The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05

man: What piece of work is mani How
noble In reason. How Infinite In facultses'
In form and moving how express and ad-
mirable, In action how like angel! In
apprehension how like God! The beauty
Of the world, The paragon OF animals"'
Even so the psalmist, in inspired Ian
guage, pays tribute 10 manhood. as IL 10
remind US in our sorrow over mans fire.
quent weakness and littleness how near
he yet Is to heaven and God:
What Is man that thou are mindful OF
him? Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels and hast crowned him with
glory and honor-'
Such is man. conceived at his highest and
best. As we mourn over the fallen fortunes
and furnished names OF those we once hon.
ored and loved, let Us not, therefore, de-
spair OF manhood. Let us remember that
these fell, not because they were only men,
but because they were not men enough.
They mistook their high calling, wasted
their opportunity, and spent on the world
the heart that was large enough for God
and eternity.
For what Is manhood? It is not so much
native gifts the power to rightly apply
those gifts. The characteristics of manli-
ness are an intense vitality, concentration
Of purpose, an energetic will, and a per-
sistent courage. If man has these. though
his natural talent be small and his edu-
cation limited he has within himself the
making OF a man and the prime conditions
Of success in life.
But there are other and still more essen
tial traits in all true manhood-a warm
heart, quick conscience and soul in
clined to natural piety. These three things,
superadded to the robust qualities already
instanced, are what determines whether
ones manliness is to be warped into selfish
ness and insincerity or to be tremendously
developed into a pure, generous and benefi-
cent life. A man may have all the other
qualities of high manhood and yet, lack
ing these, produce only superficial growth
that is without moral fiber or spiritual sap.
All manhood to be truly, permanently
successful must be at the disposal Of char
acter and subject to the refining influences
Of culture and piety. Without faith. with
out personal piety there can be no high
order of manhood. It is noble thing TO be
strong and brave, to have a well-trained
mind equipped with the culture of the
schools, to have heart easily touched with
sympathy. Nobler still Is it when this is
united with high moral purpose and so
attains to the serene poise Of an upright
untemptable manhood.
But when all this is still further blended
and suffused with the ideal aspirations, the
holy trusts Of religion; when every heart
beat pulses in rhythm with the indwelfing
life of the world; when every service is
acknowledged a duty to God and our
fellowmen, then we reach the consum-
nation of manhood; then heaven comes
close to earth and our human weakness is
made perfect in the divine strength. Such
was the heroic virtue, the gentle grace, the
loving helpfulness. the spiritual trust OF
the Man of Nazareth. AS we roll back the
curtain which centuries of misapprehen-
sion and selfishness have drawn before His
inspiring personality we see Him standing
on the threshold of the ages in all the
majesty and peace of His TRANSPORTED,
glorified humanity. And as we do so there
comes to US with new meaning and force
the word of the Scripture. "Ecce homo"
Behold the man.
copyrighted. 1896. by Newspaper Sermon
.----s Association. Boston. Mass)