The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15

tAdt was idCSf dlcu, upon lue size mat
was pierced, upon the feet that were
nailed, to stand close up in the pres
ence of him who prayed for us on the
mountain and thought of us by the
sea and agonized for'us in the garden
and lie for us in horrible crucifction,
to feel of him, to embrace him. to take
his hand, to kiss his feet, to run our
fingers along the scars of anscient
suffering. TO say: This is my Jesus.
He gave himself for me. / shall never
leave his presence. / shall forever be-
hold his glory. 1 shall eternally
hear his voice. Lord Jesus, now | see
thee. / behold where the blood start
ed where the tears coursed. where the
face was distorted. / have waited for
this hour. | shall never urn my back
IN thee. No nor looking through
imperfect glasses. No more studying
thee in the darkness. But as long as
this throne stands and this everlasting
river flows and those garlands bloom
and these arches of victory remain to
greet home heavens ~conquerors so
so long l shall see thee. Jesus of my
choice, Jesus of my song, Jesus Of my
triumph, forever and forever, face TO
face"
GODS PROVIDENCE.
The idea of the text is just as true
when applied to Gods providence.
Who has not ONE to some pass in life
thoroughly ineXplicable? You say:
What does this mean? What is God
going to do with me now? He tells
me that all things work together for
CnnH This dnoS mot lnNl lilo ~ ~
You continue to study the disoensa-
ton and after awhile guess about what
God means He means to teach me
this. l think he means to teach me
that. Perhaps it is to humble my
pride. Perhaps it is to make me feel
more dependent. Perhaps it is to
teach me the uncertainty of life" But
after all it is only a guess-a looking
through the glass, darkly. The Bible
assures us there shall be a satisfac-
tory unfolding. What l do thou
knowest lot now, but thou shalt know
hereafter You will know why God
took to himself that only child. Next
door there was a household of seven
children. Why not take one from that
group instead of your only one? Why
single u the dwelling in which there
was only one heart beating responsive
to yours? Why did God give you a
child at all if he meant to take it
away? Why fill the cup of your glad
ness trimming if he meant to dash it
down? Whya low all the tendrills of
your heart to wind around that object,
and then, when every fiber of your life
seemed to be interlocked with the
ohi11'c 1if0 vrifh ~ ON t0 fnor
you apart, until you fall, bleeding and
crushed, your dwelling desolate, your
hopes blasted, your heart broken?
Yea. He will make it palmer than any
mathematical problem-as plain as
that two and two make four. In the
light Of the throne you will see that it
was right-all right. Just n true
are all thy ways, thou King of saints"
THE EXPLANATION.
Here is a man who cannot get on in
the world. He always seems to buy
at the wrong time and to sell at the
worst disadvantage. He tries this
enterprise and fails, that business and
is disappointed. The man next door
to him has a lucrative trade, but he
lacks customers. A new prospect
pen His income is increased. But
that year his family are sick, and the
profits are expended in trying to cure
the ailments. He gets a discouraged
look, becomes faithless as to success.
begins to expect disasters. Others
wait for something to turn up, he
waits for it to turn down. Others
with only half as much education and
character get on twice as we'll. He
sometimes guesses as to what it all
means. He says: perhaps riches
would spoil me. Perhaps poverty is
necessary to keep me humble. Per-
haps I might if things were otherwise
be tempted into dissipations." But
is no complete solution of the mystery.
He sees through a glass darkly n
must wait for a higher unfolding. Will
there be an explanation? Yes? God
will take that man in the light of the
throne and Say: Child immortal,
hear the explanation. You remember
your misfortune in 1857. This is the
explanation" And you will answer,
1T is all right"
MYSTERIES MADE CLEAR.
I see every day profound mysteries
of providence. There is no question
W. ask oftener than, Why? There are
hundreds Of graves in Oak Hill and
Greenwood and Laurel Hill that need
to be explained. Hospitals for the
blind and lame, asylums for the idiotic
and insane, almshouses for the desti-
tute and a world of pain and misfor-
tune that demand more than human
solution. All, God win clear it all up!
In the Light pours from the throne no
dark mystery ear live. Things now
utterly i~nscrutable will be illumined
as plainly as though the answer were
written on the jasper wall or sounded
in the temple anthem Bartineus will
thank. God that he was blind, q Lag
arus that he was discovered with