Year: 1870

"Jesus Christ and Public Cpinion''-sermon


by the Rev. Il. l.. Davies.


The frequenters OF the above church we're present
yesterday IN goodly force more numerous no douDt
than nsnal as the attraction OF new pastor coming
among them must have created some excitement
and induced good many OF the 'tstayaways' to
honor The church with their presehce-inore out oi
curiosity than anything else.


The church is neat small building. comfortably
fitted up inside, and possesses good organ, which
was very fairly played and together with the choir
and congregation, rendered the hymns In an agree
able manner.


The pastor, the Rev. P. L. Davies, offered up
brief but telling prayers, during which disturb
ance occurred by some malicious parties


SETTING OFF FIRECRAcKERs


outside. under one OF the church windows This
had the effect of shocking the nerves Of some old
ladies and young maldens and distraeting their
thoughts from heavenly matters-that is, provided
they were centred there at any time.


The pastor announced THAI the main portion OF his
sermon would be comprehensive discourse on


"jESUS CHRIST AND PUBLIC OPINION.n


He took his text from Matthew xvi, IL and IA


Whom do men say that the Son Of Man, am And they
and Others ono OF the prophets


1t has always been the aim Of men since the world
began, matter what their station or position In
lie, TO stand well in public opinion. We hear OF
persons saying that they don't care q straw what
the world says Of them; but 1t Is all Such





courageous and independent In that very opinion
which they profess 70 despise and scott at. All our
The world bg their power and fame have cultivated
and made it their chief study to please the public
ear ana captiyate the public mind BY their dolngs,


THE ONLY SURE ROAD TO SUCCESS
lay through the good opinion and confidence OF
parties whom they would have TO make use OF in
their career through life.


Now. Christ. although being man. differed from
men altogether In this respect. He was not anxious
TO the opinion entertained about him by persons
in whose age he lived. When putting the question
TO one of the disciples contained in the text "Whom
do men say that am ~ lie put it merely to find the
opinion entertained about Him as to who He was and
whether the generation among whom He lived really
comprehended where He came from ana what His
mission on earth was. When Jesus Christ made His
appearance on earth, and by His great works and
miracles, by His wonderful pnilanthrOpcal5 nature
and unsuied character completely astonished the
world, public opinion was aroused the universal
theme OF conversation was, ''Who Is He?" Wonder
and admiration were no doubt raised TO their highest
pitch at the amazing miracles performed by Jesus;
but the question asked was not 'What is He ?' but
''Who is iieT" His works were seen and wondered
at but what principally actuated The curiosity OF
the inhabitants Of our world at those early ages was
to find out


WHO JESUS WAS


and where He came from. 1t Is apparent that
great diversity Of opinion existed 10 who He
Thus perceive by the answers gwen TO His ques-
tlon-'some say thou art John The BAPTIST, some
Elias, and others one OF the prophets" The early
inhabitants OF the globe did not really comprehend
Christ. Although prepared for His coming by the
prophets YET He was SO incomparably beyond and
so far above what predicted OF Him that natur-
ally humanity was bewildered, as lie combined in
His own character not only all the qualities OF per-
lection possessed by all the prophets who ever lived,
but much more besides.


CHRIST WAS MORE OF MAN THAN ANY OTHER MAN,
Tor several reasons, among Which are the follow
tng:-That He came on earth and assumed man.
hood OF his own accord and free VIII. We poor
humanity have no control over our coming into the
world or destines In 1t afterwards; but Jesus
Christ Intentionally and at the time that pleased
Himself came down from realms S,a Of bliss sand and
OF ours solely Tor our good. Ih1s was what the
ancients could not understand. They could not fully
comprehend why He should SO love the world as 10
such great suffering and deprivation by CON-
ing among us and being crucifed and tortured by
that very people whom He came on earth TO save.
No more proof positive OF the
MUTABILITY AND FICKLENESS OF PUBLIC OPINION
can be shown Than in the manner in which Lord
was rewarded for coming on earth to save the in-
hab ants thereof Jesus was the type OF all that was
lovely, manly and noble, took TO himself no nation
aty, sided with no race, but steered middle course
like the through the sultry Illuminating and
enlightening all around, influenced only by the
good and pure, and passing WIN calm ana plying
majesty the evil thrown in his path. Bitter enemies
sprang up all around him. From envy, malice and
hatred The wretched beings who plotted and accom-
plished his cruci9xion were wrought up to the
necessary amount OF assassin braggadoclo In the
wild frenzy of their miserable minds blinded alto
gether as TO what they were doing ana the alter coI
sequences Of their crime they were like murderers
stepped IN drink, awaiting and staying their'victms
A prophet has no honor tn his own country; so a
great and valuable man Is never appreciated until
ne either leaves his country or expires; generally
after he does the latter.


GREAT QUALITIES AND LARGE VIRTUES
are found out as having been possessed by him in
life. The memory OF these is altogether forgotten
until raKed up after death-numDers being envious
OF tile reputation afraid to express their impress
ions OF ones good qualities until after the short and
checkered career OF life Is over. Abraham Lincoln
was not thought much about until the assassn's
bullet pierced MS brain; and hen when the country
was deprived in one dread second of her great and
renowned defender the friends OF this wonder
fu man began to find out his large and
klndhearted soul: aye, and even his very enemies
when lie ascended into heaven, drew all men after
Him. even those who were most prominent in ac-
compishng his bodily destructon-once the favored
race of God, but forever losing their title 10 that
proud position by their 'public opnionn and action
towards Jesus Christ.