Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-08

FOOunets OF Heaven. anu thcii hfc wv
Illness tells OF the present God, His all
pervading love.
The remotest discovery OF the telescope |
finds grace and beauty in the infinite pro-
found. and the most powerful microscope |
reveals II In the ininitesimal. Inc
depths Of ocean are adorned with them,
and they be concealed under their rough
est wrapplngs. The glory OF God Is 70
hide them. the honor OF man TO find them
out. Man traces the footsteps and hanui-
work Of deity by signs of grace ana
beauty and wonderful wisdom. The great
globe we inhabit is all full OF them TO en-
tioe, TO awaken. to animate, TO quicken
every part Of our being that we may UNI
fold. flower and expand after the divine
nature. and that our earth may open its
mysteries. and at last give up Its dead.
These thoughts are not mere magma
lions, lctions, and intellectual 'amuse'
ments. They are the very eloquence OF
things
The commouest things OF life so occupy
us with their grace and beauty that we
almost forget their purpose and business.
our bodies are kept alive and sustained
by the services OF the sun. And 1t Is the
business centre Of our world and the other
glorious orbs that make their rounds
with us. And yet, TO the most or our
race it is only known for It's glory ana
beauty and the infinite graces that it scat
tiers over earth and Heaven. Its dement's
and enlivening influences we take ana
/ al
natural. The clouds seem only meant TO
| show forth the giories of the sunlight ana
raise grace and beauty to a heavenly Dig
nifty. grandeur and sublimily' Ana Eet
| their splendor is only natural cohse-
auence or accompaniment of their neces-
| sary service in watering ana enrlchihs
the earth in supplying US with tood ana
! drink. They are our merchdh'ihcn ou'
! water-carriers They are our street.
sweepers-nay, our universal scayengeis.
They are our disinfectants and general
purifers. But how beautifully and grace
fully and irreslstibly 10 they perform
| their offices!
The common trees and shrubs and vege-
tables all wear flowers in their bonnets
and all wear pretty clothes Nature mas
no rough workmen or Stevens IN her en-
iploy. Her unfailing uniform Is grace anu
Loautv of one sort or another. Inc sea-
|
Of their loneliness. The blossoms OF the
early spring. the green clusters OF the
vine. the mature fruit Of the autumn
and the snow crystals and frosts Of WIN
ter have each q grace and beauty OF theiF
own. All these things are meant lot man
10 lift his heart and mind heaNen"aiu ;
to cherish and cXalt his soul. that IL may
take a high and honorable view OF every
thing. The office Of grace ana peauly
everywhere. in everything, IN the seue' ~.
works Of Nature, in the diVineness oI
the human countenance, in the eAceheilCS
| OF manhood, I'm the gentle lOyeilness OF
,yonnanhood Is I'm behalf of the spirit
against the flesh; that soul may hVe
life OF glory and honor, and sense be loat
I'm absolute submission and service tha'
the incorruptible may supersede the cor
ruptible. and the mortal be swallowed UP
I'm Immortality.
And all this is the spirit Of the Chris
tan faith. Things true, honest, and Just
pure. lovely, and Of good report, virtue
and praise are to be- all In an the STUDY
of the disciple The best gifts are 10 ~
earnestlv coveted. And the child is e
s,rtvo FOR tbe perfection of the Father
The Father IS the Heavenly ana the IN
finite. And the exaltation and honor Oh
the holiness and divine beauty Of Hi'
character is 10 be the longing of the tol'
lower of Christ
As grace and beauty are divine things
| so in everything they are TO RUE IN the
individual and throughout life. Inc grace
and beauty that awakens or feeds amol
ton and low passion is CT the earthy
and is fraud and sham. Bu
real and essential grace are honorable II
everything. In material things, in imma
! terial things. in mind and matter, II
| N
thought in conversation. AND man Is
loval to his Creator, and religious an'
, doing the will Of Heaven, when while h'
. labors with all the might and earnestnes'
of his soul to accomplish his purposes
he manifests the divine nature or mis- sou
, Inv doing all things pleasantly gracihB NE
, most painful duties with regrettul tender
ness-that IS, almost divine.
Z How very beautiful Is the divine idea
, presented to US:
We shall descend like showers
Upon the peaceful EARTH
And love and JOY. like flowers,
: Spring In His path TO birth.
4 Before Him on the mountains
3 Shall peace, the herald, go;
e And righteousness, like fountains,
/ From hill to valley flow
The tide OF time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall last forever,
That name to US Is Love.