Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-01

Now infer from this that the study Of
natural objects will increase our religious
knowledge. II David and Job and John
and Paul could not afford 10 let 60 without
observation one passing cloud. or rift OF
snow. or spring blossom. you cannot afford
to let them go without study. Men and
women OF God most eminent In all ages for
faith and zeal indulged In such observa-
tons-Payson and Baxter and Doddridge
and Hannah More. That man is not worthy
the name Of Christian who saunters list
lessly among these magnificent disclosures
of divine power around. beneath and above
US, stupid and uninstructed. They are not
worthy TO live In a desert. for that has its
fountains and palm trees; nor in regions OF
everlasting ice, for even there the stars
kindle their lights, and auroras flash. and
huge icebergs shiver in the morning light.
and Gods power sits upon them as upon a
great white throne. Yet there are Chris
tians in the church who look upon all such
tendencies of mind and heart as soft senti-
mentalities, and because they believe this
printed revelation of God are content to be
inAdels in regard to all that has been writ
ten in this great book OF the universe.
written in letters Of stars, in paragraphs OF
consultations. and illustrated with sunset
and thunder cloud and spring morning.
/ infer, also. the transcendent importance
of Christ's religion. Nothing is sofar down.
and nothing is so high up. and nothing so
far out, but God makes il pay to the Chris
tian religion. II snow and tempest and
dragon are expected to praise God. suppose
you he expects no homage from your soul?
When God has written his truth upon every
thing around you, suppose you he did not
mean you to open your eyes and read it2
Finally, learn from this subject what an
honorable position the Christian occupies
when nothing is so great and glorious in
nature but is made to edify. defend and in
struct him. Hold up your heads. sons
and daughters of the Lord Almighty, that
l may see how you bear your honors.
Though now you may think yourself unbe-
friended, this springs soft wind, and next
summers harvest of barley, and next au-
tumn's glowing fruits, and next winters
storms, all seasons, all elements, zephyr
and euroclydon, roses breath and thunder
cloud, cleaning light and thick darkness.
are sworn to defend you. and cohorts OF
angels would fly to deliver you from peril,
| and the great God would unsheath his
| sword and arm the universe in your cause
rather than that harm should touch you
| with one of its hghtest fingers. AS the
mountains around about Jerusalem. so the
Lord is around about His people from this
| time forth for evermormore."
| Oh for more sympathy with the natural
world. and then we should always have a
Bible open before us. and we could take a
lesson from the most fieeting circumstances,
as when a storm came down upon Eng
land Charles Wesley sat in room watch
| ing it through an open window. and fright
| ened by the lightning and thunder little
| bird flew in and nestled in the bosom OF the
sacred poet, and as he gently stroked it and
fe,A the wild beatings of its heart, he turned
to his desk and wrote that hymn which will
be sung while the world lasts:
| Jesus, lover of my soul,
| Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the billows near me roll,
| While the tempest still is high
/ hide me, 0 my Saviour, hide,
\ Till the storm of life be past
| Safe into the haven guide,
| o receive my soul at last.