Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05
The Second Rainbow.

observations OF a Philosophical Friend
of Ours)
And this our life, exempt from public
haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books In run
ming brooks,
Sermons in stones. and good in every
thing" As You Like 1t.
Mater pulchra. fila pulchra pulchrior."
Horace.
This earth was made for man. Except
as the product Of Being of infinite in
telligence and wisdom and power and
love, there's nothing in It; it is clod
among clods. 1t is verify before the uni
verse as the patrimony the gift of God
the Father TO man the son. AS such it is
dignifed. AS such, at its creation, when
all was pronounced good. and man took
his appointed place, all the sons Of God
shouted for Joy. AS the abode Of man
everything in it, its general design and
its minute details, are adapted and ad-
justed TO his nature as it's ruling and all
controlling idea. His wants, his COM
forts, his service, his full and complete
development and perfection and happi-
ness are the explanation of its construc-
ton. Everything is meant TO awaken, to
quicken, to instruct to enlarge, to delight,
to satisfy his hearts desire and fulfil all
his mind. The heavens In all their order
and glory, the earth with all its wonders
and mysteries and delights, CLEAN with
intelligence and seem almost TO throb
with the life and love that pervade them.
A divine handwriting, a handiwork, they
irresistibly declare the glory of God ana
manifest His character. In the Benedicite
man gives a tongue and voice 10 every
thing: o, all we works OF the Lord, bless
ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify
Him forever! To the sensitive and de-
vout soul, nature is full Of noises that
give delight and hurt not. And all her
beauties and glories have their lessons
and communications from the soul Of
God TO the soul Of man. The outgoings
of the morning and evening awake and
calm the soul with overwhelming gran
deur, as they tell Of resurrection and en-
thronement in glory. And ali things
serve God in cherishing and animating
man.
The rainbow is the perpetual reminder
Of Gods love TO the righteous and the
splendid seal Of His covenant of peace.
And like all the grand works OF God, it
brings with pleasant instruction little at
tendants and wholesome delights. The
second rainbow is a modest rejection and
beautiful companion Of the first, and
/ re oil Z ba vi nj
little ideas and inspirations 10 impart.
The second rainbow is suggestive OF
pleasant followings in the lowly, gentle,
modest continuance or reproduction Of it's
glorious original. The gorgeous display
OF the power and love OF God is followed
by the sweet assurance Of His kind and
constant care. The enjoyment Of great
feast is attended with a sense of comfort
and satisfaction. Praise and earnest
prayer are followed by a sweet benedic-
ton. The enjoyment of the company OF |
those dear TO US is followed by a Joy |
lightened ana softened by their absence
sweet memories. Duty performed makes |
a rainbow In the heart. Strong and beau |
tiful traits of character are reproduced in |
the souls OF sympathizing friends. Ex-
amples impress themselves on social sur |
roundings. A good or heroic deed makes |
Itself 10 De reproduced IN the common |
business OF life. And pure and holy and |
true married love. the bright rainbow OF |
the soul, may find itself reproduced in
warm. loyal, honorable. ana lasting af-
lection. shed on worthy friends. And
affections sweetest dreams may impart
as echoes on the passing life.
and reverberate along the corridors of
time. No man liyeth for himself alone.
and no man dieth for himself. God does
with US as we with torches do-not light
them for themselves; and the best part
II many life is what imagination makes
INTO an obituary. The recollection OF past
bors Is sweet The aftermath is a big
part of the harvest. But the charm of
he rainbow Is that II is pure and perfect
md beautiful in itseif and beautiful in
Is double--a beautiful mother more beau
iful than her beautiful daughter. The
fterglow of the twilight is not beautiful
iouble, but brightly illustrates what fol-
ows when good man sinks to rest. 4
.reat orator says of such sinking below