Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-05-23

sss46zszzz9> &zMl thority, facts, OF
witnesses; it is a
believing too readily. and with no rea-
son for the faith or hope. The Tesur-
rection of Christ is a fact proved Oy
competent evidence, and deserving Oh
inteligent acceptance and bellei. 1t
IS a doctrine buttressed by many IL
fallible proofs"
The line of proof here suggested Is
that from the argument or cause anu
effect. Certain things, conditions, III
situations exist in our midst today
they are the effects Of causes, or d
cause; what is that cause we may
mention:
I. The Empty Tomb.
The fact that the tomD was empty
is testified to by competent witnesses
both friends and enemies: by the
women, the disciples, the angels anu
the Roman guards. How shall we &C.
count for the absence of the body OF
Jesus from the tomb? That 1t had
not been stolen by outside parties Is
evident from the testimony of the sol
oilers WHO NbIt W 49,
story Matt. 2S:11-15). Such a guard
never would have allowed such
thing to take place. Their lives would
have been thereby jeopardized. AND
If they we're asleep ". 49,, how coulu
they know what took place? Thelr
Testimony under such circumstances
would be useless.
The condition In which the linen
cloths we're found lying by those VINO
entered the tomb precludes the pos
sibility of the body being stolen. HAD
such been the case the cloths wouIo
have been taken with the BODY, ana
not left in perfect order, thereby
showing that the body had gone out
of them Burglars do not leave things
In such perfect order. There Is no
order in haste. Then again, we have
the testimony of angels to the fact
that Jesus had really risen as fore
told Matt. 1856; Mark 1850. Inc
testimony of angels is surely trust
worthy (Heb. 2:2).
2. The Lords Day.
The Lords Day is not the original
Sabbath. Who dared change 1t? Fol
what reason, and on what ground was
II changed? Ponder the tenacity with
which the Jews held on to their Sab
bath given in Eden, and buttressec
amid the thunders of Sinai. Recall
how Jews would sooner die than nigh
on the Sabbath day (cf. Titus invasion
GohhofhN Int
Jews never celebrated the birthday
of great men; they celebrated events
like the Passover. Yet, In the New
Testament times we find Jew
changing their timehonored seventh
day to the first day OF the week. and
contrary to all precedent, calling tina
day after a mantle Lords Day
Here is an effect. a tremendous effect
what was its cause? We cannot hav
an effect without a cause. The resul
rection of our Lord was the cause TO
this great change in the day OF VOL
ship.
3. The Christian Church.
We know what grand and nobl
institution the Christian church Il
What would this world be without 1t
Its hymns, worship, philanthropy, mil
istrations Of mercy are all known I
us. Where did this institution com
from? Ii is an e.ect, a glorious
fect: what is it, yause? When tn
risen Christ appeared unto the al
couraged disciples and revived the
faith and hope. they went forth, III
der the all-conquering faith In rise
and assembled Lord. and preached tt
story of his life. death, resurrectio
ascension, and coming again. Men b
Iieved these teachings; gathered ther
selves together to study the Scri
lures. to pray. to worship Christ. al
to extend his kingdom among me
This is how the church came in
existence. Its cause was the resu
ection OF Christ
4. The New Testament.
IL Jesus Christ had remained buri'
in the grave. the story of his life al
death would have remained buri
with him. The New Testament Is
effect of Christ's resurrection. 1t W
the resurrection that put heart In
the disciples to go forth and tell
story. Skeptics would have US
lieve that the resurrection OF Chr
was an afterthought of the discipl
to give the story Of Christs life
thrilling climax: a decorative incide
which satisfies the dramatic feeli
in man; a brilliant picture at the
of an heroic life. We reply: The
would have been no beautiful story
put a climax to II there had been
resurrection Of the Christ Of the sto
The resurrection does not grow I
of the beautiful story Of his life.
the beautiful story OF Christ's
grew out Of the fact Of the resurr
ton The New Testament is the bt
of the resurrection of Christ.