Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-25

that were under the law
Why this delay? Why did not the
birth OF the second Adam follow i'm
mediately upon the fall OF the first
Why was a diseased race allowed TO
suffer In the absence OF the only ply.
stefan who could give relief?
Some OF the most interesting and
thoughtful answers TO this question
are in great sermon on this text
by the eloquent Robert Hail. an Eng
fish Baptist Clergyman Of an earlier
generation. from whom quote in
part.
In the first place. II may have been
Gods purpose to impress the race
with the great lessons OF i,s apostasy.
and the fearful consequences Of re.
bellion. Thus 10 restrain our naughty
spirits from acting in the future life
rs we have acted here.
In the second place. II Il was nee.
essary IN any sense that salvation
should be prepared for man. II may
have been equally so that man should
have been prepared for salvation
of his sinfuiness and the misery Il
produces as we'll as his moral inabi
fly 10 overcome II In his own wisdom
and strength II needed time for man
70 find this out. for he must exhaust
everything that nature could do be.
fore he would be prepared to receive
the grace OF God IN the present work
OF his son
Another reason for the delay is
found In the necessity for the accumu
lation Of prophetic evidence concern
INK the Savior. that when he came
he might be identified beyond doubt
When Jesus came II was AT the mo
ment when all the prophecies concern.
ing his advent had reached focus
The Nest Favorable Time In History.
Finally In this connection II may
be added that OF all the periods In
the worlds history that which was
selected for the advent OF the son OF
God was the most favorable In at
least three particulars:
~ II was time OF great intel
iectual refinement when the human
mind had been cultivated TO the las;
degree. and was therefore able TO d..
tect and prevent imposture as at 10
previous time. Tom Paine or Robert
ingersoll did not live then. but such
rush lights as they could not have
been seen among the luminaries OF
the Augustan age. In other words, 1;
Christianity stood the test OF the first
century. Il has nothing TO fear from
the present one.
f2l II was the time of central
ICED human government and Rome
was In the heyday OF its power This
made the whole OF the civilized world
easily accessible. furnishing an orror
tunity for the propagation OF the Cos
pei message TO mankind everywhere
go II was the age OF the perfec
tion Of the Greek language. which for
many years had been under process
of cultivation. This was tongue pre-.
emincntly adapted to Illustrate spir.
itual truth. and TO assist later ages ir
discovering the meaning Of its words
Whatever was written In Greek was
accessible 20 all and at any earlier
period the want OF such n vehicle OF
thought would have made the general
teaching OF the bible almost prohi.
biied
The Lessons for Us.
And finally. whatever may be said
as 10 the delay OF the father in send
ing the son into the wrold. the two
points 70 be considered now are
these:
In the first place. the delay caused
no Injustice 10 the preceding ages.
for the mediation OF the son Of God
looked backward as well as forward.
aud his sacrifice on Calvary atoned
for the faithful who had died before
that event as well ms for those who
follow after.
And IN the second place. Nov" that
once in the end OF the world hath he
appeared 10 pis away sin by the sac
riiice OF himself" Il behooves US 70
inquire whether he has yet been re
ccived into our hearts. This should
be our chief concern on this ami.
versary occasion This IL the "fulness
OF the time" for US, and God forbid
that the opportunity should come ard
10 and leave us where we were be
fore The way 70 make the Christmas
In the earth a Christmas in the soul
Il to receive Jesus Christ by faith
as personal Savior He is Gods
unspeakable gift 10 us. VIII YOU now
say to him. | accept this gilt. ! take
thy son? II is SO simple. aud yer 50
vital DO IL nov