Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-12

while the old swallows watched, and no
one in the temple was cruel enough to dis
tllrb either the old swallows or the young
swallows, and David bursts out IN rhal-
sody. saving, 1.-The swallow hath found "A
nest for herself, where she may lay her
Young, even thine affairs. o Lord of hosts,
my king and my GodT
Yes, in this ornithology of the Bible |
| find that God is determined TO impress
upon us the architecture Of birds nest
and the anatomy of birds wing. Twenty
times does the Bible refer to a birds nest:
Where the birds make their nest, "As
a bird that VANDERBILT from her nest
Though thou set the nest among the stars, !"
"The birds of the air have their nests" and
10 on Nests in the trees, nests on the
rocks. nests on the affairs. Why does God
| call us so frequently to consider the birds
nestf Because il is one of the most won
drous of all styles of architecture and a
lesson Of proyidential care, which is the
most important lesson that Christ in my
text conveys
Why, just look at the birds nest and see
what is the prospect that God is going 10
take care of you. Here Is the bluehird's
nest under the caves Of the house. Here IS
is the bluejays nest ia the orchard. Here
is the grosheak's nest on "A tree branch
hanging over the water, so as to be free
from attack Chickadee's nest in the stump
OF an old tree. Oh, the goodness Of God in
showing the birds how 10 build their nestsl
What carpenters, what masons, what
weavers, what spinners the birds arel Out
Of what small resources they make so
aypmfgifa home fftrts4f nil uFfal
wreathed. Out Of moses, out Of sticks,
out Of nchens, out Of horsehair out Of
spiders web out Of threads swept from the
door by the housewife, out Of the wool Of
the sheep in the pasture field Uphol
stored by leayes actually sewed together by
its own sharp bill Cushioned with feath.
ers from its own breast Mortared to-
Pether with the gum Of trees and the saliva
Of its own tiny bill Such symmetry, sucl
adaptation. such convenience, such geome-
try Of structure
THE DIVINE PLAN IN NATURE.
Surely these nests were built by some
plan They did not just happen 50. Who
drafted the plan for the birds nest1 Godl
And do You not think that if he plans
such house for chafinch. for an OIL /
ole, for a bobolink, for sparrow, he win /
see to it that you always have homer /
"Ye are Of more value than many spar
rows" Whatever else surrounds you, yen 1
can have what the Bible calls "the feathers 4
of the Almighty" just think Of a rest |
like that, the warmth Of H. the softneSs Of 4
il, the safety Of 1.-THE feathers Of the Al
mighty"
No fiamingo outGashing the tropical sun
set ever had such brilliancy Of pinion; no
robin redbreast ever had plumage dashed
with such crimson and purple and orange
and gold-'the feathers Of the Almighty"
Do you not feel the touch Of them now on
forehead and cheek and spirit, and was
there ever such tenderness of broOding-
''the feathers Of the Almighty" So also
In this ornthololD Of the Bible God keeps
unpressing us with the anatomy Of birds
wing
Over fifty times does the old Book alIude
10 the wing-"Wings Of n dove Wings
OF the morning" wings Of the wind"
''Sun Of righteousness with healing In his
wings" wings OF the Almighty "All
fowl Of every wing" What does it all
meanf 1t suggests uplifting. IL tells you
Of flight upward. 1t means to remind that
you yourself have wings. David cried
put, "Oh, that had wings ike dove that
might fly away and be at restr' Thank
sod that You have better wings than any
love Of longest or swiftest flight Gagged
low in bars Of flesh are those wings, but
he day comes when they will be liberated
set ready for ASCENSION Take the words
If the old hymn and TO the tune unto which
hat hymn is married sing:
Rise, my soul. and stretch Thy wing:
Thy better portion trace.
Up out Of these lowlands into the heavens
4 higher experience and wider prospect.
But how shall we riser Only ms Gods
loly spirit gives US strength. But that is
oming now. Not as condor from a
;himborazo peak, swooping upon she If
righted valley, but as dove like that
which put its soft brown wings over the
vet locks of Christ at the baptism in the
ordan. Dove Of gentlenessl Dove of peacel
Come. holy spirit. heavenly dove.
With all thy Quickening powers:
Come shed abroad Saviour's love,
And that shall kindle ours ,