The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-10
NATURES WAYS.


II Is not 10 the honor Of mankind that
whenever we rpeak of Nature we are
understood to mean everything else but
man. There is a grim satire In IT, imply
ing that man is Invested Of everything
natural; Notwithstanding. outwardly, he
is made up OF carbon. hydrogen, oxygen
and nitrogen, a little phosphorus, lime
and silica and iron. the very material Of
I the earth and air. herbs and trees. and Is
/ sustained just as they are. The truth is
/ that man. with whom the conceit begins.
/ is in a state Of war with Nature and her
/ laws, and is continually suffering her
/ castigauons and severe discipline; 50, is
] no. counted on. Natures ways are the i'm
| mediate and direct power Of Cod and we
/ have infinite wisdom 10 learn in studying
/ her operations. Man is out Of tune with
/ Natures chords; as lord Of himself a heri-
| tage of woe We talk Of the Wis Medi-
catrix Naturae-the curative force Of ma
ture. That means that, as all her works
are good and rightly ordered so when
any accident occurs. when anything is
broken, wounded. damaged or thrown out
Of ORDER the course Of Nature is at once
in the direction Of healing by the first In
tention OF immediate PREPARATION or resto-
ration or Of compensation. Her cures
are wise: her compensatons large and
loving She has no groans, lamentations
or disloyal comments on her Master: she
has no doubts. difficulties or objections
Co waste her time and strength upon. BY
His power she arises from the dust; IN
obedience to His laws she sets things TO
rights. for new order, for new strength,
for new beauty. Unninching pluck is
Natures life. Even when one Of her works
has fulfilled its ohlce-even the body Of
mainland passes to disintcgration, the ele-
ments merely so apart and get ready for
other service-as types that have made
great volume, when the book is COM
pleted, are distributed TO express and en-
body new soul OF thought.
Nature is thoroughly and divinely busi-
ness; she has a purpose and everything
bears upon it. She does nothing in vain,
she throws away no moves, wastes no
material, utters no idle words; a harsh
voice means something wrong, smooth
ness and music mean right working The
grandest Of conceptions is the Music of
the Spheres" Idle words, impatient ex-
pressions. desperate efforts and rash deeds
and disloyalty belong 10 goddess and ir-
religious. unnatural man. All Nature
growing. poisoning maturing. display
ing order and loneliness and grandeur.
rejecting the soul Of fits Makers beauti-
ful religion. 1t tells Of a sun and shield
Withholding no good from its faithful
worshippers. The face Of Nature is a
living epistle. redoent with the love
resonant with the voice. and lit with the
smile OF God
Taught in the school Of Nature. in
structed by her gentle. constant. unceas-
Ing lessons and motherly care. man finds
no time or place for lawlessness and
sacrilege. Nothing in Nature that does
not help his praise Nothing that does
not help law and loyalty and devotion
and worship. In storm and sunshine Ma
ture obeys laws and owns her Governor.
In the deep waters and in the fiery fur
mace. all her operations are lawful and
loyal still. And in all these man learns
reverence; how to pass from strength TO
strength. II IS for him to obey; it is for
him to do what God requires: as pure
gold 10 let his dross be purged away and
to receive and retain the divine image; it
Is for him TO have the principle Of Nature
to be faithful. All murmurs, complaints
and cayils are utterly unnatural. are alb
solute waste Of time and strength, and
put man utterly out Of agreement with
all his surroundings, at enmity with his
God. 1t was a profound natural truth
That the Psalmist uttered: II COM
plained and nay spirit was overwhelmed
within me" Utter misery is Natures re-
Duke for irrolglon. When man turns
away his face suddenly from the light
Of heaven, he willis and drops and withers
as plant shut out from the light Of the
sun. The voice Of Nature Is: The Lord
Cod is sun and shield; the Lord God
will give grace and glory That is what
the sun throws upon all on which its
light and influence fall, arraying them
With glory all His own. that royalty
may envy.