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doubter to confer with me in private before we part； I will then put
before him considerations through which God has been mercifully
pleased to reveal himself to me； so far as man can understand him；
and which I have found bring peace to the minds of others who have
doubted。
〃I assume also that there is none who doubts but that this God；
after whose likeness we have been made； did in the course of time
have pity upon man's blindness； and assume our nature； taking flesh
and coming down and dwelling among us as a man indistinguishable
physically from ourselves。 He who made the sun； moon and stars； the
world and all that therein is； came down from Heaven in the person
of his Son； with the express purpose of leading a scorned life； and
dying the most cruel； shameful death which fiendish ingenuity has
invented。
〃While on earth he worked many miracles。 He gave sight to the
blind； raised the dead to life； fed thousands with a few loaves and
fishes； and was seen to walk upon the waves； but at the end of his
appointed time he died； as was foredetermined； upon the cross； and
was buried by a few faithful friends。 Those； however； who had put
him to death set a jealous watch over his tomb。
〃There is no one； I feel sure； in this room who doubts any part of
the foregoing； but if there is； let me again pray him to confer with
me in private； and I doubt not that by the blessing of God his
doubts will cease。
〃The next day but one after our Lord was buried； the tomb being
still jealously guarded by enemies； an angel was seen descending
from Heaven with glittering raiment and a countenance that shone
like fire。 This glorious being rolled away the stone from the
grave； and our Lord himself came forth； risen from the dead。
〃My young friends； this is no fanciful story like those of the
ancient deities； but a matter of plain history as certain as that
you and I are now here together。 If there is one fact better
vouched for than another in the whole range of certainties it is the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ； nor is it less well assured that a few
weeks after he had risen from the dead； our Lord was seen by many
hundreds of men and women to rise amid a host of angels into the air
upon a heavenward journey till the clouds covered him and concealed
him from the sight of men。
〃It may be said that the truth of these statements has been denied；
but what； let me ask you； has become of the questioners？ Where are
they now？ Do we see them or hear of them？ Have they been able to
hold what little ground they made during the supineness of the last
century？ Is there one of your fathers or mothers or friends who
does not see through them？ Is there a single teacher or preacher in
this great University who has not examined what these men had to
say； and found it naught？ Did you ever meet one of them； or do you
find any of their books securing the respectful attention of those
competent to judge concerning them？ I think not； and I think also
you know as well as I do why it is that they have sunk back into the
abyss from which they for a time emerged： it is because after the
most careful and patient examination by the ablest and most judicial
minds of many countries； their arguments were found so untenable
that they themselves renounced them。 They fled from the field
routed； dismayed； and suing for peace； nor have they again come to
the front in any civilised country。
〃You know these things。 Why； then； do I insist upon them？ My dear
young friends； your own consciousness will have made the answer to
each one of you already； it is because； though you know so well that
these things did verily and indeed happen； you know also that you
have not realised them to yourselves as it was your duty to do； nor
heeded their momentous； awful import。
〃And now let me go further。 You all know that you will one day come
to die； or if not to diefor there are not wanting signs which make
me hope that the Lord may come again； while some of us now present
are aliveyet to be changed； for the trumpet shall sound； and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible； for this corruption must put on
incorruption； and this mortal put on immortality； and the saying
shall be brought to pass that is written； 'Death is swallowed up in
victory。'
〃Do you； or do you not believe that you will one day stand before
the Judgement Seat of Christ？ Do you； or do you not believe that
you will have to give an account for every idle word that you have
ever spoken？ Do you； or do you not believe that you are called to
live； not according to the will of man； but according to the will of
that Christ who came down from Heaven out of love for you； who
suffered and died for you； who calls you to him； and yearns towards
you that you may take heed even in this your daybut who； if you
heed not； will also one day judge you； and with whom there is no
variableness nor shadow of turning？
〃My dear young friends； strait is the gate； and narrow is the way
which leadeth to Eternal Life； and few there be that find it。 Few；
few； few； for he who will not give up ALL for Christ's sake； has
given up nothing
〃If you would live in the friendship of this world； if indeed you
are not prepared to give up everything you most fondly cherish；
should the Lord require it of you； then； I say； put the idea of
Christ deliberately on one side at once。 Spit upon him； buffet him；
crucify him anew； do anything you like so long as you secure the
friendship of this world while it is still in your power to do so；
the pleasures of this brief life may not be worth paying for by the
torments of eternity； but they are something while they last。 If；
on the other hand； you would live in the friendship of God； and be
among the number of those for whom Christ has not died in vain； if；
in a word； you value your eternal welfare； then give up the
friendship of this world； of a surety you must make your choice
between God and Mammon； for you cannot serve both。
〃I put these considerations before you； if so homely a term may be
pardoned； as a plain matter of business。 There is nothing low or
unworthy in this； as some lately have pretended； for all nature
shows us that there is nothing more acceptable to God than an
enlightened view of our own self…interest； never let anyone delude
you here； it is a simple question of fact； did certain things happen
or did they not？ If they did happen； is it reasonable to suppose
that you will make yourselves and others more happy by one course of
conduct or by another？
〃And now let me ask you what answer you have made to this question
hitherto？ Whose friendship have you chosen？ If； knowing what you
know； you have not yet begun to act according to the immensity of
the knowledge that is in you； then he who builds his house and lays
up his treasure on the edge of a crater of molten lava is a sane；
sensible person in comparison with yourselves。 I say this as no
figure of speech or bugbear with which to frighten you； but as an
unvarnished unexaggerated statement which will be no more disputed
by yourselves than by me。〃
And now Mr Hawke； who up to this time had spoken with singular
quietn