Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-07
Possibilities Of Manhood.
Dissertations Of q philosophical Friend.J

'oosersstV'F oSe A'W7P'N-
What IL a man.
II his chief good and market, OF his time
BE but to sleep aud tfsed' 4 beastt1s
more.
Sure, He that made us with such large
discourse.
Looking before and after. gave us not
That capability and godlike reason
To fust In US unused"
Hamlet.
The great business of Christianity II 90
keep from going entirely out the spark
of divinity within us--to make our lives
divine, instead of devilish. The Son OF
Sirach says: The mortal body presseth
down the mind. Released from his oblt-
CATION to the High and Holy One. for
Whose worship and service he was made.
man gravitates earthward. Like tia
vine detached from its natural support.
he fastens himself more and more to
things earthly, and resents the thought.
and fights against the effort, to lsft him
up. All the tendrils OF his being. his
cravings longIngs. aspirations. given him
to climb by, tie him hepelessly to low
things: the stronger the nature. the
stronger the cords and chairs that hold
him down to the table OF the serpent.
"our natures do pursue, like rats that
ravln down their proper bane. thirsty
evil; and when we drink, we die"
The wonder is how low the little light
may burn and be stili alive-an object OF
a Fathers love, all oppressed with earth
mess.
The Stoics recognized the dignity OF
man. but had no great Original as the
standard and explanation OF MS being.
| All that was honorable was fragmentary
and partial, suggestive OF great deal
better than he was: The better all the time
preyed on by the worse. And the perfec-
ton of stoiclsm was the sublimty Of cold,
heavenless endurance: whole as the mar
bic. founded as the -ock, but polished
and insensible. Never drop OF the
warm milk OF human kipdress wss
known in theig. nursery " MANHOOD. sem
siblit vas le& with fAsff baby girls, to
perish on the tSleak mis- lin Sc ipse
totus teres ct rotundus' described their
cold statues and great ideals. warmth
life. love, joy, and infinite growth ana d.
vine perfection contrast Christianity WIN
the hard fabric Of stoicism-fatheriesss
motherless, brotherless. homeless, insen-
that heathenism could show in tho dim
light of its philosophy.
The Old Testament kept. In It's sacred-
ness. the knowledge OF the Great Creator.
God in His holiness, righteousness, ana
love. the Father OF the human race Ana
SO II preserved mans divineness. Ino
shark OF Deity was fckering; darkness
covered the earth, and gross darkness
the people. when manhood was yindi-
Gated. by God coming I'm the form OF man.
alive in the flesh. raising humanity TO mo
highest level The hope, OF all nations
was fulfilled in the Messiah;f their desire
was come. In Him was life. and the nie
was the Light OF Men. And life ana
immortality were brought to light by tho
Saviour.
AS I'm the human race, so I'm the heart
OF each individual the spark OF Deity 10
| awakened, and enlivened by the reveia-
| ton there Of Jesus Christ, the ideal OF
divine manhood. The day dawns, ana,
| the day-star arises in the heart. The
| apprehension and appreciation Of the pos
sIbilties OF manhood. are the Soul or
| Christendom. This Is the principle or
| Faith This is the redeeiling power Oh
Faith And upon il we build. Ana out OK
| this Rock spring the waters OK me, th7
! waters OF life 10 our furnishing race;
| rivers and fountains OF light. and life. and
| tov and continuous growth In the soul
| If the believer And the command TO
! tho disciple Is not mere theological
| generality. but, a practical and nsplr-
ING order: Re we therefore perfect as
| your Father In Heaven Is perfect All
/ human PROJECTIONS are possibilities 10
| the dcvout worshipper. IL doth not yet
appear what we shall be. But We know
| that when lie does come We shall bear
His likeness otherwise the inyiorious
| image of beast $3.50.