St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-25

nent disciple of Christ, as Apollos or
Wyckliffe or Whitefield or Edwards,
but the riches of all true discipleship
are yours.
You are not to assert that the infinite
and everlasting God has been hacked
and hewed down, so that all. the truth
can be put in a blue book, lit would
indeed be blue enough), aud that no
more is to shine in, and that you have
attained everything, when you have re-
peated the creed, which good men have
drawn up. 1t is a ground principle that
from Gods word and Providence, much
light is yet to appear, and that no one
human guide has or can have, all the
fullness which is in God.
Paul and Apollos and Cephas and all
Christians along the line of the adj
vancing generations are ours. How
boundless is this wealth of Christian
brotherhood which we possess; the
sympathies, fellowships and communion
of all believers. What an inheritance
will this be III Heaven to know them,
and to walk with them through all the
bright and beautiful years of God.
You all are mine and you cannot
help it, yourselves and your children
and your happy families, your hopes,
your joys, your victories, all are mine.
Your beloved pastor is mine, and
this attractive church is mine, and all
your benevolences and virtues and
Christian activities, as Il people, are
mine. All the beautiful which you
build for God here, you build for Gods
people everywhere. We become shar-
ers in your blessing. Not only has G od
got one more noble residence in which
to dwell among men, but every Chris
tan in America, has got another new
home, enriching his possessions, be-
cause of what you have reared here.
1t is blessing on this town and state
1t is another benedictiOn from New
England upon the city which crowns the
sunset banks of the Father of Waters.
1t is CLEAN of light to the golden
coast. 1t is another monument wrought
in faith and prayer to the glory of
Christ. and the exaltatiOn of the cross
among men.
2. The world is the second item of
the Christians riches enumerated by
the Apostle. All things are yours,
whether Paul or Apollos or the world.
This material globe, with its sur
cloud tinted drapery and the shifting
scenery of its skies, is yours. God
made it for you, and filled it with his
beauty and glory. God rules it in the
interest of his people. All the varied
events of the world, take place for the
furtherance of his ingdOm. All things
serve the Christian.
The world is a treasure-hOuse of help
for those who seek to know and obey
God. All good men are yours as Chris
tians, and all good things are yours as
the children of the Heavenly King.
God has put blessing into everything
in this physical world, if it is only
rightly sought and used. God is in ev-
erything. He stills the air and ripens
the Autumn, and fills the day. He
paints the evening and kiudles the glO-
ries of the morning. He charms the
night to rest and causes our thoughts to
walk on flowers and battle in the sun.
Christians are called not to curse the
world and mourn over it, but rather to
bless the world and rejoice in its bene-
! fits. The sacrifice has been made for
our sins. Mans condemnation has
been lifted. The great salvation has
been wrought and brought, and the
shining pillars of Gods eternal temple
are going up. His promises, like lad
ders of light, lean against the blue
Heavens. Christians are asked to over
come the world, and rule it, and use it,
for the Divine glory. God curses moth
ing that can be restored to purity and
holiness. He permits nothing to be
lost, which can he saved. In all Gods
dealings with you, he seeks only to
take away the evil and to add to the
good. You lose nothing by his disci-
pines, only as you reject them. You
gain everything if you submit to him in
steadfast trust.
Look out upon the world this winter
day, still and smiling in divine beauty,
and see what estates are yours. lndi-
viduas it is tue, have n legal claim
upon this home, upon that field, upon a
forest here, and garden lawn there,
upon parks and fountains glancing in
the sun, upon gems and flowers, but
how little of the worlds best riches
can be fenced off and kept apart by
any one man.
All that is most beautiful and enjoy
able, the poorest Christian may share
and be happy in, as well as the richest,
and none can hinder.
l own all these pleasant dwellings
and cultivated grounds, all these fine
churches and public institutions, and
take delight in them. The OutgOings
of the mornings, and the crimson ira
Gerry of the evenings, are mine. The
skies are mine, and all the hills and
mountains, plains and wales. The riv-
ers and meadow lands are mine, and
the golden harvests that festoon the
year.
Mine are the sun and moon and
stars, mine the day with its sweet light,
and the night with its darkness and
mystery, and song. The birds that
sing, the flowers that bloom, the winds
that whisper, the music that charms,
and the peace that is everywhere.
They are Gods gifts to me, his child.
Am not rich and glad of heart ? They
are yours too, this vast globe and all
that in it is. Yours to have, and to
hold, and to enjoy by divine right till
God takes you hence to better things.
Are you not rich ? Let us count up
our wealth and be grateful, and muir
muir no more. A poor woman went in
to a conservatory and asked to buy a
! flower to put into a little pale hand
that was still, for that morning her
fair faced invalid daughter had gone
home to sing with the beautiful in her
Fathers house. 'My MASTER" said the
keeper, sis not a merchant to sell, but
king to give. Take what you will fol-
| the child"
This world is Gods house. He is not
merchant to keep debt and credit.
He is a bountiful father to give, to
those who come unto him.
No man can enclose and shut away