Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-07-24
A BLESSED FAITH.


spake unto me again.-Revelation, KS.
Before the first voyage of Columbus
this whole hemisphere was to the peo-
pie of Spain myth, dream, posi-
BILE everything, but practical moth
ing. 1t was very agreeable subject
for discussion among scholars, and
they perhaps found good reasons both
for believing and for disbelieving in
its existence. AS theory this western
land occupied a more or less prominent
position in all the universities of
Europe, and good deal of serious
thought was devoted to it by the
learned. But if one of the merchants
of Madrid had been asked to invest his
moneysin some commercial venture the
profits of which depended upon the
discovery of what is now known as the
two Americas he would have laughed
at the scheme as the financial opera
ton of mailman.
When, however, Columbus returned
from that voyage with the trophies he
had gathered, and proved beyond the
reach of a doubt that there was great
stretch of territory on this side of the
Atlantic to balance an equal extent of
land on the other side, scholarship was
hushed into admiring silence and mer-
chants were eager to invest whole for
tunes in speculation.
1t is impossible for cautious man to
make practical use of statement
which may or may not be true. This
rule, which is so constantly illustrated
in our everyday business life, is equal
ly applicable to what concerns us
spiritually. Do you have grave mis-
givings as to whether there is any
xxrhi
to your soul, or, believing in some re-
mote region where the spirits of the
departed dwell, do you doubt their
ability either to communicate with
you or to influence you? Then you
are in the position of the Madrid mer-
chant who could not invest money in a
country whose existence he knew moth
ing about. Speaking with perfect
frankness, we may declare that this
life is all you have, practically, for you
neither realize the future nor are YOU
in any way affected by it.
On the other hand, suppose you are
convinced-as firmly as Columbus was
when he lifted his eyes from the acres
of seaweed that floated by and saw the
thin line of land on the horizons edge
that heaven is literally within arms
length; that Jacobs ladder is not a
myth, but fact; that in every mans
life there is just such a ladder, and that
messengers are constantly ascending
and descending, what results would
naturally follow? You would be as
willing to make use of these truths for
your spiritual comfort, sustenance and
encouragement as the Madrid mer-
chant was to invest his money when
the Spanish caravels came to anchor
with their treasure in the hold
What you need, therefore, to make
you in every way larger and happier is
strong faith in Gods actual nearness.
80 long as He is an inaccessible posi-
b1llty, Being who thunders from
Slnal's hoary summit, a taskmaster
who has given you your days work to
do and will damn you at eventide I'M
less it is wholly done and done as Or
dered, so long will your soul be lonely
and your love of holy things burn like
a h!ckerlng taper; so long will your
religion have in it a demoralizing
element of fear, and so long will your
prayers represent perfunctory ser
vice, without heart, or peace of mind.
or the ecstasy of a blessed communion.
But when God is to your soul what
the sunshine is to the wheat field, or
the dew-drops are to the flowers; when |
you not only know that He is, but
that He is your refuge and strength in |
time of trouble; that His love for you
is beyond all other loves; that His sym
pathy and pity are deeper than those
OF your closest friends-then you know |
what the peace that passeth under |
standing means, and whatever ills NAV
befall ypu, you know, beyond all per-
adventure, that a mighty hand is lead |
ing you and an almighty arm will de-
fend you.
The joy of such faith is simply I'M
.apeakable. What wealth cannot be |
stow it generously gives. You may be |
respondent, but you are not without |
hope. You may weep, but your tears
are unmingled with despair. Trials |
may come and your shoulders grow
weary of the heavy burden, but you
have something. a mysterious and |
transferring something within, which |
distrust and doubt. though in the en-
vironment of Paradise, cannot enioy. |
True religion. the religion which |
holds this life in one hand and I'm
mortality in the other, is the best for
tune that ever fell to the lot of mortal |
man. Assent to whatever creed you
will, go to whatever church you please.
worship God with pomp and ceremony
or in the utter simplicity which dis
dams all forms-these are matters of
secondary consequence; they are only
incidents which depend on your tenn
permanent or your surroundings. They
are nothing-absolutely nothing-and
in their use you should have entire
personal freedom. But underneath ali |
other things you must have that kind
of religion which enables you to saw.
"And the voice which | heard from
heaven spake unto me again. for that
and that alone will satisfy the lodgings
of the soul. fit your frail body with
divine armor for the battle of life, and
prepare you for that eternity in which
worshin is neither form nor ceremo- i
NAL, but only love-pure, unselfish.
divine Ioye.-N Y He9nZG.