Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-04-18

WI ~ &EsssE# world was as God
LZzZzz q zSzz9ssSSS. made il, so that
his own lips could pronounce upon the
labor of his hands, very good?' Is not
this what 1t still is to the unregener-
ate heart, that refuses to recognize
the ruin wrought by sin? Yes, the
heart that has no ties elsewhere; that
has not tasted the powers of the
world to come" nor seen the glorious
realities of things eternal, finds it fair
and pleasant still.
But alas! this pleasant world has
become a valley of the shadow of
death, for behold! at the very gate OF
Main, proclaiming its real condition,
a dead man is carried out. Death is
the way out OF the world still. and
death is the awful shadow over Ii.
Death Teigned from Adam to Moses"
and reigns today, the world, with all
its boosted wisdom. having found no
remedy for it. On every portal, death
with relentless hand, has carved his
telltale crest, and upon all creation
he has placed his stamp. The world
passeth away"
This is the scene into which Christ
has come, as here he comes to Main
came with life and salvation and open.
ing heaven to the lost OF the earth.
For the Son of Man Is come to seek
and to save that which is lost" 81
am come that we might have life"
What sorrows, too, are in fair Naini
Behold this widow weeping for her
only son, and much people in the city,
following and weeping with her. For
sin has brought not only death, but
a multitude of sorrows, into the
world. However fair it may be, how.
ever beautiful the names by which 1t
may be called, however much it may
furnish the natural heart with pleas
ure-sorrow remains the great fact
of human life The great sea of life
is salty with human tears. and the
signing of the wind is the echo of
the threnody of broken hearts. 1.-The
whole creation groaneth and travail
eth in pain together until now"
But the Man of Sorrows draws nigh
and Main must answer to its name
With him at its gate, all is changed,
and we see the divine remedy for all
the ills brought in by sin.
!. when Jesus saw her, he was
moved with compassion" Yes it was
compassion that brought him down
to save, compassion for my lost es-
tate, compassion for the helpless mis-
cry to which sin reduced me- Moved
with compassion at my tears for sin.
he has come to my help"
2. And he said unto her, Don't cry.
don't cry!" Who Is this stranger
breaking in upon her grief with his
tender sympathy? Can he quench
those tears? Has he balm for that
broken heart? Yes, he has, and he
freely gives it; and In doing so gives
us a picture of all his finished work.
The Christ of Calvary will make good
his every word
Oh, sweet, in the hour of sorrow,
to hear him say, Don't cry!" When
he speaks it is done, and | shall see |
him at his work on my behalf, by
which he turns my sorrow into 10y. !
3. He touched the bier!" Touch |
1t he must if his word is to have power
over it." He must die. If he would /
have to say to death, Where is thy /
sting?"
THE sting of death is sin" and he
must be made sin for US" to take /
away that sting. He must taste |
death for every man." who is to arise
from 1t at his word. He must go into
it in order to triumph over it. and
forasmuch as the children are par.
takers OF flesh and blood, he likewise
himself, also took part OF the same.
that through death he might
deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage" Christ, being raised
from the dead. dieth no more: death
hath no more dominion over him"
But he has dominion over 1t, and thus
he touches the bier
In Israel it meant defilement m
come in contact with death. But Je-
sus must touch it, yet remain undo.
filed.
4. And having touched 1t he can saw
and his word stand fast, Young man.
i say unto thee, Arise"
ahu AhOoC NOidb, Which, III q tn0n-
sand tongues, he is repeating In the
ears of the multitudes dead In tres.
passes and sins" Know, o man with.
out Christ, that this young man at
Mains gate is your picture. Dweller
in Nain-in world still fair" to the
eye. but upon which sin has brought
an awful curse-you are dead. And
the Savior, travelling in the greatness
of his strength, and seeking still to
save. draws near and says unto thee
Arise"
5. And he that was dead sat up
and began to speak" Hath he said
and shall he not do 1t, hath he spoken
and shall he not make il good?"
o SOUL hast thou heard his voice?
Hast thou sat up" out of thine awful
death In trespasses and sins, "a new
creation" in Christ Jesus? Hast thou
begun to speak with a new tongue in
the language they speak in heaven?
Ali hail. nearer of Jesus voice! They
that hear shall livei"
Do not expect that, in your own
strength you can make use of even the
best opportunities Of doing good