El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-20

fancy Of men that God had a contro-
Versy with his people.
And 1 take il that this hostility was
mutual We Wer eallgned with sin
and that made US enemies to God. 1t
was not a one sided affair, for David
SAID God judgeth (even) the right
eous, and he is angry with the wicked
every day"
Yes, this enmity was mutual we
we're enemies The righteous hostility
% God rested upon US We were enc
Llles In positive sense, for we were
IIsS,.SsslFe sinners know of no
Hee'I lhler occupation for saved men
lh2n 10 humble themselves by frequent
IeliecIlOn upon those times when they
were aggressive enemies TO God.
Nueh we view the emblemS OF our
L'oIu supper II ought always remind
US OF what II cost God to settle this
cohL oNersy- 1t ought TO produce in
US the profOundest penitence for our
SINS tor here We have a picture of
the aWiul tragedy that resulted from
our rebellion against God. 1t is not
10 be compared with anything in hui
man history If we consider that the
Dloouy -FOUR years struggle between the
states was the price Of rebellion
against a benign government and the
havoc wrought was the result Of that
rebellion, We have a very weak imita-
uon OF the tragic results Of our re-
bellion against God, when we see the
son Of God hanging on his cross.
What a price was paid to reconcile US
to God!
Sword Smites Christ.
When Christ was made man under
the law, 10 become an atOnement by
which this enmity was TO be forever
settled, the most awful voice that was
ever heard in the universe sounded
out; Awake, o sword against the
man who is my fellow, and smite the
SheDherdl-smite him.
When Christ came there was a man
who was Gods fellow, one who was
able TO bear the fierceness Of almighty
reJrlDuuOn, IN shifting whom Justice
could obtain its full demands Hence
the sword of justice smote him. beat
him, cut HIM 1t had a commission 10
Smlte him, the man who was JehOvah's
fellow. il smOre him in Bethlehem
II smOte him all along the highways
OF his mortal life, even up TO Calvary.
On Calvary the strokes Of the sword
telI thick and fast; the Elances of that
sword which Adam saw in the garden
were so terrible that they darkened
the sum- they shook the earth. and hell.
It kept shifting till the man who was
) ehcTah's fellow. cried out. "It is fin
lsneu- Iheu the sword drOpt from
the hand Of justice at the foot of the
cross. sIlenced. lulled and pacified.
Ihere II lay Till the third morning
aIter, when II was changed into mercy !
ana thus II has been waving over man
KIND ever since, a sceptre of mercy. !
This all happened while we were yet 4
enemies to God.
nc nlcsHcu Assurance.
Now the blessed assurance follows I
The argument Of the apostle is this. /
As sure as when we Were enemies. we !
were reconciled to God. through the i
death of his son, much more. being /
reconclled, we shall be saved by his .
NE That is, If God undertook TO save 1
us through the Staying of his son. if ne I
so loved US in spite Of our fierce
7nmIty, through the death of his son
then how much surer is il that he 4
received the living Christ himself into I
our hearts by faith.
An Illustration.
Maybe a picture viii help US TO see
he force of this argument 4 CriuuI- 3
-al IS brought before your courts He
: accused of treason against the state
me evidence is well established I
salnst him. No doubt remains that
De has committed treason and out
aged Justice The man feels and ]
'wns his guilt; and when the indict-
nent IS read. with an Outburst of GRIEF
le eXclaims; Il am guilty, and in The
lame Of God I throw myself upon the !
mercy of the court" The court is :
ouched by this cry for mercy and the !
rhine IS forgiven. the criminal is I
inally set free Afterward the crimi- Z
.al is reformed and becomes a useful. !
oval. patriotic citizen He takes a ]
tand for righteousness. In a thousand !
ways he proves his love for his state. /
rs country Finally he is exposed TO l
anger Some foe is seeking 10 desuou
nd Cypress him Now, If the state
bowed such mercy to him while a con-
essed traitor. will il not now fIv TO !
lis relief, and stake its army and its I
wealth TO protect his life2
II God, through the death Of his son. /
oUnd himself able to forgive us wnen
re knelt at the mercy seat in penften-
ial tears. will he not much more keen /
s throughout the dread storms OF ,
his mortal life and sustain US AT the /
Judgment, since we have been trans
Ormed from enemies TO friends I
through the death OF his SOM This is
efficient assurance TO make every Z
cart fill with JOY and stay us under
he most trying temptations Of this
empestuous life
One Thing Not Denied.
The apostle makes this fact as sure
5 the fact Of Christs death There /
8 nothing more surely established in !
Uman history than the tragic death !
( the son Of God No man denies that
esus of Nazareth died on Calvary.
hey may deny most everything else
with the wonderful story Of
esus, but this fact is universally con-
eded- Now. the safety Of the believer
8 as sure as this unimpeachabIe his
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