The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-08-29
II Saturday
Sermon.


ness" -RevelatiOn l., 5.
Jesus Christ is often spoken OF
as tho he were a philosopher, bur
he is not so spoken of in the New
Testament. We recognize in conf
mon life the distinction between q
witness and philosopher The
witness comes to tell us something
which he has seen and knows,
which we have not seen and Go
not know; and whether we believe
him or not depends partly upon
the reascnableness of what he
says, but chiefly upon his charac-
ter and veracity. The diSlinc-
ton is recognized every day in
our courts of justice. Witnesses
are called upon the stand and tell
what they have seen, and the judge
draws certain conclusions from
this testimony. The witness is not
permitted to draw deductions from
the facts, and if he attempts to do
so the counsel stops nin and SAYS;
81 do not want your theories, |
want you to tell Us what you
know" But if the judge under
takes to tell the Jury what are
the facts, though there is no way
to stop him, he clearly trans
crosses the restraints which the
law puts upon him; he has no right
to tell the jury what are the facts;
he has only the right to tell the
jury what are the principles by
which they are 10 draw concu-
sions form those facts.
Mr.. Darwin was both a witness
bearer and philosopher, He
made an extensive examination of
certain phenomena of life. He
had very accurate Observing fac
ulty; he was very pain5taklng in
his Investigations; and so far as
know, the facts to which he tes-
titles are universally accepted by
men of all schools. He is univcr-
sally credited with being a care
full and a veracioua witness. But
deductions which he made are
doubted in many quarters, both
scientific and religious. We doubt
whether his conclusions were cor
receive do not call in question
his veracity as a Witness
Now, Jesus Christ claims to
speak to us as a witness. He does
not come to US like the philoso-
pher, saying, 81 have observed Ger
tain phenomena Of life, studied
them carefully, and drawn certain
conclusions from my observa-
tons" He draws no conclusions.
1t would be almost impossible to
find anything in the nature of a
syllogism in all the teachings of
Christ. He says, "VeriIy, verify,
| say unto you" He comes to tell
US the things that he has seen and
known; not to tell his opinion;
not to teach hypothesis; not to
give his deductions. He comes as
witness, to tell us something
about which we do not know. and
he does know. And the simple
question for us is, as he vera
cious witness? Did he knew?
Does he tell the TRUTH"
Father and mother and groups
of children are travelling across the
prairie, and are caught in pitt
less snCw-storm. They struggle a
little while; the father makes a
rude tent of the buiIlo robes; they
creep under it for shelter, and wait,
wondering whether they wait for
death or for rescue. And while
they are there, and the death
bringing cold is creeping on them.
they hear a CHEEKY voice which
calls out to them. "The village
is only mile away! Make your
choice Of the child that shall take
and carry to the village; | have
come out from the village: I heard
of you there, and have come to
find you and rescue you, can take
but one at time; give me the one.
quick! and | will come back for the
Others" And the mother presses
the child to her own arms. ard
gives him one long kiss, and hon
surrenders him to the stranger, and
he bears the child away. tie does
not think, perhaps there is a VII
lage mile or two away; he
knows; he has come from l.; and
though he is stranger, and
though still her heart is full Of
anxious foreboding until she meets
her child again, she trusts. So to
us in this world, baset and storm
pressed, He that comes to us
from that world which He himself
knows-He does not say, I-think
there is rescue the other side Of
the grave" He has come iuto
our life, and bears his witness that
there is light and life and shelter
and home beyond, and says, Give
your loved one to me, and go with
radiant face because one at least
IS safe"
The burden of sorrow and the
burden of care are nothing to the
burden of remorsc-that burden
hat comes upon a soul that has
;inned. What did Christ saw to
hose who felt this burden OF re-
ncrse! He was preaching one dav
o a houseful, and they broke
pen the roof and let in the par
lytic, whose self-indulgent Iifa
lad ruined the divine temple in
which he dWelt. Christ saw through
ne disease to the sin that caused
/, and, turning to him, said, "Son. |
e of good cheer; thy sins be for
lven." He was sitting at dinner
ne day, and talking to the graun
round him, and a woman Of the
own stood before him; and as She
TODD and listened. something he
and famed into a flame the DIVING
m9er OF hope and purity in her
oul; and the great tears gatberaJ
her ewes and dro,,,,,l