The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13


 should escape, man tore from this life the very heart of unselflshness: tore from 1t all shreds of morality. He had but this portion, but this one cup to drink, and he would drink N all, taking the spark ling wine and the dregs as they came
 And yet, there was ever present the thought that perhaps there was this other life where virtue would meet with re- ward, and where vice would meet with justice. And man was not only torn by the power of his sins but also stung and maddened by this half hope that he dared not throw away. And over all this inward misery and outward guilt, there fell the shadow of impending death An, how man hated iti How he feared it! And how, when he found it at his side, in despear he met it!
 And then Christ camel This sinful world derided Him. Christ taught. They scoffed yat Him. Christ suffered and they mocked Him as He hung the cross. Christ died, and they buried Him. This teacher, who had promised so much
 who had claimed so much-He, too had met the enemy, and death was still the victor. It would always be with men. And the tomb door closed on Jesus. and buried His body and buried the hope and faith of those who had believed on Him. And then, when the world was all ready to plunge again into its melanchly task | tI IOrBeIIlnS the entl1N IL cOuiu not con- quer. a most astounding thing happened. for Jesus rose from the deadl Men looked into the empty grave and wondered. Then men spoke with Him face to face and be- lievedl It was an overpowering fact that their senses could not deny. They lied to themselves and said it was not so They bribed the Roman soldiers to say that the body had been stolen So long had they lived in despair and darkness that they refused the hope and light that Jesus brought. yet Christ was risen, The hand of doubt was thrust into His side, and Thomas was no longer faithless. but believing By a word Christ cleansed the heart of Saul, and filled 1t with a love that knew not even death as an ending. And the glad news spread, and Is spreading still, and shall spread until it echoes throughout this and it may be other worlds, the glad news that at last death is conquered, and from the ran somed souls of men through all gods uni verse the glad shout is raised to heaven that death is no longer death, for death is swallowed up in victory,
 Tn victory? Yes, we believe so, if Christ has so revealed it. But isn't it, you ask sometimes hard to feel the triumph? Do you remember the story of the great leader who after a hard-won battle looked about him and saw his men by thousands strewn across the bloody field. Another such victory. he said,
 and I am undonev Haven't you felt that way about this victory over death? I know you have. And sometimes l have stood in your homes when the angel of death was lowering near, and l have seen the fear and the anguish written on your, brows. And the angel has descended. And have read. am the resurrection and the life,' saith the the Lord. He that beieveth on Me. though he were dead. ei,a he lfxra nd rx-hn it-af T, and believeth on Me shall never die I have read these words and seen despair sitting in your midst. oh death, where
 is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory?' And I knew that the sting of death was in your heart; and to victory, If victory there was, I knew that your eyes were blinded. And l knew the empty desolation of soul that had af- fiicted you. And I knew how hollow all of these glorious, words sounded. and have even shrunk from telling you that all was for the best; and have hesitated to speak of the life beyond where part ings are more, for I knew that you would think it was easy for me to say, for the iron had not entered into my soul. And so I kept silence, yea, even from good words. but it was pain and grief to me-
 Trouble With People
 "But oh, my friends, the victory is there: the trouble is not with the vic- tory The trouble is with us. So many of us, so many of us who love the Lord Jesus. and who say week after week. I believe that on the third day He rose again from the dead, are still living in those dark days when man thought that death was the end. We have not en- tel ed into the secret of the joy Of Christs resurrection. We gather about the bed side dying ourselves a thousand deaths while we watch the coming of one. And our hearts fail us when at last man goeth io his long home. and the mourners go bout the streets. For the silver cord is loosed and the golden gowl Is broken, was. And we say, He has gone!' Gone? Nay! God says that He has come!' He has come away from the sorrow and grief that he knew. He has come away from the friends who so often wounded him with unkind words, and who have crucf- fled him with misunderstanding of his ncblest deeds. He has come away from all this, and come at last into the pres ence Of God, where all tears are wiped away Is come from pain to joy, from fear to trust, from doubt to faith, from hatred to love, from death to life un- ending!
 "A pesfiIcnce hangs over a great city apl ti,e shadow ue the dark angel passea to and frafrom house to house. And all fig dark and terrible. And each night the husband goes to his cottage home. in fear and trembling. lest the wife whom he | left in health be found stricken and gone One evening he comes The house Is darkeped No welco ming light. He knocks
 There is no answer. Only shrieking si-