes In the eternal
care usually dismisses anxiety.
Amid the darkness OF life the
Heavenly Father knows what We
need and answers our requests so that
We are not harmed. and the soul
drops back satisfied. feeling that the
everlasting arms are underneath and
that all things work together for