Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-04
OLD-TINE RELIGION.


us the most extraordinary beings who ever
appeared on earth, and yet they are as artless
as the stories Of~chldhOod. The authors do
not think of themselves. They have plainly
but aim, to show their Master; and
they manifest the deep generation which He
inspired, by leaving linn to reveal Himself,
by giving us His actions and sayings without
comment, explanation or eulOgy. You see IN
those narratives vanishing, no high color
ing, attempts to make His actions striking
or to bring out the beauties of His character.
We are never POINTED to any circumstan noes
as illustrative of His greatness. The 'Evangel-
lists write with a calm trust in His character
with a feeling that it needed no aid from
their hands and with a deep veneration as If
comment praise of their own were not
worthy to mingle with the recital of such a
| life"
The character Of Jesus, as set forth bv the
evangelist, is marked by convincing reality
which excludes every thought of it's having
been invented as fabrication of a deluded
or deceitful mind The Christ of the Gospels is
| indubita5ly real person, standing fixed and
| firm in the history of mankind.
And His character is not more real than
it is divine. 1t shines with super-human
radiance. Its unity, originality, harmony.
Eurity and elevation lift it far above the level
OF ordinary human nature.
His sinlessness is as miraculous as the
most wonderful miracle records as havine
been done by Him. None Tut Jesus could
ever say, to friend and foe alike, (which OF
YOU cOnyinceth me of sin?" John vii:46 J
He was in all points tempted like as we are
yet without sin and universal humanity is
forced to concur with the judgment of Pi.
late: Il find in him no fault at ALL" (Johr
Xviii:38.)
Whence such sinlessness, if he be not di
vine? If he be no more than a mere man
by what force was He from the cradle tC
the graye, saved from every smallest wrong
and slightest blemish?
His heavenly purity procams Him divine
as the stainless beams of the rising dawn
show forth the glories Of the sun from which
they issue.
The consequences of his character, as vel
as its unearthly nature, attest His claims tC
| divine authority and power.
Since He came among men the whole
world is changed no mere man has ever
changed it or could ever change it. The
| fragrance of a higher realm breathes in it,
atmosphere wherever His influence has ex
tended, and a regenerative force operate:
wherever His name is known to lift all peni
tent souls out of the pollution of sin intl
lives of righteousness in which they perfec
holiness in the fear .of God.
Upon individuals, nations and races life
giving power falls from His hands which
reneWs and redeems them AS Jean Pau
Richter has said most eloquently, Jesus
being the hottest among the mighty and the
mightiest among the holy has with Hi
pierced hands lifted the gates of empires of
their hinges, turned the tides of the cen
turtles and still governs the ages
DO not such benign and far-reaching con
sequences show Him to be very God as wei
as very man?
Let the impenetrable mystery of His per
son be what it may, the majesty which rest
upon Him and the royal results of His life
unite to show forth His essential deity
The self-evdencng Christ is Himself tn,
central and GROWING evidence of Chris
tianity.
Never man spoke like this man" (Johr
Yl1:46); never man lived like this man
never man died like this man; never did {
crucifed man by his sacrifcial death so draw
to himself all kinds and classes of mer
throughout the whole world.
Let all the world fall down and know
That none but God such love can show"