Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-23
The Great Paymaster.

observations Of Philosophical Friend)
mot as the world gIveth give YOU"
But man. proud mani
Plays such fantastic tricks before hign
AS make the angels weep; who with our
spleens.
Would all themselves laugh mortal"
Meas for Meas.
IL man were not as great a being as he
IS an object OF the tenderest solicitude OF
the Highest, it would be a matter OF won
der how angels could see the perfectly ri
diculous things that go on in this world
without breaking out into great ana
universal roar OF laughter. II Is more
pitiable than absurd 10 see people in
palmer circumstances overlook or disre-
gard the choice blessings OF their condi-
ton, and groan and lament because they
are not altogether different from what
they are. On the other hand. it Is more
ridiculous than pitiable TO SEQ those
high levels, full of pride and sslf-satis
faction, persuading themselves that they
are very happy, and having hrst-rate
rable: IN the fulness OF their suiiicieney.
In straits"
Holy Writ says OF tho wicked that they
shall not see when good cometh"; In an
other place. that God will curse their
blessings And 10 the righteous II promis-
es: Il will conseorate their gain 10 the
Lord their substance to the Lord Of the
whole earth; in another place. He shall
not see when heat cometh."
In eating, drinking sleeping. and the
special qualification Of our sensual ape
tites, all Of Us are but children Of Nature
are classed with the works OF the Great
Creator. whose business IL is to praise
Him. and magnify Him forever. Those
that most faithfully fulfil His appoint
ments and obey His laws are most beau
tiful and glorious. Solomon, In all his
glory, could not surpass them. Solomon.
ia his luxury ana vice, was less than the
least Of them.
The Great Judge Is, here on earth, the
Great Paymaster. He dwells on high. ana
no king can corrupt Him. He does what
He wills with His own. lie despises the
proud. and sends the rich empty away lie
gives gentle. loving kindness 20 the poor
and despised. and fill5 the hungry with
good things. lie scatters Has bountles
freely and largely. And the only conai-
ton OF enjoyment is the capacity ana
qualification 10 enjoy. He allows no
Snowman 10 monopolize the gorgeous sun
sets. nor any OF the glories OF the hea-
vens
How vainly through inhnite trouble and
strife
The many their labors employ!
Since an that IS truly delightful in life
Is what all II they viii, may enjoy.
Some one has said: III you want 10
know what the Almighty thinks Of rich
es. just notice 10 whom He gives them"
The proverb has IL: The prosperity OF a
fool shall destroy him" The great poet
says: "Surfeit Is father 10 much fast"
Here on earth Nature spreads her royal
feasts everywhere, and calls 20 the enjoy
ment OF what we call natural pleasures.
But the masses and multitudes OF the rich
and great are all preoccupied. and pre-en-
gagged. Their pride, their ayarice. their
folly, their gluttony. their ambition; their
envy. hatred, and malice; their false ideas
Of enjoyment, their false estimates OF wall
ue. their low standards. their preJudices.
and animOs!ties. deprive them OF all pos
siblities OF real enjoyment. They benumb
all natural impulses, and quench all pure
natural desires. They emasculate and ef-
Terminate them. They set them on IRE with
their grosser passions and lusts and make
their lurld horrors feasts for the vicious;
tragedies and romances for the idle VI
cious In their light. humanity Is a terri
bic failure. Suicide Is the desperate con-
clusion. These eat Of the fruit OF their
own ways, and are filed with their own
devices. They have refused Natures
bOunties. and Natures call They have
been their own paymasters. and have
paid themselves full.
me highways and hedges. the
sheep OF the Divine pasture, the meek OF
the earth, commoners OF air led along by
the Divine hand OF the Good Shepherd.
furnish the guests for Natures feasts-the
admiring. reverent spectators OF her dali
ly, hourly exhibitions. These. with pure
and honest hearts and lowly minds. re-
cognize tho good and true and beautiful.
so largely outspread; with healthy appe-
tiles and cravings they feed from the Di-
vine hand. and give thanks. To them
everything that comes from the Father Is
full OF His love, and receives responses
from the depths OF their souls. lie gives
not His Spirit by measure. lie pours HIS
good things into their receptive bosoms-
pressed down and shaken together. The
measure OF their pay is His immeasuraole
love.
on tho other hand, the idle. luxurious
and vicious absolutely disQualify them
selves Tor partaking OF the best gifts OF
nature. They 90 away fully aud miser-
ably paid IN their own coin. THIS they
havs from the Great Hand. They us
a,