Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-06-12

We must face two or three plain ques-
tons as TO matters OF fact
Is Christ the same as he was then
Is he able TO do now what he did
them Are we in the same condition
OF need-difsiculties habits. sins7 How
far may ! expect help from Jesusf
n Gods word shows me what Jesus is
able to do. will trust him for II. ~
men and women did them The study
OF the story and Of the entire word
Of God will give me an Affirmative
answer 20 all these questions except
the last one-that must answer for
though Jesus is able 10 save to the
uttermost. he can save only those
who come to God by him and who will
accept the healing power OF the Great
Physician.
The gospels tell US OF many varie-
ties OF sickness dealt with by Jesus:
these are all types OF sin and OF
Christ's power TO heal Take four
typical Illustrations: Leprosy. or the
guilt and dehlement OF SIN: palsy. or
the impotence Of sin. fever. or The
passion OF sin: demonlae possession.
or the slavery OF sin.
Or. take three typical Eases from
the gospel according to ST Luke:
G SIT. palsied limbs. 60 s.s-Ia.
the .withered hands. 81 i3:fGIg. the
bowtddown woman. In all these
cases Jesus not only healed the body.
but he stands forth as able TO heal
the sin OF which the bodily ailme--
is a type. No case Is too hard for
Jesus. His diagnosis Is thorough and
correct; his treatment ie appropriate
and adequate: his power II unto the
There will be no need
10 come again. He cures In different
ways. but always with perfect under
standing and with satisfactory re-
suits.
The man at the Beautiful Gate OF I
the temple expected only aims from I
Peter and John. but he got what vas |
Of surprising quality and value-hsal-
ing. in the name and through the |
power OF Jesus OF Nazareth And
they were filed with wonder ard
amazement at that which had hap
pened unto him" That hour Of
prayer became an opportunity for the
manifestation OF the power OF Jesus
Christ. an unexpected blessing 70 the
lame man. and the occasion Of a great
sermon BY Peter. How graciousty
and generously God deals with Us.
Exceedingly abundantly above all
that We ask or think Not aims, but
healing. not silver. but salvation: not
gold. but grace and gladHess: not out
side. begging. but beyond the Beau
'iful Gate. inside the temple. walk
ing. and leaping. and praising God
is Christ the same today Can be
do that work OF forgiveness and sane
tification now. And Is he willing to
do it, Thousands can testify and say
Yes" On which side Of the gate
are youl Are you outside. distressed.
diseased. despairing. DYING Do you
cry out in vain for help There is no
reason Why you may not be on the
other side. rejoicing In the sense o.
sins forgiven. righteousness imputed.
life impaired. Joy planted. Only one
reason-"Wilt thou be made whoIe-"
Perfect sounduess." and in a mo-
ment- And Immediately" He is the
healer divine. As such he is able not
only to make better" but to make
we'll MY case Is too hard" | do not
know how far your disease has gone.
how dark the night may seem. how
deep the sin dwells. but | do know the
power Of this healer in each and ey-
cry case intrusted to him-nothing IL
ZOO hard for God His ability Is ON
nipotent and his love matches lis
power. He may deal painfully. but IL
will also be effectively
In the days of his flesh he healed
by a word. or a touch: now BY the
Holy Spirit Still the Great Physician
stands N the presence OF sin-bur.
dened ones saying. Arise" stretch
forth thine hand" thou art loosed
from thine iniirmity," Il will. be thou
clean" Put him to the test. and find
Jesus Christ, the same. yesterday.
today, yes. and forever" Yea. the
faith which is through him hath given
him this perfect soundness In the
presence of you all"