The Penn's Grove record., 1893-02-24

Dives in pnrole and fine linen-aye, tbs
purple robe which In mockery was throw.
anon Christ-were colored by the purple of
the shells on the shores of the Meditetra-
mean. 1t was discovered by a shepherd't
dog having stained his mouth by breaking
one OF the shells, and the purple aroused ad.
miration.
Costly purDlei Six pounds OF the purpls
liquor extracted from the shelldshes wers
used to prepare one pound OF wool. Purple
was also used on the pages of books. Bibles
and prayer books appeared in purple vellum,
whic l may still be found in some Of the ma
tion1i lihrartss OF Enroos. Piutarch speakS
OF the purpie watch he It his beauty for 1917
years. But after awhile the purple became
easier to get. AMI that which had bean a
sign OF imperial authority when worn IN
rooes was Adopted by many psooie. aud so
an emperor. jealous of this appropriation Of
sho purple, male a law that INV one excspt
roTalty wearing purple should BIS put to
death.
Then. as IL n punish the world for that
outrags of exclusiveness, Col obliterated
the color rom the earth, a. much as TO say,
IF all cannot have 1T, none shall have it."
But though God has derived the race OF
that shellfsa WHICH afforded tn. purple
there are SHELLS enough left TO make as gia 4
and ~worshipful. Oh. the enhancement of
hue ami shape still left all no and down thu
~ 49, et1 L Dt5F cI ~ luIE
of Ine sea have what roofs Of enamsled nor
ceiaini They dwell under what pavilions
blue as the SKY and fiery as a sunset and
mysterious as an auroral And am / not
right in leading you for a few moments
through TINS mighty realm Of Goi so neg
lectei by human eye an human footstepf
1t is said that the harp and lutte were in.
rented from ths fact that in Egypt the Nile
overiowed Its banks, and when the waters
retreated tortoises were left by the million
on all the lands, n these tortoisss died,
and soon nothing was len but the cartridges
and gristle OF these creatures, which tight
smed under the heat into musical strings
that when touchei by the wind or foot OF
mi vibrated, making sweet sounds, and so
the world took the hint and fashioned the
harp, and am l not right in irving to make
music out OF the shells AMI lifting Them as a
harp. from which to thrum the ju5ilant
praises of the Lord and the pathetic strains
Of human confidence?
But find the climax of this copcho,ogv OF
The Bible in the pearl, which has this distinc-
lion aoove all otner gems-that 1t requires
no human land to bring out its beauties.
Job speaks of it, and its sheen is in Christ's
sermon, and the Bible, which opens with tina
oaycha OF my text. closes with the pearl.
Of sucn value Is this crustaceous product |
do not wonter that for the exclusive right
of fishing tor it on the shores of Ceylon a
man paid to the English Government $780,
DOL for one season.
SO exclusive is the pearl l do not wonder
that T my n o hit it was made out of a
irou OF dew, the creature rising to the sur
to take it and the chemistry of nature
turning tile liquid into a solid. You will
See why the Bible MAKES SO mucn of the
pearl in its similitudes ii you know how
much it costs to gee it. Boats with divers
sail out from the island Of Ceylon, ten
divers to each boat. Thirteen men
gu de and manage tine boat. Down
the dangerous depths, amid
sharks that whirl arounl them, plunge the
divers, while 69.00 people anxiously gaia
on. After three or four niin1tss' absence
from the air the diver ascands, nine-tenths
s~trauguiatel and bloot rushing from ears
and ~nostrils, and finginy his pelrly treasure
on tire sand falls into Inconsistencies.
Oh, it is an awful exposure and strain and
peril TO fish for pearls and yet they do so,
s"d is it not q wonder that to get t'e. vhica
the Bible calls the pearl Of great price. worth
more than all other pearls put together,
there should be 50 little anxtesv so little
stru sgie, so little enthusiast n? Would God
that we vera all as WIS., as the merchantmln
commented, 'wnO, wlen be had
found one pearl of great price, went and
void ali that he had an bou gnt IT,"
But what thrills me with susgestiveness
IS the materiat OUT o. which all pearls ara
made. They are fashionsi from tbs wouni
Of the shellfsi. The exu alton from that
wound is fixed and har .ened and enlarged
into a pearl. The rupturel vessels of the
water animals fashioned tie gem that now
ldorns finger or earring, or sword nit or
kings crown.
So out OF tine wounds Of earth will come
che pearls OF heaven. OIt OF the wount OF
bereavement the pearl OF s)lace. Out OF the
wound Of loss the pslr, OF gain. Out Of the
deep wound of the grave tue pearl OF resur-
rection Joy. Out OF the wounds OF a
Saviaur's life AMI a Saviour's death the rich.
the raaiant, the everlasting pearl OF heaven.
y gialness.
"And the 10 gates were ls pea rls." Take
che consolation. all ye wac havs been hurt,
whether hurt in oOiy, or hurt In mind. or
hurt in soui. Get your trouo,es sanctiied.
Ii Won suffer wita Christ on earth you will
reign VITA Him in glory. TIe tea RS OF earth
are the crystals OF n-ivsn. every several
gate was OF one pear,