Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-03


right klnd OF snip. II yea have mere
worldly philosophy for the hulk, and
pride fas = sal, s1ld self coacest for the
helm, she frat sqnsH viii destroy yoo-
But II yoa take the Bible for yoar craft,
me farther you 90 tine better, and after
Won have goEs ten thousand ruriohgs
Christ viii still command, "Lenneh oct
into the deep" Ask some such question
a. Who Is Gsody aad 20 On for ten years
asking IL. Asa II s1 the gate VI every
parable; amid sne excitsnelE OF every
miracle; by the sOlitsrineea Of every Pa
triarchal thrashins floor; amid the white
faces OF Sennschorib's slam turned up
into the moonlight; amid tho flying
ehariots If tiss Golden City.
Ask who Jesus rs, and keep ON asking
IL Of every Bible lily. Of every raven, Of
every star. II every craxed brain cured.
Of every blind man come 10 sunlight, or
every coin Ia fzh's mouth, Of every
loaf that got ~ Do five loayes, Of every
wrathful sea paeified, u every pulssless
arm stretched forth m graduation; ask
IL Of bis mother, II Augustus, Of Herod.
Of the 5yrophenician woman, Of the
dansel that woke mp from the death
sleep, Of Joseph, who had him buried.
Of the angel posted as sentinel al his
tomb, of the dumb earth that shook and
groaned and Numbered when he died.
The BIBLE Is A STAFF.
A missionary In France offered Bible
in an humble dwelling. The man took
it, tore out a dozen pages and~ith them
began 10 light his pipe. Some years after
the missionary happened in the same
house. The family had just lost their
son IN the Crirnean war, and his Bible
had been sent back home. The mission
airy took il up and saw that it was the
very same Bible that he had left in the
house and from which the leaves had
been torn. The dying soldier had writ
ten on one Of the leaves OF the Bible,
Rejected and scoffed at, but finally be-
heved in and saved" The Bible may be
used To light the pipe of witticism by
some. but for US il Is a staff In life, a
pillow in death and our joy for eternity.
Walk all up and down this Bible do
main! Try every path. Plunge In at
the prophecies and come out at the
epistles. Gro with the patriarchs until
you meet the evangeiists. Rummage
and ransack, as children who are not
satisfied when they come to a new house
until they know what is in every room
and into what every door opens. Open
every jewel casket. Examine the sky
lights. Forever be asking questions.
Put TO a higher use than was intended
the oriental proverb, Hold all the skirts
Of thy mantle extended when heaven is
raining gold"
Passing from Bonn to Coblentz on
the Rhine, the scenery is comparatively
tame. But from Coblentz to Mayence
it is enchanting. You sit on deck and
feel as if this last flash Of beauty must
exhaust the scene; but in a moment
there Is a turn of the river. which COW
ers up the former view with more lux
uriant vineyards, and more defiant cas-
ties, and holder bluffs, vine wreathed,
and grapes SO ripe that if the hills be
touched they would bleed their rich life
away into the bowls of Bingen and
Hockheimer. Here and there there are
streams of water melting into the river,
like smaller joys swallowed in the
bosom of great gladness.
And when night begins to throw its
black mantle over the shoulder of the
hills. and you are approaching disem-
barkation at Mayence, the lights along
the shore fairly bewitch the scene with
| their beauty, giving one q thrill that he
| feels but once, yet that lasts him for
ever. So this river of Gods Word is not
straight stream, but winding splen-
| dor-at every turn new wonders to at
tract, still riper vintage pressing to the
| brink and crowded with castles OF
strength-Stolzenfels and Johannisber.
| ger as nothing compared with the strong
| tower into which the righteous run and
are saved-and our Decentralization al
| last IN the evening amid the lights that
CLEAN from the shore of heaven. The
troubleis that the vast majority of BIZ
BILE voyagers stop at Coblentz, where the
chief giories begin.
! A BoUNpLEsS SEA.
The sea of Gods Word Is not like Gen
nesaret, twelve miles by six, but bound
less. and in any one direction you car
sail on forever Why then confine your
self TO short psalm or 10 few verses
of an epistles The largest fish are not
near the shore. Hoist all sail TO the
winds of heaven. Take hold of both
oars and pull away. Be like some of the
whalers that went out from New Bed
ford or Portsmouth to be gone for two
or three years. Yea, calculate on life
time voyage. You do not want TO land
until you land in heaven. Sail away
o We mariners. for eternity! Launch
out into the dsepl
The text Is appropriate TO all Chris
tians Of shallow experience. Doubts aIiC
fears have in our day been almost elected
70 the parlisment Of Christian grsces
Some consider il bad sign not 20 hav,
any doubts. Doubts and fears are MOI
signs Of health. but testers and carbun
Giles. You have valuable house OF
farm. IL il suggested that the title il
not good. You employ counsel Yor
have the deeds examined. You search
the record for mortgages, Judgments
and henA You are not satisfied unit
yOu have a certificate. signed by tht
great seal Of the state. assuring you thai
the title is good. Yet how many leave
their title 70 heaven an undecided mat
teri Why DO you not go to the records
and find out7 Give Yourself no rest. DAY
or night. until you can read your title
clear 70 mansions in the skies.
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