The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-02

microscope. Inc beauty Oh Cnflso cah-
not be copied. 1t must be grown.
And the. life from which it grows
must needs be derived from Him. You
cannot grow a lily except from lily
bulb. Around the parent bulb there
grow little bulbs which set off to them
selves will grow new lilies, and that is
the only way you can produce lilies.
Our Lords requirement of the new
birth is based upon law of nature.
Men do not gather grapes of thorns
or figs of thistles. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh, and that which
is born of the spirit is spirit. The like
ness of Christ can only be produced by
So far all who are Evangelical are
agreed. But many of us fail to carry
out the law of life and growth. After
we have derived this spiritual life
from Christ we go about to perfect 1T
by toiling and spinning, by work and
effort We seek to perfect character
by a process of manufacture instead
of a process of growth. My little four
year old girl once seemed oppressed
by the thought that the other children
were so much larger than she, ana
said to me, papa, how do you grow so
bi0" She was vet to learn the lesson
our Lord teaches in his context:
(Which of YOU by taking thought can
add one cllbit to his stature?" And
vet that is just what many earnest
Christians are trying to do-wlth pam
full effort, and anxious thought 10 ado
cubits to these spiritual statures-
toiling and spinning to weave Tor them
selves the seamless rope OF
Christ's spiritual beauty. we must
consider the lilies of the field now Oiley
grow.
They abide in the soil. Some lily
bulbs were given to some children, puC
there were not enough to go around,
so they planted them first IN the gar
den of one. and then in the garden OF
another that all might have their turn.
90 YOU wonder that they had no
l;lies?" Even the water lily that
floats upon the placid brow OF the lake
and lifts its fair face to the sun, mas
its roots anchored in the soil below,
and if it was cut adrift would die. we
must abide in Christ. We must nave
His words abiding in us. we must
continue in the faith grounded ana set
tied. This simply seems that we must
be planted on the principles OF the gos-
mel. The moment we depart from them
we are cut adrift. The only safety, the
very life of a Christian, and all has
Growth depends on simple trusting
Obedience TO His commands. Then we
must abide in His love. Continue ye
kfi., my love" Being rooted anu
grounded in love--ye sHhl tte 2fliied
with alI the fitness of God LOVING
trusting confidence in His love, feilow-
ship with Him, is the essential cohoa-
ton of Christian growth.
Then the lily opens its heart to the
dew and rain and lifts it's leaves as III
mute appeal to the air and sunshine.
II is the brow of faith. 1t expects
from nature what it needs for It's lie
and IT. lovingly waits to receive 1T. 30
II is only by lifting our hearts to God
in faith and prayer, keeping
onr hearts in the sunshine
of His love. the dews and
showers of His grace that we can be
filled with the life of God. The great
est danger in this busy age is OF Tor
getting the creed of secret devotion.
When the cares of life come upon you,
never think to save time by Sacrince
of the hour of prayer. 1t is only there
that YOUR graces can be revived, your
strength refreshed, and your soul en-
abled to stand the heat and turmoil OF
the world, and yet retain its beauty
and purity. But do not think L COM
mend YOU to a life of inactivity. Inc
bright years of life need for their de-
velopment what the lily does not need
exercise. Only l would have you ex-
ercised not about yourself, but about
your spiritual growth, burt about fulfill
ing your mission, doing your duty. Then
And the beautiful lily even teaches
us lesson here. 1t does
teaches US lesson even here. 1t does
not bloom for itself, or shed its fra
GRANGE for itself Its bloom and beauty
are for others. But by opening its
bloom and shedding its fragrance. 1T is
our life that is. enriched and invigora-
ted. II
Young ladies, / hold before you to-
day asithe ideal of your life, the beauty
of Christ The freshness of youth will
fade The blooming cheek will fade,
the 1ustrous eye grow dim, and time
will pillow burrows on the fairest brow.
But the beauty of Christ will grow
fairer as earthly beauty fades and will
show its fairest lines, and breathe its
sweetest fragrance in old age. And
when heart and soul fail, and these
bodies crumble into the dust from
whence they came, it will then burst
forth in its fullest glory to bloom in
immortal vigor in the Paradise of God
And this ideal is not one that will for
ever elude the grasp of the pursuer,
but is one that those who seek shall
find. Our eyes shall see the King in His
glory. And we shall be like Him, when
we see Him as lie is.
THE GRADUATING EXERCISES.
Last night Peace Institute conferred
it's diplomas of graduation upon TWEEN
ty young ladies, whose names are now
recorded with the long list of graduates
from Peace who have reflected honor
upon their alma mater and blessed the
time in which they lived.
The graduates are:
In Literature and Science degree,
B. 81: Misses M. Mangum, Cora Rich
ardson, NJ. Rankin, Mabel Ramsay, M.