Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-06

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were taken from Heaven, it would
shrink into an insignificant affair.
If all mystery is extracted from God.
he must become. less than man for
man is incomprehensiblc Thank
God for mysteries, for they whisper
to us that beyond and above Us are
mountains Of knowledge and being,
mountains that we may yet climb
(b) These mysteries bid us be hum
ble. Here we find the corner stone
of egotlsm. The man who sees no
mysteries about him naturally be-
comes arrogant and contemplate.
The quack sees nothing strange and
mysterious In the science of medicine
and so becomes boastful Of his com
plcte mastery of its principles. The
little scientist puts all creation into
his little theory and so becomes III
Tolerant. The presunplious theOlo.
gian settles 10 a nicely every and all
questions as to things on earth, and
things in heaven, and things under
earth and at once sets himself up a. a
dictator, ready to argue for willie
then TO bring in the thumb screws.
No man with brain and Il heart
can look upon the Heavens, or peep
into the laws Of nature, or think of
Go !, or even of poor man himself
without being crushed with a sense
Of his impotence. Thank God for
Mysteries, they make and keep us
humble. (c) They are the steps to
larger existence. II is not knowing
things which makes man great, it il
the getting to know them The com.
bincd knowledge of Socrates and
Solomon would make a man but little
better than w II Tiled library index !;
but ii he solves the mysteries be-
tween his low estate and the COM
bine height Of those men he cOuld
rule the world and play with the
stars. As we wrcstlc with mystcrie,
we grow, and as we solve them we
leap into higher being. Then, thank
God for mysteries, for over there we
hall, with his help, climb into the
ll,aveni.
3. This probation is full of disnp
pointncmts.
OIe of the greatest of modern au-
th0rs has filled one of his greatest
books with disapl ointments. In so
doiug he has shown his power and
genius he accomplished his purpose.
lie introduces to Us several chardcter>
whom he wishes us to know, to ana
lyze, to talk with, and 10 remember
AS he brings them together they lie
gin TO converse and 10 adjust lhen-
selves to each other as in real life,
and soon the story begins to be inter-
esting, too interesting for ii fixes the
attention and diverts our minds from
the study of the characters. AT this
point he cuts the story short OIL, and
begins a new story with thr same
characters. This is done four or five
times, so when we close the book we
know no story at all, yet these char
actcrs live with us as people with
whom we have been intimate.
God, too, has purpose TO accom-
plish with men, and life, true, real
story, often becomes too intense to
them. lie is forced, if he would az
complish his object, to fling disap-
pointments and disaster upon them.
Sometimes he finds it necessary to
scatter wealth, To send sickness, to
blight plans let men take root in earth
aud so be lost. 1t is told of u great
artist that standing on scailo,d he
painted masterpiece ms le the
dome of st. Peters. lie become in-
fatuated with his conception, and lost
in admiration he stepped back and
back again TO get new views. His
assistant saw his foot raised for one
more step when at the edge of the
scaflold. II was too late to speak, SO
he with one daub of his brush ruined
the picture, and Angelo surang for
ward, saved. God, prompted by his
love, often spoils our pictures.
4. This probation is full of suffer-
ing.
In Hebrews II 10y we find this
strange expression: "For it became
him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing
many sons into glory 10 make the
captain of their salvation perfect
through suffering" Yes, Jesus was
made perfect through suffering.
Heie we run upon great truth, a
universal truth, viz: All progress and
perfection is made through human
suffering. Strange but true. Study
history aud you see this is true study
yourself and you will know it is true.
We must travel over rough stones and
rugged mountains if we would go
upwards. The human mind and
soul must be in travail to give birth
to greater thoughts, to great deeds.
Then, again, let us htank God even for
suffering.
5. This probation will fix our dcs-
tiny forever. AS we emerge from
the grave Heaven will smile and hell
frown, or hell will smile and Heaven
frown; Jesus will welcome and the
Devil flee, or the Devil seize us and
Jesus will turn away.
"Behold l come quickly; and my
reward is with me to give each one
as his work is"
My brother, such is your life. De
wise and act promptly. There is
hope for you to-day.
When Tried Always Preferred.