The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-12
POWERS or THE AIR.

Whether St. Paul. by the force Of his
natural endowrnents Of genius and energy
and cultivation, would not have been the
greatest Of human philosophers, If he had
not. by the divine appointment, been
made n chosen vessel and chief Of the
Apostles, is an interesting question. His
letters 10 the Corinthians show the high
est. largest and most comprehensive
statesmanship, as well as the most lovely
and exalted ideas OF human life. TIE
brief story of his life is intensely inte-
resting; and his plain account OF his sur
ferlngs, haIdships and labors for the
cause Of truth and humanity, marks him
as the very highest OF the WORLDS heroes.
What IS natural life in all that, and
what is the inspiration of heaven, no
man can tell. The heather could only &C
| count for such manifestations as his,
as enthusiasm--the Deus Intus-the pres
| emit God. The human part Of ST Paul is
| suggestive Of a greater than Shakespeare.
| Many Of the expressions Of the two seem
to be the bright. pure ore Of truth; or,
! rather, they seem to glitter with the mar
| velous refracted light Of heavenly Wis
dom, the Trim and Thurim worn In the
jewels Of the breast-plate. What did the
| Apostle mean by the Power of the ARR"
We'd all like very much to know; because
we are forever at fault to find out how
| we come to do things" The air, or the
element Of our souls, as well as bodies,
is full Of power and influences. Whether
they be devils, on the one hand, and an
gels on the other operating through our
disorders and vices, or our health and
virtues. We can't say. But we do know.
and are sure, that we are worked.
We own to no great admiration for
metaphysics and psychology, the theory
Of thought and the sublimation Of quin-
tescences; but as TO these moral aud spir-
itual minnie-balls and bomb-sheus ana
moral forces that constitute the powers
of the air, they are OF the very primest
Importance.
AS to the good and bad angels, all
that we can do is TO let the ministerlng
spirits OF good know, whether they be
guardian saints or angels, that we prefer
that Angels and Ministers of Grace de.
fend u.s." the other whizzing or noise
less missiles or deluding ignes fatui we
may look after.
This wonderful age that we are living
in has made a special science Of biology.
to take in hand the microscopic powers
Of the air and atomies. that throng about
us, and prey upon us. And the armies
of light and life are taking their full
share Of the great battle Of Armageddon
in the physical world against the ryster-
ious forces Of one sort and another that
fight ceaselessly il the darkness Of this
world
But the vocabulary Of biology doesn't
begin 10 cover the infinite army OF evils
that encompass Us, animated and set
on by the original devil. Carborlc acid
VIII XIII US without eny wiggle-tails, and
there are hundreds Of other gases. and
insidious poisons. and inhuitesimal agen-
cies known only by their fatal effects
that pick the locks Of our bodies, and open
All doors and windows for the escape OF
life. Hygiene. sanitation and biology are
grand divisions Of the army Of life Il is
big fight that is before us.
Practical psychology and mental and
moral hygiene make a science and bust
ness Of defence Of much higher dignity
and Importance than the other sort--as
much higher as soul is above body
|
tous influences that infect. navour and
determine his motives. rs humors. hi
counsels. his courses; that make his
springs and moving principles. his joy,
} and celebrations. his SORROWS and fears
whether stomachic or psychicy indige..