The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-07-18
The Cynosure of Humanity.

LcSStI Dcdl. WHICH CONTAINS tHo ROAR CIdT,
the eye OF the mariner is often directed,
in order that he may calculate his where
abouts.
So also is there cynosure which guides
the needle of life's barque and leads the
weary mariner to haven of rest.
''Oh. where shall rest be found?" is and
must ever be the inquiry of humanity.
This fact will not at all be surprising. when
we remark, that perfect happiness, both
temporal and eternal, connot be conceived
of. unless there be a state of rest. Do not
most bible promises point to such state?
This man yearns for; this is the coalition of
happiness for time and for eternity.
When evening comes, The plowman
homeward plods his weary way" he seeks
rest Then, the man of business returns
from the turmoil of the city: he seeks rest.
Then, the student lays aside his books: he
also seeks rest The various occupations
of man are but a WEAKNESS of the flesh and
demand rest. All creation signs for it,
Rest, therefore. is the cynOSure of
humanity. Observe the structure of the
universe: there you see a striking illustra-
ton of the statement which heads this
paragraph. 1t appears to us as though the
cosmogony OF the universe breaches this
doctrine. The sun is the center of the solar
system: a number of planets revOlve
around it: the whole is bound together by
force emanating from the sun. known as
the law OF gravitatiOn. OF like structure
are supposed to be other. similar systems.
together constituting complex whole. and
sweeping around common center. Posi-
bly, you call this speculation. yet who dareS
gainSay us when we say that this grand
center is the Throne of God" where the
Almighty is seated to hold the rens of the
universe? 1t does not at all seem impossi-
ble as the elysium of eternal rest toward
which the eyes of the Just are directed, is
the center of all. And because OF the felc-
ity, (lf builded on the word of truth) which
the cannonized souls of the Just enjoy there,
it is a cynosure to mankind. around which.
as by the law of gravitatiOn, all things
which enter into the plan of mans future
happiness. revolve like the weary wanderers
of heaven. How typical, then, the idea of
the structure of the universe to future hap
piness, which, if man seeks to enjoy. eXerts
an influence on his actions. like fountain
casting forth its spray; it shapes and directs
the life of man accordingly. To return to
the figure; it causes his actions to revOlve
about this centre.
The sweetest words of our language are
said to be: Mother" Home" and ''Hea-
ven." The reason is evident. The ideas
of which they are the embodiment, cluster,
as it were. around the idea of rest. When
we were unable to care for ourselves. we
found rest as we leaned on our mothers
bosom. When amid the tolls and trials of
life we are weary. we seek and find rest at
Go cbol1 If no whom &c
ended. when our battles are DER; then we
shall lay our armOr down and rest in peace
in heaven, the home of the weary soul.
AS a candle in the night renders darkness
more intense, so rest becomes SWeeter to-
and is more appreciated by, the weary.
The Sluggard is not nearly so content when
he rests. as he who .labOred hard. Weari-
ness enhances the pleasure of repose
WEAKNESS is antecedent to the complete
enjoyment of rest. 1T is a cessation from
labor" The conditions of this state of be-
ing are only then fulfilled. when all moles-
tatiOns which veX and embarrass the truest
state of felicity. are taken away. Such
rest we cannot find upon earth. We are
called to labor. We have task to perform.
and often, while thus engaged, we look to
that cynOsure and cry:
20. land of rest for thee sigh,
When will the moment come
When shall lay my armor down,
And dwell in peace at homer
Those. then. who seek rest in this world,
seek in vain. Perfect rest cannot be found
on the shores of time. Where then, shall
rest be found? "1ell me. We winged winds.
:. thou mighty deep. -. serenest moon"
The voices of nature murmur, 1--WE
know not" Tell me, Word of Truth.
The answer comes in the words of christ,
"All We that are weary. .......I will give
you rest. "-Yosapa, in The Anchor, Hope
College, Mich.