Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-23
CECIL STRESSES BLESSINGS
OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST
Christian Who Is Saved by Grace Should Be More Con.
scentious in Obeying Law, Asserts Pastor of
Second Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Russell Cecil. d d.. pastor OF
Second Presbyterian Church, preached
yesterday on The BLESSINGS OF Obe-
diencc TO Christ" lie said, in part:
Many beautiful and useful les
sons arc taught US BY our Lords
miracles. Some people are very much
troubled by the miracles. and are
continually asking. What was His
object In working them? II we
are willing to accept of Him as tho
Son OF God. equal with the Father in
oil things. 1t Is not difficult to un-
derstand Ills ability and purpose in
this kind of work. The question oS
the possibility of His working mira
clcs is forever put at rest when We
recognize Him as God incarnate in
the flesh.
III lie had supernatural birth.
and by supernatural power arose
from the dead and assembled up on
high. where He stitch on the right
hand of God. the Father ii was, OF
course possible for Him while In the
flesh TO do any OF the thing. that
are attributed to Him by the evan
selists. The greatest OF all miracles
Is Christ Himself. the incarnate God,
who is the crucifled and risen Savior.
The other mirarles are minor mat
tiers as compared TO this
In regard to the objest of Ills
miracles. II may be said that Il was
,hrce-fold. First. as n proof Of His
divine claims. He Himself appealed
To the miracles as proof of His di-
vine origin, Though ye believe not
Me, believe the works The same
works, that do bear Witness Of Me-
lie claimed to have done the works
which no other man ever did. and
these works were ocular proofs of
His divine authority and power. As
the Son OF God He had the right to
work miracles.
Another object was to relieve hu-
man suffering. 1t Is often said OF
Jesus that He had compassion upon
the suffering. and SO far as any OF
the accounts inform us. lie never
turned away from a human sufferer
who appealed to Him for help. He
did not heal all OF the sick people
OF His day throughout the country.
but lie must have healed a vast null
titude. and apparently He never re-
fused anyone who came to Him for
physical relief.
still another object OF His mira
cles waste illustrate and Impress
divine truth. He quite frequently
made this spiritual application Him
self. and It may be inferred without
question. l think. that some great
spiritual truth was especially en-
phasized and illustrated in every one
of His miraculous works The mira
cles were object lessons. or ocular
demonstrations of the truth.
Fail to Have HeIp.
MANY people In this world fail to
have tho help which they need. and
which they might have of God. be-
cause they do not go to Him In
prayer. We are told that the Lord
knowcht how to deliver the righteous.
He is perfectly willing to help those
who call upon Him In time of need.
IF We were more careful and con-
scientious in beginning every day
with prayer for help. and in closing
everyday with Thanksgiving to God
for His help. and with a prayer for
forgiveness for the mistakes we
have made. our life would no doubt
be freer from trouble and much
richer in happiness and usefulness.