The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-18

Lord but II is condemning TO the sinner.
| Ii proves condition OF mind in the sim
| ner such that mercy can't help II. The
| OBJECT OF mercy Is 10 mellow the soul.
such nature needs q revelation OF the
| divine purity, or what used otherwise to
be- called n conviction OF sin, before ii
can learn to snudder at such presumption.
hloated liquor dealer conducted an
| Illicit trade in a Maine town. lie made
as many drunkards as occasion offered.
Finally, the Lord ended his career; and
| there Is carved upon his tom mbstone this
legend: "Gonc up higher" What sort
| OF an idea of. God any one can have, who
\ tmag ines the Lord Jesus saying to such:
"Come ye blessed OF nv Father" is
thing passing comprehension. This Is an
| extreme evidence of presumption; but
| what think you? Has what we call faith
a properly rational basis, always? For al
though faith is tho evidence OF things
not seen, yet 1t Is evidence. Ii reliable
| men should come to Us declaring that
volcano had broken forth in the sen, that
| would be evidence of thing not seen by
us, yet not the less a reality. Thus faith
always has substantial basis, else it is
| presumption. We pray for many things
] without right or reason and i seri-
| ously question whether IL would not
be better to shorten and deepen our
| prayers. III our prayers are to be
heightened let 1t be by thanks giving
only. An admirable soul exercise
| Is the enumeration from day to day OF
! the great and peculiar mercies that stand
\ forth In our memories. Let man OF
| fifty begin on Sunday review of the
| good that the Lord did him during his
| first seven years of life; let him follow on
| Monday with like review of his second
| seven years. Ii the hand OF the merclful
| God does not ct the end OF a rounded
| week appear 10 him more tangible than
| hitherto, IL will be his fault.
I haya hOr ha Maine
| dealer died. At the tomb of Washingt ton
there Is, in the recess of the wall at the
rear OF his sarcophagus. this inscription:
~ am the resurrection and the life. He
that believeth in Me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live, and whosever
Hveth and tciicvett- in Me shalt never
die" The human soul, reviewing the
life OF that far-seeing, long-toiling spirit,
feels the appropriations of such words.
For SO long as men resign the comforts
OF home and devote themselves without
compensation and often without thanks,
to the bettering of their brothers. condi-
tion, you cannot persuade the minds Of
men that such life can die. They live,
indeed, in your memory, but that is not
all, else 1t were delusion. For that life
which offers itself a ransom for many Is
not snuffed out in the dust. but cherished
by smiling Redeemer We ell believe
this. The constitution Of the human soul
commands US to believe II. Nature
with oil her voices declares 1T. And into
that very tomb, passing between its bars
OF iron In he gateway, the birds have en-
tered; aud on the ledge of that recess
whereon the inscription is written, direct
ly above the bones of Washington, nest,
almost covering the word "die," the
last in the inscription, has been made.
There, in IL confidence, the little eggs
are laid; the young life comes forth; its
first fiuttering flight is attempted over
that grave OF faith; and out between the
bars. stretching their wings into the
sunlight, comes warmth and love and
life, gliding among the waving foliage
and soaring alo!t with songs of praise to
Him who said: "Are not two sparrows
sold for farthing? And not one of
them shall fall to the ground without
your father." Although 1t lacks but three
years OF century since that noble form
grew cold, we are not anxious lest he
should fail TO live again. Time has no
power to weaken just faith. For though
ellis bones are dust, his good sword rust,
His soul Is with the saints we trust.
We trust, and no irreligious wave can
shaSeaathe faith of the great body OF Ame-
ricans that the works of Washington car
ried his faith. beyond presumption and
made sure his resurrection to glory and
honor. 1t 10 thing 20 be counted upon,
though the almanacs fail and the seasons
cease.
Have / said enough to indicate the
spleDdor OF a true religion based, not
upon gambling on the mercy of God. but
upon q reverent and godly fear, bring
ing forth works meet for repentance.
Here stretches q land flied with more
people OF education and wealth than are
elsewhere TO be found on the earth,
and so far as We know more
than were ever found with like ca
pacities at any period of history.
To SEQ 81 all Is like being placed on an
exceeding high mountain, and shown the
Kingdoms OF the world ana the glory OF
them. To gain 1t all has caused, yea is
causing men to be guilty of that supreme
presumption against the government OF
God, namely, falling down TO worship the
diabolic. For this prize men are profan-
ing the holy work OF Washington. To
put TO work the machinery OF power
which our civilization furnishes IL
thing only TO be dared by white spirit,
clear in conviction, single in ann, VINO
would rather be rightthan be President.
The classical myth represented son of
earth who aspirod TO drive the chariot of
the sun. Tho request was granted-for
one day. The winged coursers of fire be-
came unmanageable. went bounding
wildly through the heavens, and precipi-
tated their rash -and incompetent driver
to death. Let US transfer the parable TO
our republic. N over 1t God permits n
presumpt ious mai TO bear sway for n day,
that man must beware lest he tempt tho
Lord his God.
Never have men possessed such I po-
tency for righteousness as God has given
them at this day. Therefore, let us put
our hands to the helms that we guide,
whether the helm OF the ship OF state or
our own little barque, in such spirit
that our conduct OF business shall not be
a presumption and an Insult to- the all
haliowed Name. For Mt our hand will
God require it, aud will know whether
we honored the trust.
To do the things we were made TO do
and do them well, that is-a necessity 10 a
life OF faith. To undertake thingu for
which we are not ready, to reach Beyond
the things We are not yet doing well, that
IN presumption. Some men were mace for
haru places and high places. When they
are called out or up 10 those. then God
provides with His call a means of en-
istence, where the life must be passed.
| We can live "a We were made TO live On
| the sheer sides OF canors the delicate
| licncn spreads on the smooth bare surface
| Of the rcck. clothing IL with beauty.