Connecticut western news., 1893-01-12

find that God is determined to impress upon us the architecture of a birds nest and the anatomy of birds wing. Twenty times does the Bible refer to a birds nest-"Where the birds mak their nest" ''As bird that wandereth from her nest" Though thou set thy nest among the stars" "The birds of the air have their nest" and so on. Nests in the trees, nests on the rocks, nests on the altars.
 Why does God call us so frequently to consider the birds nest? Because it is one of the most wondrous of all styles of architecture, and a lesson of provi- dential care which is the most important lesson which Christ in my text conveys. Why, just look at the birds nest, and see what is the prospect that God is going to take care of you. Here is the blue birds nest under the caves of the house. Here is the brown thrasher's nest in a bush. Here is the bluejay's nest in the orchard. Here is the grosbeak's nest on tree branch hanging over the water, so as to be free from attack. Chickadee's
 
 the goodness of God in showing the birds how to build their nest!
 What carpenters, what masons, what weavers, what spinners the birds arel Out of what small resources they make so exquisite home, curved, pillared, wreathed. Out of mosses, out of sticks, out of Echens, out of horsehair, out of spiders web, out of threads swept from the door by the housewife, out of the wool of the sheep from the pasture field. Upholstered by leaves actually sewed together by its own sharp bill Cushioned with feathers from its own breast. Mortared together with the gum of trees and the saliva of its own tiny bill. Such symmetry, such adapta- tion, such convenience, such geometry of structurei
 WHEN WE SHALL FLY.
 Surely these nests were built by some plan, They did not happen just so, Who drafted the plan for the birds nest2 Godl And do you not think that if he plans such house for chafinch, for an oriole, for bobolink, for sparrow, he will see to 1t that you always have 8 home? "Ye are of more value than many sparrows." Whatever else surrounds you, you can have what the Bible calls ,.'the feathers of the Almighty" Just think of a nest like that, the warmth of it, the softness of it, the safety of it. '''the feathers of the Almighty"
 No famingo outfashing the tropical sunset ever had such brilliancy of pin ion; 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-"th the feath- CTS of the Almighty" So also in this ornithology of the Bible God keeps inn pressing us with the anatomy of birds wing.
 Over fifty times does the old Book al- Jude to the wing-"Wings of dove," "Wings of the morning, '"Wings of the wind, Sun of righteousness with heal ing in his wings" Wings of the AL mighty" "All fowl of every wing" What does it all mean? It suggests up- lifting. It tells you of flight upward. It means to remind you that you yourself have wings. David cried out, "Oh, that I had wings like dove. that might fly away and be at restr Thank God that you have better wings than any dove of longest or swiftest flight Gagged now in bars of flesh are those wings, but the day comes when they will be liberated. Get ready for ascension. Take the words of the old hymn, and to the tune unto which that hymn is married sing:
 Rise, my soul and stretch thy wing.
 Thy better portion trace.
 Up out of these lowlands into the heav- ems of higher experience and wider pros pect. But how shall we rise? Only as Gods holy spirit gives us strength. But that is coming now. Not as a condor from Chimborazo peak, sweeping upon the affrighted valley, but as a dove like that which put its soft brown wings over the wet locks of Christ at the bap- tisn in the Jordan. Dove of gentlenessl Dove of peace!
 Come. holy spirit, heavenly dove.
 With all thy Quickening powers;
 Come shed abroad a Saviour's love,
 And that shall kindle ours.