The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-01

know what port she left or whittier she ID
bound. do not know the captain, and am
not ON speaking terms with the pilot. She may
go down with all on. board, or she may reach
some sunny port. do not know" What a
comfort is this Such position does not sat
isfy the wants of the soul and never can satisfy
! them. No wonder that Peter did not go to the
Saducees
Peter might have gone to the stoics.-
These were class Of philosophers who held
that happiness consisted in living agreeably to
natural laws. When trouble came they SAID
why mourn? This 10 the operation OF law.
Theirs was cold philosophy. Peter could
have found no true happiness in this belief.
When mere boy looked on the pale face
of my mother in her coffin, 1t was no consola-
ton for me to be told that death was natural.
The Stole might come and say "Great natural
laws control all things. The average length OF
human life is about thirty-three years. Your
mother has outived the average. so don't
Weep" Such words cannot check the falling
tear. The mother hears that the ship on which
her son took voyage to Europe is wrecked. She
goes down to the beach expecting to find that
the waves have washed TIE body ashore. As
she stands there weeping, the Stole approaches
her and remarks. " Cease your mourning. Do
you not know that certain great natural laws
control all things? 1t is natural that the storm
should cause old oceans waves to rise noun
tain high it is natural that those waves should
upset the boat; it is natural that after your son
or anyone else has been under water so long
that he should de-" What is there in all this
to comfort the heaIt-broken mother?
Peter might have gone to the Essences. These
were ascetcs they withdrew from society 8
their religion CONSISTED in exclusion from the
world. But Peter could not go to them.
If one could thus isolate himself from society
it would undoubtedly be much easier for him to
live right 1t is SAID that Mr.. Sturgeon has
nothing to do except indirectly with the tenn
porality of his household. His deacons attend
to procuring his wood his provisions. and take
care OF the horses IN his stables. This allows
him to free his mind of all care in that direc-
ton and devote all his time to the interest Of
the church. II we could all OF us stand thus
aloof from the bread and butter question" it
would be easier for us to make clear record.
But the Christian Is not to withdraw from
society. Christianity Is not best lived IN her
II Of 4 hat hoy
be taken out of the world" An eminent lect-
urer employs this figure: The magnolia tree
has most beautiful blossoms. An individual
seeing those remarks. All there Is my idea
Of christian life. See those blossoms, so
pure, 30 white, SO ETHEREAL, so uplifted from the
earth. But let the botanist examine those
blossoms and he finds substance running all
the way down the blossoms to the ends OF the |
roots Of the tree. Sever that connection with |
the earth and the blossom wall die. Every true |
Christian life is connected with the earth
There was no real power for good in the her.
NIT life, because the connection between re-
hgon and everyday life was severed.
Peter, instead of going to these sects made !
the Lord Jesus his refuge. This was the only
way out of the dilemma. Christ is the central
figure Of all the Bible. Renan confesses that
when he first thought OF writing the history of
he would speak only of doctrnes,-
persons would be scarcely mentioned. AS he
proceeded with his work he found that Chris
ianity had to do with person. Instead Of
emitting his book "a History of Christian
Doctrine" he called it 1.-THE Life OF Jesus"
n Christ the wants OF the race are met. Before
Iesus came the incense of sacrifices was ascend
rs fiom all parts of the Roman Empire; but
Don after Messahs advent those sacrifices
rev less and less numerous, until they ceased
together. The great sacrifice had been made,
nd the wants of the race were met.
He whose life is hid with Christ IN God will
cave an influence that the grave will not ter
innate. 1t Is not always essential that friends
Q present that we may feel their influence. l
ave friends whom neither the grave nor long
eparation on earth can abate one jot or little
the inspiration and courage that they give
he. There is not true heart that has not
lis power for good. The grave is powerless
, rob you OF this influence.
poet has expressed this thought in sug-
estive fgure:-
a skiliul harper, when his harp's
vibrations
With the sweetest music all the ambient air
has filled,
Nth touch most exquisite upon it's wild pulsa-
Places his hand, and all the trembling chords
are stilled.
nd yet the harp has lost naught OF Its sweet
persuasion,
Its music is but sleeping in each silent string;
nd waiteth only for felicitous occasion
Its affluence Of harmony again to bring.
ay more, the mystic melodies already given,
Blending in sweetest cadence to harmonious
whole,
ntll at length it seemed like symphonies OF
heaven.
Die not-the echoes vibrate still within the