The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-04-10
POWER AND WEAKNESS.
Times when We Need = Wisdom
Above Our own.

ABOVE our OWMs
We see in our daily life many mani
festations OF the wonderful power Of
man. The machinery which he has de-
vised and which he is constantly per-
fecting proclaims his power of inven-
ton; the great structures which con-
meet cities like New York and Brook
lyn are monuments of his constructive
power; the classic creations in prose
and poetry indicate the reach and rich
ness of his mental power; the almost
daily conquests which he is making I'm
the realm OF science sometimes con-.
strain us TO inquire whether there are
any limits TO his varied powers.
But there come instances in our lives
which seem TO multiply as we grow old
err that emphasize human limitations
The most active and vigorous mind. the
most strong and healthy body. give way
utterly TO the advance Of death, and
what has been miracle OF power seems
to be utterly annihilated. Not all men
are men of great power, but death
comes equally upon all and terminates
all possible activity in this world.
II, therefore, In the midst of the vigor
of life we get an enduring impression or
the almost unlimited powers of man,
we get in the presence of death an
equally enduring conviction of his
weakness. When life ceases, all the ma
chinery of the body and the brain stops
| like a clock run down. There is no
speech nor language in the land OF
death, and in it's presence we are
brought face 70 face with our utter
weakness.
1t is at such times that we need wis
dom which is above our own; wis
dom which knows what death Is, and
what lies beyond IL; that can tell us
that those who died in Christ shall be
raised in Him; that the mortality which
we contemplate with so much fear and
sorrow is TO puton immortality that the
corruptible which Is so revolving To
us is TO issue in interruption. We do
not get any such comfort from nature
or from our own observations as to
lessen our fear OF death. The only COM
fort we have is in knowing that He who
made MS has willed that death should
not end all. 1t is not so difficult to be-
lieye in tod and immortality; but we
are slow to understand that God has
tender regard for those who start at
deaths alarms and who mourn for de-
parted friends.
We need an example tn enable us to
realize that the tender nature of God is
touched at our sorrow and our fear.
Do we not have it in the example of our
Lord and Saviour? He came to us as
one who knew not sin, as one who had
eternal life abiding in Him, and made
Himself subject willingly to the mortal
ity OF our flesh. That upon him was the
same fear that comes upon ms Is evil
dent from His struggle in Gethsemane,
and That the all-pitying eye of the Fa-
Their was touched with the suffering
on the cross, the supernatural mani
festations when the Son of Man gave up
the ghost prove beyond all doubt.
As we follow Him from the cross to
the sepulcher, and see Him rise from
the dead, we understand that His res
direction is the pledge OF our resur-
rection and the truth OF the Scripture.
TINT as ian Adam all die, so In Christ shall
MI be made alive. is made clear to u.s.
lie came bringing life and immortality
to light, and He abides with us our sure
hope OF eternal life.
II, therefore. we are fain TO aclSnowl-
edge that death is the vanishing point
OF all human power and greatness in
this world, I'VE are led TO rejoice that
there is power 10 whom death Is sub
iect, and that, admitting our own weak
ness and insufiiciency, and losing our
selves in Him who is all in all, we may
attain unto the power OF resnrrec-
ton in Christ. In the hope of the inn
mortality which Is thus kindled In as,
we may exclaim with the apostle; "Oh.
grave, where is thy victory; Death
where Is thy stiDg?" Death Is swal.
lowed up in victory, end human weak
ness issues in the power cf nm endless
life.--N. Y. independent.