The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18
In the Garden
of Gethsemane
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOnI<INS.

den was connected with our LORDS
suffering and death. We can meyer
we are told that the place. although
probably much changed since our
Lords day. has Il sacredness which the
visitor feels. The name itself. from the
Hebrew. means "oil press" and seems
to suggest the holy amounting which
was Il part of the Old Testament teach
ing, and which undoubtedly prophcsied
the amounting of the Holy Spirit. Truly,
the King of Men was anointed In the
garden. when for our sins He endured
the mental agony which was even
ncer than the physical agony which
was to follow.
Our Lord, with the apostles. seems
to have come to Gethsemane about
midnight. There has been some little
Indifference of opinion AS to when He
uttered tho beautiful wordg which st.
John gives us from the 1Ath TO the
nth chapters of his gospel. Some
&have thought that they were spoken in
the upper room: others that they were
spoken on the way to the garden; and
others again that they were spoken
after they reached Gcthsemane. The
first verse of st. John xviii. would seem
to imply that they came to the garden
3,fter tho words were spoken: and II
that WAS the case. then we have most
preparation for the garden
experience In those wonderful words
which have been the spiritual bless
Ing of the church for ages. we al
ways need to read them In connection
with the last days of our Lord in order
that we may have the expression of
His love. us we'll as the tender words of
sympathy and guidance, to stand as a
background for His patience and suf-
fering. Tho events in Gethsemnne
which we will study to-day are:
FIRST. the WEAKNESS OF the disciples;
: second. the agony of Christ.
n rnnStyv
MOST CRITICAL HOUR
!. II seems strange that the disciples.
at such crisis in their own lives and
in the life of the Master. should have
been drowsy. The excuse is given for
them in the gospel that they were over
come with grief. 1t may we'll have
been so. But how pathetic the cry of
the Master. particularly In the face OF
the bonsting of Peter that he would
never fail Him. "Couldst not thou
watch one hourT
Tho beautiful hymn in Stainers ora
forio OF Tho Crucifixion" has always
touched me very deeply. 1t seems such
real appeal. even to-day. from tho
Master, for still we remember His
lgony and suffering, even although the
events Of the gospels happened so many
years ago.
Could ye not watch with Me one brief
hour? p.
Could ye not pity My sorest need?
An IL ye sleep while the tempests
loweA
Surely. my friends. / am lone indeed! .
could ye not watch with Me one brief
Did ye not say on Kedrons slope
Ye would not fall In the Tcmptcrs
power?
Did ye not murmur great words OF
hope?
'couid ye not watch with Me? even
Willing in heart, but the flesh IL
vain!
Back TO Minc agony l must go,
Lonely to pray In bitterest pain.
How often we grow weary in the
Struggle Of life! How often our trials
make us heavy in body as we'll AZ mind;
and how slow we are TO be active and
krustful and earnest! Sometimes we
nay he bowed down with sorrow. and
3ometim the work which we have to
10 may seem to absorb us; and some
kimes, again, the very mystery of life
may confuse and make us dizzy
Yet all this cum give no excuse for
our failure to watch and pray. Par
kicularly is this true concerning prayer.
How often people grow weary in
prayer, both at church and at home
Yet our Lord, we are told. spent whole
nights In prayer.
kiOD ASKS Us TO BE ALERT
CONCERNING SACRED THINGS
God does not call upon us to weary
yourselves just for the sake OF fulfilling
1 task. but He asks US to be alert
concerning those things which are per-
Rnanent, and for the lasting Interest,
Of His children. May He help us to
watch and pray! There is an old
helpful, and which. perhaps, Will be as
good commentary on this WEAKNESS
pf the disciples as could be found:
5'Christians. seek not yet repose,"
Hear thy guardian angel say:
Thou are In tho midst of foes;
Watch and pray.
Principalities and powers,
Mastering their unseen array,
Walt for thy unguarGc5 hours;
Watch and pray.
F'Gird thy heavenly armor on:
Wear It ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.
Hear the victors who o'ercame:
Still they mark each warriors way;
And with one sweet voice eNclaim
Watch and pray.
Hear. above al, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lowest to obey;
l1lue WitHiu ivy neaTl Ills WOfu,
Watch and pray.
Watch, as IL on that alone
Hung the issue of ,tho day;
Pray, that help may be sent down;
Watch and pray"
LOAD OF SIN CAUSED
INFINITE SUFFERING
II. The agony of our Lord we can
never fathom. Wo know that it was
born OF love and that His rejection by
those whom He came to save both
while He was on earth and ever since,
must have caused the bitterest and
heaviest sorrow. We know, too, that in
bearing the sins of the whole world He
must have suffered in IN infinite fash
ion. If commit one sin and then feel
the greatest sorrow as ] remember It,
how great must have been the sorrow
= OF this blessed Christ, who took all of
tho sins OF everybody In the world and
made their grief His own. We must
not BIO afraid In imitation of our Mas
tor to pass through deep waters. nor
think n of II