The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-01-23
RELIGIOUS READING.
THE POWER or A ouEar LIFE.

THE POWER or GREAT LIFE.
In the economy Of Divine Providence
great lives serve the most various and inn
pouant purposes. Great men are the seers
and guides Of humanity. In peculiar sense
they are inspired men. They have been
lifted above their generation they have open
vision they survey the world as from lofty
eminence and are thus able to understand
many matters which remain obscure to their
fellows. They usually understand not only
what TO do, but how TO do It. practical scnse
belng joined to deep insight and extended
Tor sight In some instances single man
seems to- embody the wisdom Of u generation
or nation Coniucius means China. and
Mdhomct stamped his own image on n hun
dred generations. Imperial Rome rsst be-
came incarnnte in the man Julius Cnsar, who
knew his timc and forecast all time.
The English race lived In Alfred the Great,
as did modern repubhcanism in George
Washington. But great men are limited by
toth tmc and space their fame and power
decrease with the square of the distance. II
Is with the utmost difficulty that men are
ah' To do anything after thcig burial. The
conmounity disappear under the next adj
vancirG wave Fortunate ia tho man ablo
To- build monument high enough and strong
enough to outlast tho Hood. Whatever most
men do they must do whiic living and within
"a limited circle. CU~ar'- genius made Rome
nut was unknown in the Orient. Coufuciu.
n.
th"ugh nero nauu and shadow beyond.
Mahonrt fell down like u thuudorholt ON tho
cHrth. Tut hi- power has teen narrowing
Hnd diminishing: with every advancing cen
turN. and the day j. MT FAR distant when tho
civilization he created will hay" no place
among tn" nations. Th" elements VI weak
nos and decay were III the work. oi all
those men.
But. unlike them. ono great life has M
r"Hrod iu human history, subject ~ none ot
tho" limitations. Il i- tuu OF World
Man whose puW"r is confined t1 no latitude
or race. The light q UI, truth Shines into
tue Tar Il't ~ into The far West. and lil4
message has been borne from tho Arctic 90
the Aut1r"'s regions over Uli the intervening
lines. And what g. most a.uguinr of all. tho
tNottion uf lIi- power among men has hcru
exclusively pu-thuWug-. H." organized no
institution g. take liz uawo down 90 poster
uy, ~" provided for the erection of mo- mon.
um"ut of brass or stone. mo- pillar or
pyramid, 70 commemorate Ills deeds and
virtues. His monument was Gross
Ills resting Ular" "a borrowed tomb
His disciples Wcr" few aud dcsp-cd. un-
aided hN position. wealth rr learning. How
unlikely that such mon could aa thoir cru
ci0"d Master But the must stupondous
mifa'l" of history j. found ia this great life.
Though dead. jesus Christ still lives and
work. miracles IN every part Of the earth
i'"dins th" hungry, clothing the naked. and
bringing healing to- the sick. Men may we'll
c"l"brut" Ills advent. for since tho world
was created has there been found no other
such coutfo of influence aud bru"trrncc as
that great life. His fame mis- the world.
ii" has truu-ruiod th" live. Of His own
rnrc, religion, nr" AID latitude. lie has hr-
come IN" universal Brnr'ur'or SO part ~
the world i- untouched hy Ili- gracious iu-
iluou'". H. hrruth"s ON tribes, nations.
races. and they live again.
II you would -ue what Christ IT, tO the
world, take down the map and observe that
a." green spots are thu-" touched bv the in
nuouros of the Cross. III, word /. thick and
powerful. touching both individual and un-
uous to higher issues and uuh,"r "ud"ayor,
AZ His coming sUprr-titlnu- vanish, old fnhic-
are di-"rotitui. idols are cast away. and "tlr
kuuwlcdg" OF God covers the earth ~ d."
water cover ia" great deep Christ has
urught 10 the nations tho most important
matters ~ correct knowledge Of the churur-
ter, attributes and work ut God
true view OF man IN h4 of-
origin, hi~urv and destination. and u rove
latiun Of th, .rrat Intervention of God for
the rescue Of m'u from his fallen condition.
The Gospel huc - promise OF the life that
now Il ~ Srll ,.g g. hat 80 come The
highest civilizations today are those created
hy tn" teachings of Christ. Enterprise. in
N"uiiuu. mastery Of material rrsOUrr'-, com
m"rro, and substantial political power follow
III" 'tu--. The Christian nations ~ thi,
very moment, ~ never huiurr. ouu'rul tho
d"-tiuir, of the world. Chri-'rnlum speaks
and the world ohry-. Mohuwmripui,m once
dictated terms and threatened tp cap
tJrr hutl, east and west; today its one
ruler sits trembling upon hi, throne uu
IN" Bu-phpru-, waiting tho w..l of the
Christian PuW'r- o. giy" HIM ..it." longer
lease uf life. Christ holds the key to the
situation; H. sets up and pulls down. liz
word must Bee th" ultimate law. IN" nation
that Will not obey HIM shall hr dashed tl