The Dickinson press., 1892-08-20

AA0 AaNttAiseiASo 1 St1AAGAiSS CAie Oettuey
OF Heshbon iishpools, the dew OF the
night, and the splendor OF tho morn
ing-all contribute to the richness OF
Solomon's style when he comes to
speak OF the glory of tho church. In
contrast with his eulogium OF the
church, look at the de%nunc.atory
things that are said in our day in re-
gard to it. If one stakeholder can
become q cheat. docsth destroy tho
whole company? Ii IL soldier be q
coward, does that condemn the whole
army? And yet there are so many iii
this day so mphilosophic, so illogical,
so dishonest, and so unfair as to de-
'nounce the entire church of God be-
cause there are here and there bad
men belonging to it. There are those
why say that thechurch OF God is not
up to the spirit OF the day in which we
live; but have to tell you that, not
outstanding all. the swift wheels,
and the flying shnttles, and the light
ming communications, the world has
never yet been able to keep up with
the church. AS high as God is above
man, SO high is the church OF God
higher than
ALL HUMAN INSTITUTIONS.
From her lamp the best discover
les CT the world haye been lighted.
The best OF our inventors have be-
lieved in the Christian religion-the
F'ultons, the Morses, the Wh;tneys,
and the Livingstones. She has owned
che best OF telescopes and Leyden
jars; and while infidelity and atheism
have gone blindfolded among the
most startling discoveries that were
about to be developed, the earth and
the air and the sea have made quick
and magnificent responses to Chris
tian philosophers.
Yet there are people who are
ashamed to belong to the Church OF
Christ, and if you ask them whether
they are in such associations they
say: eyes, ] sometimes attend the
church," instead of realizing the fact
that there is no honor compared with
the honor OF being q member OF the
Church OF God. l look back with Joy
to the most honored moment OF my
life, when in the old country meeting
house the minister OF Christ unnounc-
ed my name as q follower OF the
Lord.
l propose to speak OF the threefold
glory OF the church rs it is described
i'll the text:
First, "Fair ns the moon." God,
who has determined that everything
shall be berutiful in it's season, has
not left the night without charm. The
moon rules the night. The stars are
only set Is gems in her tiara. Some
times before the sun has gone down
the moon mounts her throne, but tits
after nightfall that she sways her un.
disputed scepter over island and con-
tinent, river and sea. Under her
shining the plainest maple leaves be-
come shiverine silver, the lakes from
shore to shore look like shining mir
rors, and the ocean under her glance
with great tiles comes up painting up.
on the beach, mingling, as it were.
foam and fire.
Now, says my text, s'Who is she,
fair as the moon?" Ourcnswer is the
Church. Like the moon. she is a
borrowed light. She gathers up the
glory Of a Savior's sutferings, n
Savior's death, q S:lvior's resurrec-
ton, q Savior's ascension. and pours
that light on palace and dungeon, on
squalid heathenism and elaborate
scepticism, on Widows tears and
martyrs robe Of flame, on weeping
renitence and loud-mouthed scorn.
She S the only institution today
That gives any light TO the world. In
to her portal the poor come and get
the sympathy of a once pillowless
Christ, the bereavcd come and see
the bottle in which God saves ali our
tears, and the captives come, and on
the sharp corners OF her affairs dash
of their chains, and the thirsty come
and put their cup under the Crock cl
Ages" which. pours forth from its
smitten side living WATER. sparkling
water, crystalline water, from under
the throne OF God and the Lamb.
Blessed the bell that calls her worship
srs to prayer. Blessed the water in
which her members are baptized
Blessed the wine that CLOVIS in hel
sacramentai cup. Blessed tire songs
on which her devotions travel up and
the angels of God travel town.
take a step further in my subject
CLEAR as the SUM-" After u season o.
storm or fog, how you are thrilled
when the sun comes Gut at noon
dayl The mists traveiup hill above
hill, mountain above mountain, unit
they are sky lost. The forests ar.
full OF chirp and buzz and song; honey
makers on the log, birds beak pound
ing on tho bark, the chatter of tn,
rC,,;nrol m tho ,nH <Lo on1i 80 ~
hawk out OF the clear sky, make yo.
thankful for the sunshine which nakei
all the world SO busy and 80 glad
The same sun which in the mornin,
kindled confasrations among til,
castles OF cloud, stoops down to pain
the lily white, and tine buttcrcup vel
low. and the for Eet-nle-not blue.
The Church OF God will yet come tx
, full meridian, aud i'll that day all tn
mountains of the world will be sacret
mountains, touched with the glory Q
Calvary, and all streams will flow b,
, the mount of God like cool Sloan
and all lakes be radiant with gospe
memories like Gcnnesaret. and a!
, islands OF the sea be crowned wit
apocalyptic vision like Patmos, an
all cities be sacred as Jerusalem, an
all gardens luxuriant as Paradise
with God walking in the cool OF til
, day. Then tile chorals of grace wi
: drown out all the anthems OF eartl
. Then the throne o Christ will overta
' all earthly authority. Then thecrow
: of Jesus will outAame all other col
: : onets. Sin destroyed. Death dead
u He'll defeated. The church triumph
ant. All the darknesses OF SIN, all tn
harnesses o; trouble all the darl
nesses OF earthly mystery, hieingthen
: selves to their dens. "Clear as til
. SUM Clear as the sum-
Further, Terrible as an army wit
!. banners" take one more step
this subject and say that if you WEI