The Portland daily press., 1873-04-22
One Of Draxy's Sermons.
BY SAKE HOLM.

BY SAKE HOLM.
One of her most impressive sermons was
called "The Gospel of Mystery"
The text was Psalm XIX. q:
."Day unto day uttersth speech, and night unto
night sheweth knowledge
First she dwelt on the sweet meaning of the
word Gospel ''Dear friends" she said, sit
only good news good tidings. We get Cos
pes every day. Our children send us good
news of their lives. What gospels of joy are
such letters! And nations to nations send
good news: a race of slaves is set free; war
has ended shp-loads of grain have been sent
to the starving; good man has been made
ruler; these are good tidngs-gospels.'
After dwelling on this first, simplest idea of
the word, until every one of her hearers had
begun to think wildly of all the good tidings
journeying in words back and forth between
heart and heart, continent and continent she
spoke OF the good news which nature tells
without words Hare she was eloquent Sub
tie as the ideas were, tney- were vet clothed in
| the plain speech which the Ia.:a people nm
| winter, of the river, of the mountain; OF sal
of silver, of electric fire; Of blossom and fruit;
| of seed-time and harvest; of suns and stars
| and waters s;-these were the speech which
day uttered unto day."
But knowledge was greater than speech
| might in her silence ''showed" what day
could not tell. Here the faces of the people
grew fixed and earnest. In any other hands
than Draxy's the thought would have been
too deep for them. and they would have turn
ed from it wearily. But her simplicity con-
| troled them always. ''Stand On your door
steps on dark night, she said,-a night so
dark that you can see nothing: looking out
| into this silent darkness, you will presently
| feel far greater sense of how vast the world
il, 4 H.,
| can see up to the very sun himself"
More than one young face in the congrega-
| ton showed that this sentence struck home
| and threw light on hitherto unexplained emo
| tions. ''This is like what l mean," contin-
| ued Draxy, sby the Gospel of Mystery, the
| good tidings of the things we cannot under
| stand. This gospel is everywhere. Not the
| wisest man that has ever lived can fully un-
| derstand the smallest created thing: drop of
water, a grain of dust, beam of light, can
| battle his utmost research. So with our own
| lives, with our own hearts every day brings
| a mystery--sn and grief and death: all these
| are mysteries; gospels OF mystery, good It'd
| ings of mystery; yes, good tidiTgs! These
are what prove that God means to take us in
to another world after this one; into world
where all things which perplexed us here will
be explained. Omy dear friends!"
she exclaimed at last, clasping her hands
i phtuh OOu iOl tlliil,S WHICH We
| cannot understand: except for them, how
should we ever be sure of Immortality"
Then she read them a hymn, called "The
| Gospel of Mystery Coming after the SER
mon, it was sweet and clear to all the peoples
hearts. Before the sermon it would have
seemed obscure. .....-.-
| THE GOSPEL OF MYSTERY.
/ Good tidings every day., Ii ~, III, -,
Gods messengers ride fast
l., We do not hear one-half they say,
There Is such noise on the highway, -f'---
! Where we must wait while they ride past.
| Their banners blaze and shine
| With Jesus Chrst's dear name,
| And story how by Gods design
| He saves u.s. in his love divine, -t M
, And lifts us from our sin and shame.
/ Their music fills the air, 9-.1.f Il
! Their songs sing all Of Heaven; .tl .----
I Their ringing trumpet peals declare
| What crowns to souls WIN fight and dare,
| Aud win, shall presently be given. r
| Their hands throw treasures round
Among the multitude. ,v
No pause, no choice, no count no bound
No questioning how men are found, i.
If they be evil or be good. '- r---.-
But all the banners bear i.
/ Some words we cannot read; -
And mystic echoes in the air, a-.r st..-.-
Which borrow from the songs no share
| In sweetness, all the songs exceed -.
| -. And Of the multitude. ..il~ gl --1t-r-7e
No man but in HIS hand 11sssSs --.
| Holds some grea. gift misunderstood.
Some treasure, for whose use or good eH
His ignorance sees no demand i1fT tr
These are the tokens lent r. .-.-rf H +.
By Immortality; ~ -.'fta g .
Brit. marks Of our divine descent: 1--
Sureties Of ultimate intent, p, -,....
Gods Gospel of Eternity. ,....-. 80 =
| Good tidings every day,
The messengers ride fast: t"af
Thanks be to God for ali thew say.
Tnere Is such noise on the highway.
r.n,. icy s.n, Us Keep stil while they ride past.
FROM "Ihe Elders Wife,s, Seri6ner's for