Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
Paper Wings.


"And yet for al his wings. the fool was
drowned. "-Shakespeare.
To be afraid Of that which is high" Is
rather the mark Of weakness than OF mere
old age. II is the dimness Of ignorance
and falling sight that magniiies 10 our
eyes common things that pass before US.
and makes them terrlfy or amaze US. II
is the general weakness and ignorance OF
the human race that makes them admire
whatever IS lifted up. and enjoy the idea
Of being elevated, Of occupying higher
lives, OF having TO do with higher educa-
ton and higher criticism, and all that.
High Is wonderful inspiration to US.
And every phase Of the idea, every form
OF its expression. has power In II. The
devil knew all that at the beginning. IL
cost him his place among the angels; and
he tried II on our first parents TO get
them on his side, to enlist them among
his followers.
Indeed. uppishness is the especial weak
ness OF mankind. We were made for the
highest and very best. We were meant
to be worshippers of the Supreme-the
Most High. But we were not intended 10
Be worshipped ourselves, nor 70 mink OK
ourselves more highly than we ought to
mink. We were Uldnt AOl AiI SNAN+NN -
the Highest. But the attitude OF the
highest Of the servants is prostration
before the Throne OF God. To over
estimate ourselves is to underestimate the
Infinite.
Growth in virtue. in grace, In know
ledge and wisdom, in all the attributes
and essence of manhood. advance In the
realization of the wonders OF our beng
and things eternal, does not inebriate.
intoxicate, and lift up. 1t does not pro-
mote uppishness. Uppishness means
poor knowledge OF standards and Ideals
and big ideas Of ourselves.
There are two kinds OF elevation and
two ways OF being exalted One is what
is called in Scripture growth in grace,
going on from strength to strength, from
light TO light, casting OF the works OF
darkness and putting on the armOr or
light in all essentials rising IN the scale
of being and approaching resemblance 10
the Divine Being. the Great Original,
and luxurantly bearing the fruits OF the
Spirit, as naturally as the lilies. surpass-
earthly glory in all lowliness and meek
ness 4 strange paradox this: For the
companionship Of the Highest is promised
10 the lowest. And IL is he that humbles
himself that shall be exalted.
The other kind Of elevation Is the ac-
count that is given OF Tam O Shanter III
his cups: "Kings may be blest: but Tam
was glorious. Ger all the ills OF life-vic-
torious."
There is a great deal Of human know
ledge and occupation Of the mind that
merely puffeth up: that is, 10 all intents
and purposes, airy nothing. The elevation
and eXaltion that such things accomplish
is a style Of craziness and frenzy, intel
lectual opum-eati The growth that
IL accomplishes Is unnatural swelling and
fabbiness, proud flesh. The lifting-uD Is
not to a high level OF reality, OF light.
and life. but merely reaches a condition
OF mistiness and self-satisfaction-the
very opposite Of clear. vigorous, exhila-
rating. firm health. There is no advance
from stage TO stage. no rising from level
10 level, but the advance Is from glare 10
glare, or from stupefaction 20 stupeiac-
tion. TO greater and greater dewilderment.
disgust with all human knowledge and
reason, and ambitious folly. In she light
OF day, I'm the approach TO the beams OF
the Sun OF Righteousness, the paper wings
lose all their buoyancy. and utterly give
way And. in spite OF all the shows Of
elevation of common literature. the fools
that hoped TO rise by them sink into the
ayss Of agnosticism, and essential and
hopeless ignorance.
The wings that divine truth supply are
OF different sort. They that wait upon
the Lord shall mount up with wings as
eagles: they shall be made glad with
the light Of the countenance Of infinite
wisdom and love; seeing and being seen,
knowing and being known. face TO face
with the Supreme.