The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-14
bles vanity and exalts worth as the rev.

bles vanity and exalts worth us the rev.
elation of God made in the Bible.
Twice in the sacred volume, once in
the Old Testament and once in the
New, we hear the command "Son of
Man. stand upon thy feet" and each
time it is the majesty of Heaven lifting
up the PROSTATE worshiper. When that
first vision was granted to the priest
Ezekiel-when he saw break out about
him all the splendors of Heavenly
estate-wheels of fire and wings OF
seraph, hosts of celestial armies and
ministers of Divine power-when he
stood suddenly before that throne which
was beautiful and bright as an individ-
ual sapphire and circled by the bow
(which one sees after the rain"-lt is
not to be wondered at that he fell awe
struck dumb. That which wakes our
establishment is that out Of "the excel
ent glory" comes the voice: "Son OK
Man, stand upon thy feet"
The practical repetition of this is
found in the more familiar incident of
Pauls conversion. 1t is the Heavenly
light which prostrates him; it is the
Heavenly voice which raises him up
with the reassuring word: Rise, and
stand upon thy feet" That is but a
poor conception of the truth which sees
the prostration, but like Paul's COM
panions, fails to understand the voice.
Man is the only creature of this earth
that can stand self-poised. From the
moment that the creeping child swings
itself up upon its dimpled feet and
stands smiling back upon its proud
mother, it is the worlds prince. That
which Burns calls mans Heaven
erected face" marks him as one "be-
meath whose feet" all creatures are
divinely put. Beautiful as is the painted
trout, the silvery grayling; exquisite
as are the colors of the bird unfolding in
its fight the ''azure, green and gold;'
plant as are the flexile members of the
ape, it is man only who can stand erect
as spear and look Heaven in the eye.
For generation the court of the
Chinese Empire was closed to the am
| bassadors of christendom from the fact
that this "Son of Heaven" received
neither Prince nor plenipotentiary ex-
cept as he crawled before the throne.
But the majesty of the Most High, as
revealed to us in the blessed Word, eX-
ats that dignity by grace which was
conferred by creation. True power is
always simple, and true worth sympa-
thetic. There is no need to sing STEM
netts lines:
Forbid it that Omnipotence
Should crush feeble worm,
for it is the part of petty power to be
only terrible-it is the part of Omnipo-
tence to be gracious. Many prince
ling in India rides loftily through his
ranks of PROSTATE subjects, while the
English Premier, upon whose word his
semblance of power depends, rides UNI
noticed through the cowds of London
in hanson.
Christianity exalts, never degrades,
man. 1t pricks the bubble of his van
ity, but it stands all his nobler facul-
ties and ambitions upon firm footing.
1t strikes off the bondage of servile
fear and enriches him with the liberty
of the sons of God The chains of sin
are broken and the soul leaps as the
lame man whom Peter babe to rise.
The shame of guilt is gone and with it
: , the downcast face and averted eye. Let
it be understood and preached that the
Gospel always humbles but never hui
initiates; that out Of the very efful-
gence which prostrates comes the voice
that bids him: "Son of Man, stand
upon thy feet."-Interior.