Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-04-25

parency' THE crystal can not equal
1t"
Beautiful in its symmetry. When it
presents Gods character 1t does not
present Him as having love like u great
protuberance on one side oil His nature,
but makes that love in harmony with
His justice-a love that will accept
all those who come to Him, and q JUS
tice that will bv no means clear the
guilty. Beautiful religion in the senti-
ment it implants! Beautiful religion in
the hope it kindles! Beautiful religion
in tho fact that it proposes TO garland
and enthrone and emparsdise an immor-
tai spirit. Solomon says it is lily.
Paul saws it is u crown. The Apoca-
lypse saws it is fountain kissed OF the
sun. Ezekiel says it is bridegroom
come to fetch home bride. While Job
in the text takes up whole vase oil
precious stones-the topaz and the sap
phire and - chrysoprasus-and he
takes out of this beautiful vase Just one
crystal and holds it up until 1t CLEANS
in the warm light of the eastern sky,
and he exclaims, 1.-The crystal can not
equal it."
o, it is not stale religion, 1t is not a
stupid religion, it is not toothless hag
as some seem 10 have represented 1T:
1t is not Meg Merrilies with shrivell-
ed arm come 10 scare the world. II Is
the fairest daughter Of God, heiress oil
all His wealth. Her cheek the MORN
ing sky: her voice the music OF the
south wind; her step the dance OF the
sea- Come and WOO her. The Spirit
and the Bride say come, and whatsoever
will. let him come. Do you agree with
Solomon and say it is o lily? Then
pluck it and wear it over your heart.
DO you agree with Paul and say it is a
crown? Then let this hour be your
coronation. Do you agree with the
Apocalypse and say it is a springing
fountain? Then come and Stake the
thirst OF your soul. DO you believe with
Ezekiel and say it is foliaged cedar!
Then come under its shadow.
Again, religion is superior to the crys-
tai in its transformations. The dia-
mond is only crystallization of coal.
Carbonate OF lime rises till it becomes
calcite or aragonite. Red oxide OF cop
per crystalliZes into cubes octached-
rons. Those crystals which adorn our
persons and our homes and our mu-
seums have only been resurrected from
forms that were fer from lustrous. Sci
eptists for ages have been examining
these wonderful transformations But
| tell you in the Gospel OF the Son oil
God there is more wonderful trans
formation. Over souls by reason Of sin
black as coal and hard as iron, God by
his comforting grace stoops and says:
"They shall be Mine in the day when
make up My jewels"
what say you, Twill God wear Jew
elry?" If He wanted it, He could make
the stars OF heaven His belt and have
evening cloud for the sandals of His
feet: but He does not want that adorn-
ment. He will not have that jewelry.
When God wants jewelry He comes
down and digs it out OF the depths and
darkness OF sin. These souls arc all
crystalizations OF mercy. He puts them
on and He wears them in the presence
of the whole universe. Ee wears them
on the hand that was nailed. over the
heart that was pierced, on the temples
that were stung. ''They shall he
Nine" saith the Lord. lin the dav
when | make up Ny jewels" Wonder.
ful transformation. The crystal can
not equal IT," There she is, u waii Of
the street: but she shall be a sister Of
charity. There he is, u sot in the
ditch: but he shall preach the gospel.
There, behind the bars OF a prison. but
he shall reign with Christ forever.
Where sin aboundcd grace shall much
more abound. The carbon become the
solitaire. THE crystal caunct equal
it.
Now. I have no liking FOR those peo-
pie who are always charging in Chris
tian meetings about their early dissi-
patton. DO not go into the particulars,
my brothers. Simply say you were
sick, but make no display OF your
ulcers. Tho chief stock in trade of
some ministers and Christian workers
seems to be their early crimes and dis
sipations. The number OF pockets you
picked and the number of chickens you
stole make very poor prayer meeting
rhetoric. Besides that it discourages
other Christian people who never got
drunk or stole any thing. But 1t is
pleasant TO know that those who were
farlhest down have been brought high
est up. Out of internal serfdom into
eternal liberty. Out OF darkness into
light. From coal to the solitaire. "The
crystal cannot equal it,"
But, my friends. the chief transform
ing power OF the Gospel will not be seen
in this world and not until heaven
breaks upon the soul. When that light
falls upon the soul then you will see the
crystals. o, what q magnificent setting
for these jewels OF eternity. some
times hear people representing heaven
in way that is far from attractive to
me. 1t seems almost vulgar heaven
US they represent it with great blotches
Of color and bands OF music making
leafening racket. John represents
heaven as exquisitely beautiful. Three
crystals. In one place he says: "Her
light was like precious stone, clear as
crystal" In another place he says: II
sotv q Y,tty.o ,,it,aY, from ,tu1oY. tho fhpona