Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-29

no,ning Of day, feel bis strength in
towering mountain and rolling sea.
Now We appreciate more fully than
ever before, perhaps, the marvellous in
sight Of the s"ers and singers of the
Psalms, who disuerned intuitirely what
we are learning through the discoveries
of modern science. But there is this
differ nqe between their vision and the
results Of modern thought as expressed
in the law of evolution: While they
saw the power and glory OF God 10 his
ing in the Holy Place, far removed
from earthly scones; but the theory Of
evolution helps US TO ssa that God, even
the living God, IS present everywhere
the heart and cent? 10 OF all outward
forms. the lie and power and beauty oil
all living beings. +'
Ana how often do the Old Testament
writers give expression to their feel
inRs OF rhankiulness for the bountiful
gifts of God in nature, and His protects
ing care of His people! Indeed, it Is |
Just these sentiments of dependence, |
seeking expression in words of praise |
and gratitude, found oil through the |
Bible, that make it the worlds best |
prayer book, and which will always |
cause IL to be the highest manual OF
human worship. But in the New Testa-
ment We find another element OF
praise, new sense Of gratitude. 1t
adds to the ancient faith-which
thanked God for the beauty and bounty
of nature, and acknowledged His pro-
teating care in human life-the convic-
tiop OF Jesus that God is the universal
Father. Thus the New Testament
abounds in expressions of overlooking
10y and thaukfulness for the "unspeak-
able gift" OF divine love--the personal
love OF thu Father in heaven for every
son and daughter Of earth-a love that
rejoices more over Que lost child re-
stored to the Fathers embrace, than
over ninety .and-nine others who never
stray from his house. 1t is this convio
non of fatherly tenderness for the sim
full, this confidence in the infinite COM
pnssion OF heaven FOR the fallen and the
lost, that gives lis distinctive tome of
! joyful thanksgiving to the gospel. 1t
| Is for this unsreakable gift of Divine
| Love that our tcxt calls upon US to
| give thanks unto God.
What ia it in a gift that inoites our
highest aud truest feelings of thank
fuiness. What is 1t that gives 1t
| its greatest worth in our estimation?
Surely, not its material value, or the
use to which we can put 1t. Rather, is
il not ths affection OF the giyer, as rep
resented by the gift and revealed in 1T,
4 that most attracts our attention, is
mist deserving OF our appreciation, and
appeals strongest to our sentiments ut
gratitude? Indeed, there Ia room to
doubt If there can be any real thank
fulness for gift, of whatever value or
utility, that is given only with the
hand, donated from sense of duty or
from mere habit, and in which there IS
no evidence of human sympathy, no
sign OF aifectionate regard. One could
scarcely feel thankful to another who
had saved his life, il he knew it was
done simply to attract attention and
win applause. He might feel an obli-
cation Tor his rescue from death - an
obligation which he would seek to re
pay, il possible. But feelings of graft.
tude are not produced by self-seeking
nor are they called forth by ostenta.
; tious aims. Unless there Is some evi.
dencs OF personal love--spontaneous
sympathetic, self-forgetful love-ir
, what is received from another, there
, can be no real thankfuness 10 return
For thankful sentiments spring from 9
} heart. filled with affecticnale tender
ness, answering to the spirit Of thought
full kindness on the givor's part.
/ The ono thing, therefore, that give
. intrinsic worth to all other gifts ia love
, Because love ia not only 1.-THE q Gates
thing in the world.' as Prof Drum
mond has so beautifully maintained
+ love is that which gives worth and us
: to allother things. 1t is that in then
q all which never fails, is never lost o
0 / wasted, and abides forever. Even tn
: hardest heart will soften in its sun
8 shine, the coolest nature be warmed b
,f its influence, the darkest mind illum
Q ined by its light. Moreover, we ma
j, enjoy all the other gifts of God re
n csiyed throughout the four.fold year
o His gifts in nature and in life-an
q yet, IL we do not sec love in them, the
II will not waken in our hearts an answer
10 ing love, out of which the sentiments {
20 gratitude shall arise in songs of prais
and thanksgiving.
|, The sight of outward beauty in tire
10 and flower. hill and valley, cloud an
sunshine, may please our fancy, gratii
le the senses, but it will never make U
IL grateful, The study OF natural aaiene'
., bringing to light the wonderful Law
,e and forces hidden from ordinary know
Of edge. may satisfy our minds; but
70 win not warm our hearts with thanks
Of giving, unless we are able to disoeI
10 O Fathers love in it all. But let ,
40 once feel that love, let US once becon
Of conscious of the Divine tenderness
re- nature and in life, and ever after OF
ID heart will thrill and thrpb with than
full emotions whenever We stop to thir
,g that it is Gods care which provide
OF this beautiful earthly home for o,
nd dwelling place, and "giveth us rich
nd all things to enjoy
g, 1t is by the pathway of human affe
gy tion that we become conscious OF q
lie vine love. Infinite being can be di
at covered by the highway Of the reaso
il A divine element in the human SO
ng was discerued by the tlatonic school
he philos ,phy. Pantheism gives to OF
M ward nature divine aspect. Sta
OF eyed Science,' wandering far into t
he realm of the unknown, brings back
lie day, no "tidings of despair" but !
NJ veals to the thoughtful mind yisi
Tor OF divine intelligence above all la
he divine power behind all force, divi
he enc ny shining through all materi
or substance, divine life within
or. activity. But divine love is not til
a perceived. The Investigations of
TIA. scientist cannot discover it, the W
lily dom OF the philosopher has not
lis vealed it. We're the powers CT
md mind fail to penetrate, however, tn
emit love inspired by faith guides the pr
les heart. g.. .-+.
elp when the fulness of the time '
ian come, God sent forth His Son" a N
lite ".made in all things like unto
Id, brethien,'' but with heart SO pu