The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-04-27
THE GOMaON Things,
Good Often Comes From the Lowly,
THE WEAK COMPOUND THE
MIGHTY.

1aG WEAK OONFOUND THE
MIGHTY.
Philosophical Friend in Richmond D.patcb.
10, mlckle is the powerful grace tha
| lies
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true
qualities,
For nought SO vile that on the earth
| doth live
but to the earth some special good doth
give" Romeo and Juliet.
"How poor an instrument may do {.
noble Office" Ant. and Cleo
"These humber considerations make
me ashamed of my greatness" Hen
ry V.
From the beginning of the world IL e
Supreme Ruler has chosen His own
materials and means to accom- plisb
Ills purposes and great designs. The
first Adam was made of the dust Ct the
earth the second Adam was babe Of
poor parents, swaddIed in a manger.
Forever mans great expectations of
empire and deliverance have been dis
appointed ; the king has grown up as a
root out OF dry ground, and the flower
OF safety has been plucked from the
nettle danger. Mans extremity has
been Gods opportunity.
In the wonderful age that we are
living in the democracy OF nature is
asserting itself, and the best things are
coming from the most unpromising
sources. What we have known and
despised as Jamestown weed is now
giving US most valuable salve-stry-
monlum. Witch-hazel has made MANY
fortune and rendered inestlmab!e re-
lief. Nay, there is hardly an herb,
tree, plant, or flower that has not been
made to disclose virtue for the relief
OF our aches or pains, Or for our ccm-
fort and welfare. The world was made
for man, and there is nothing in it that
does not contemplate his convenience
the commonest things often for the
greatest and widest usefulness, like air
and water.
This democracy, impartiallty, radi-
calism, and motherly honor of nature
for her plainest and apparently least
favored children, for all that comes
from her womb, is very interesting.
She seems to be playing a game of
with mankind. Her eggs
are her secret active principles, and her
laws, the forces and virtues of things.
that she has hidden above, about, and
underneath the earth's surface. Man
seems at times, with the open sesame
of his study and energy, to have open
ID caves of untold wealth. Witness
;he wholesome medicines, the beautl-
ul colors, the countless chemicals that
nave come of coal tar. A modern
is veritable "robbers'
ave-" The lesson of all this is that
nan must look respectfully, thought
ully, intelllgently on everything about
I'm. If the heavens declare the glory
# God, tie commonest things OF earth
10 also praise Him. The infinitesin2al
s we'll as the infinite give Him glory.
IN every herb on which we tread,
Are written words, which, rightly read,
Would lead US from earth's fragrant sod
% hope and holiness and God.
But if this is so of the common things
n, In, under, and above the earth, how
1uch more important in regard to the
ace for whose comfort and honor all
as created
The history of mankind is full of the
reat good that has come from the
'wllest and humblest sources. The
ather OF the faithful was sheik, wan ;
ering from home in a strange land. {
loses was founding All the heroes
nd fathers of Biblical history were
hat we would call plain people. The
'under OF Rome was an outcast. The
-uthor and Founder of our faith was {
as root out OF a dried ground"-I
without form or comeliness. "The no.
!e army OF martyrs wandered about in
and goatskins, and dwelt In
ens and caves Of the earth-of whom a
le world was not worthy. All modern /
istory tells of human weeds that have :
sveloped great virtue and wisdom and
over for the good OF mankind.
The great growths of literature haye /
-own up as weeds and borne wonder v
Il fruits; their height rising heayen- v
ard, their branches overspreading the
lrth, and in them food for all. Homer
as wandering minstrel; Terence a
ave; Epictetus no better etc.
Down in modern times, the greatest
all uniDspired writer's, Shakespeare,
as veritable weed, ashamed of his t.
llling. If anything, a nouveau richie i,
ervantes was no better Burns an Ill :,
eed, indeed; John Bunyan a poor
nker and prlson-b,rd, no better than p
weed. And how many are there to h
, added to these most honorable dis G
IN ored. And hardly one of these -
canned of the wonderful works that v
, was accomplishing-wbat legacles u
ch was preparing for mankind! As el
ey could see, each one was little bet D
r than a weed sad failure, 1aboring h
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