The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-11

waters make pathway Of inlaid pearl for
the light to walk upon; and there Is
morning on the sea. The crags uncover
their SCARED visage; and there is morn
ing among the mountains. Now you 60
home, and how tame your picture of the
morning seems in contrast! Greater than
that shall be the contrast between this
Scriptural view of God and that which
we shall have when standing face to
face. This is picture of the morning;
that will be the morning itself.
Again. My texts are true Of the So
viourh excellency. By image and
rhythm of expression and startling anti
thesis, Christ is set forth-His love. His
compassion, His work, His life, His
death, His resurrection. We are chal-
lenged to measure it, to compute it, to
weigh it. In the hour Of our broken en-
thrallment, we mount up into high ex-
perience of His love, and shout until the
countenance glows, and the blood
bounds, and the whole stature is exhila-
rated, 81 have found Him." And yet it
is through glass, darkly. We see not
half of the compassionate face. We see
not half the warmth of that loving
heart We wait for death to let us rush
into His outspread arms. Then we shall
be face to face. Not q shadow then,
but substance. Not hope then, but
the fulfilling Of all prefgurement.
That will be Il magnificent I'M
folding. The rushing out in view of
all hidden excellency, the coming again
of a long absent Jesus to meet us-not
in rags and in perjury and in death, but
amidsta light and pomp and outbursting
joy such as none but glorified intelli-
gence could experience. O, to gaze full
upon the brow that was lacerated, upon
the side that was pierced, upon the feet
that were nailed; to stand close up in
the presence of Him who prayed for US
on the mountain, and thought Of us by
the sea, and agonized for us in the gar
den, and died for US in horrible crucifix-
ion; to feel of Him, to embrace Him, to
take His hand, to kiss His feet, to run
our fingers along the scars of ancient
suffering, to say: "This is my Jesusl
He gave Himself for me. shall never
leave His presence. shall forever be-
hold His glory. I shall eternally hear
His voice. Lord Jesus, now I see Thee!
/ behold where the blood started, where
thetears coursed, where the face was
distorted. ! have waited for this hour.
shall never turn my back on Thee. No
more looking through imperfect glasses.
No more studying Thee in the darkness.
But as long as this throne stands, and
this everlasting river flows, and those
garlands bloom, and those arches Of VIC
tory remain to greet home Heavens
conquerors. so long l shall see Thee,
Jesus Of my choice, Jesus Of my song,
Jesus Of my triumph-forever and for
ever--face to face" eru II.
The idea of my texts is just as true
when applied to Gods providence. Who
has not come to some paths in life thor
ougly inexplicablc? You say, "What
does this mean? What is God going to
do with me now? He tells me that all
things work together for good. This
does not look like it." You continue to
study the dispensation, and after awhile
guess about what God means. "He
means to teach me this. l think He
means to teach me that. Perhaps it is
to humble my pride. Perhaps 1t Is to
make me feel more dependent. Per-
haps to teach me the uncertainty of
life" But, after all, 1t is only : guess
"a looking through the glass, darkly.
The Bible assures US there shall be q
satisfactory unfolding. "What I do
thou knowest not now, but thou
shalt know hereafter" You will know
why God took to Himself that only
child. Next door there was a house.
hold Of seven children. Why not take
one from that group instead of your
only one? Why single out the dwelling
in which there was only one heart beat
ing responsive to yours? Why did God
give you a child at all If He meant to
take it away? Why fill the cup of you,
gladness trimming If He meant to dash
it down? Why allow all the tendrils Of
your heart to wind around that object
and then, when every fiber of your own
| life seemed to he interlocked with the
child's life, with strong hand to tear you
apart, until you fall bleeding and
crushed, your dwelling desolate, your
hopes blasted. your heart broken? Dc
you suppose that God will explain that
Yes. He will make it palmer than any
mathematical problem-as plain as thai
two and two make four. In the light Of
the throne you will see that it was right
all right. "Just and true are all thy
ways, IuOu hlIS VI SulHbo. IlCIC 10
man who can not get on in the world
He always seems to buy at the wrong
time and sells at the worst disadvantage
He tries this enterprise, and fails; thai
business, and is disappointed. The mar
next door to him has lucrative
trade, but he lacks customers. A new
prospect opens. His income is increased
But that year his family is sick; and tn,
profits are expended in trying to cur,
the ailments. He gets a discouraged
look. Becomes faithless as to success
Begins to expect disasters. Others wal
for something to turn up; he waits for i
| to turn down. Others, with only half al
much education and character, get OF
twice as well. He sometimes guesses a
to what it all means. He says: "Per
haps riches would spoil me. Perhap
poverty is necessary to keep me humble
Perhaps might, if things were other
wise, be tempted into dissipation. Blu
there is no complete solution of the mys
terry. He sees through glass darkly
and must wait for higher unfolding
Will there be an explanation? Yes; Coz
will take that man in the light of tn,
throne and say: "Child immortal, hea
the explanation! You remember tn,
failing of that great enterprise. This i
the explanation. And you will answer
sit is all right"
! see, every day, profound mysterie
of Providence. There is no question W,
ask oftener than Why? There are hun
dreds of graves that need to be ex
planned. Hospitals for the blind an,
lame, asylums for the idiotic and insane
almshouses for the destitute, and a worl,
of pain and misfortune that deman,
more than human solution. All. Go,
will clear it all up. In the light tina
pours from the throne no dark myster
can live. Things now utterly inscruta
BILE will he illumined as plainly a