Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-08-12
MYSTERY OF GOODNESS.
The Power That Transforms Our
Lives and PurDoHes-SDfr-
itga1 Differences

/
We hear a great deal on every side
of the mystery of sin, and from much
that is said or written one would sup
pose that godliness were native TO the
soil and sin exotic. But when we come
to study, even cursorily, the spiritual |
phenomena of the world about us the |
the existence of godliness demands a
philosophy behind it as truly as the ex- |
istence of wrong. Boring for gas in |
one of our western states men have this |
season struck hitherto unknown sup
ply of water which threw the strong
, derrick and the following flood 200 feet
in the air. Not for n hundred leagues
in any direction was there visible any
fountain head for such power. The
| physicists of America are to-day in ex-
cited consultation as to the origin Of
1 this tremendous pressure which raises
| SO vast a volume with such an irresist-
ible force to such astonishing heights
| But so far the secret remains secret
a mystery of natures self.
No life of temperance is produced by
purely natural appetites; no life Of
chaste self-restraints is the result of
merely animal appetites; no life of self
sacrificing love is derived from feelings
or aims whose horizon is this present
world. Whence does it derive its pow
er? From what fountain head does it
draw its food? From what invisible
and remote source does it's refreshment
come?
Nothing at the great Columbian ex-
position seemed to us more wonderful
than certain exhibitions of electricity
made by Nicolas Tesla. Standing by a
table which was carefully isolated from
all batteries and dynamos, we saw a
large copper ball, the size and shape
of a goose egg, placed upon a salver
which was raised upon it's legs Of nom
conducting material. The ball was no
sooner dropped from the hand than il
began to oscillate, then to leap from
side to side, and at last with a supreme
effort as it were it rose upon the small
!, err end and set itself in motion with in
conceivable rapidity. For all of this ex-
:, element and celebrity there was no Wis
/, ible, no tangible, no material cause,
. Something produced it, but what that
. something was remained a mystery to
the spectators; and, in all except its
: name, az profound a mystery TO the
inventor. We learned that above this
table lay an electrical ''field" in whose
!, mysterious ether a still more mysteri
a Gus force called electricity was in con
= slant and violent play, moving in
whoris, and when this copper spheroit
was placed there it was caught by In
I. visible hands and set whirling before
our eyes with immeasurable rapidity.
m We know dear saints of God who's,
y daily life is as unconnected with tn
world about as Tesla's egg with visible
,e source of power. No one can accoun
Is for their lives by any motives whicl
D. are bounded by the present world
m Their lives are not the result of ava
,e rice, or appetite or love of fame. N
IN self-interest can be conceived as NOV
ii ing them to their daily round of duty
D. The things which pay they sacrific
10 with a smile. The deeds that are re
o. warded by fame they pass over in silcn
se contempt. They lose sleep. forego resi-
L ignore gold. What moves them? 1t
ID n mystery, says the world. And il
at mystery says st. Paul, except that
u is the same tremendous, the same ID
as vine power that we see in Jesus Chris
n ''God manifest in the flesh"
~ The life which lies within the feel
be of celestial dynamic is moved by til
power which moved Jesus Christ a
n along His life journey from Bethlehel
to Calvary. 1t is touched by the sam
tie power which was manifest" in jest
ed Christ when He put behind Him oil tn
to kingdom of this world and the glory
err them in the interests of duty. II
l a.
from the same source as His tears b
no side the sepulcher OF Lazarus. III
SIS. firmness it shows is that same graz
rs which one sees in Him who opened -
Ter His mnuth before Ills accusers an
Ter went accomplishing to His doom.
he Godliness IS thus ike electricity,
once a mystery and an open secret.
at is not the product Of ones environment
N, which is too often bitterly host
ire thereto; but it is the result OF IA
1e- away, invisible, celestial power wkiS
ed moves all that comes within the fie
of its glorious activities. It renders
CT man honest in the midst OF uncounts
an wealth. pure in the midst of libidino'
ms suggestion and faithful amid the II
JUS umphs of wickedness. 1t is not ca
be- down by the apparent prosperity Of Il
nd wicked because it is not depende
ch upon visible and tangible entities.
on does not ask for a sign by which to tie
its its Lords veracity, for il carries wit
I'm in itself the same consciousness of VI
Y. tue which He bore. To the CONNIE
world nothing in the marvels of mo
ern invention is more mysterious tia
such life as Livingstone's, it Is 90
"a % ho Tor