The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23
RELIGIOUS READING.
HEROES OF BIBLE HISTORY.

Man is the noblest work of God. created ~
his own image. Broad-shouldered, tuu-
chested, graceful-limbed, noble bearing, 1ne
countenance, strong and Intelligent. Inc
wonderful mechanism OF his nature Is un-
seen the knitted bones, the flowing blood,
the network of nerves and muscles, the peat
ing heart, the five senses, the never-aylng
working in harmony for the we'll
being man, developing in him strength,
grace, dignity, beauty and power, making
him splendid nobleman, the embodiment OF
hero, a fit subject to have dominion over
the creatures, and every created thing upon
the earth. He subdues the creatures with
his indomitable will. he forces his subsistence
from the earth, be scoursits deep recesses for
gold and fuel, and other commodities, ne
utilizes the sea and the land for his own con-
venience. What can he not do, with MS
wonderful mechanism Of nature and his pow
erful reason. Surely man isthe noblest work
of God.
If this is true, what sadder sigh. on earth
than man deformed, O man With shrlvelleo
limbs, halt, lame and blind. or b.teft OF rea-
son2 But even sadder than these is moral
deformity, man with fine, strong, wen,
developed bearing and small, shrivelled
find all kinds Of men in the land, stalwart
men with large souls. small men
with small souls, stalwart men with
small souls, small men with large souls. And
where among them all shall we find our
heroes? Not always among the stalwart. not
always among the small, never among the
small-hearted. but always among the large
hearted, the brave-hearted, the true-hearte1.
For who, by taking thought, can add one
cubit to his stature: but who cannot, by ak
ing care and thought, add inch by inch, cubit
by cubit unto the stature of his soul But
the soul IS invisible and who can Judge OF 1t
In ancient story the stalwartness and
strength OF man often became the standard
of his heroism. The first king OF Israel was
chosen for his commanding height, for ne
was head and shoulders above the ordinary
man; but he did not live the life OF q nero,
and he died the death Of coward. Parents
delighted in their sons who were well-favored
physically. As late as the sixteenth century
the strong sons were knighted, while the
weak sons were only thought fit to learn 70
read.
Even now, in this enlightened day, 1t is the
first impulse Of human nature to Judge from
outside appearance rather than the hear.
A hero-worshiping people stand and cheer
the strong man on the heights who have
gained victories, while they pass unnotlced
the small men in the valleys who are Just as
brayely gaining the unseen victories OF LIE.
The true hero does not seek for worship;
he cares more for Gods Service in which ne
has enlisted than for sef-aggrandizemen
He does not shrink from danger. hardship or
toll. nor the sneers Of the world. Whether
physically small or large, he daily adds cubit
by cubit unto the stature OF his soul, develop,
ing into fuller image OF God, a splend1d
nobleman, a true here.
With this standard in mind, let the pano-
rama of Bible story pass before you as given
in the eleventh chapter OF Hebrews: By faith
Abel lived and died; also Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, Isaac. Jacob, Joseph. Moses,
Joshua. And what shall I say more, Tor
time would fail me to tell Of Gideon, Samuel,
David, Elijah Daniel, the prophets, the dis
eiples, and thousands Of others, who through
faith have subdued kingdoms and Wrougnt
Righteousness. who have earned their title as
heroes in the ranks of the lion-hearted, the
brave-hearted, the true-hearted.