The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-10-18


destroyed by tho lions, said "I am
beasts must first grind mo before ]
can become pure bread for jesus
Christ" Or tho company of such men
as "that ancient Christian martyr
who, when standing IN tho midst OF
the amphitheater waiting for the
lions to como out of their cave and
destroy him and the people in tho
galleries jcering and shouting: "The
lions!" replied: "Lct them come on! >
and then, STOPPING down toward the
cave where the Wild beasts were roar.
ing to get out, again cried: ''Lci
them come on!" All, yes, it is pcrsc'
cution TO put you in glorious com,
pany, and while there are many
things that you will have to postpone
to the future world for explanation
tell you that it is tho whole tend.
ency Of your religion to unravcl and
explain and interpret and .ilumnc
and irradiate. Job was right. It is
o glorious transparency. "rhe crys.
tai cannot equal it,"
l remark again that religion sur.
passes the crystal in its beauty. Tho
lump Of crystal is put under tho mag.
nifying glass Of tho crystallograph.
er and he sees in it indescribable cx.
cncss--snowdrift and splintcra
of hoar frost and corals and wreatha
and stars and crowns and constella.
tons of conspicuous beauty. The fact
is that crystal is so beautiful that /
can think Of but one thing in all tho
universe that is as beautiful, and
that is the religion Of the Bible. No
wonder this Bible represents that re.
ligion rs the daybrcak, as the apple
blossoms, MS the glitter Of q kings
banquet. It is the joy Of tho whole
earth.
People talk too much about their
cross and not enough about their
crowns. DO you know that the Bible
mentions a cross but 81 times, while
it mentions n crown 80 times? Ask
that old man what he thinks OF re.
ligion. lie has been close observer.
He has been cultivating an csthctio
tHsto. lie hns seen the sunriscs OF
half century. Ho has been on carly
riser. 1Io has bocn an admircr OF
canoes and corals and all kinds OF
beautiful things. Ask him what he
thinks Of religion, and he will tell
you: cit is the most beautiful thing
I ever saw. The crystal cannot
equal it,"
q Beautiful in its symmetry When IT
presents Gods character, it does not
present Him $ hnving love like great
protuberance on one side of His ma
ture, but makes that love in harmony
with His justice-a love that will nc
cept all those who come to Film, and a
justice that will by no means clear
the guilty. Beautiful religion In tho
sentiment it implants! Beautiful re-
ligion in he hope it kindles! Beautiful
religion in the fact that 1t proposes to
garland and enthrone and cmparadise
un immortal spirit. Solomon says il
is lily. Paul says it is crown. The
Apocalypse says it is q fountain kissed
by the sun. Ezekiel says it is foliaged
cedar. Christ says it is a brid egroom
come to fetch home bride. While
JOB in the text takes up whole vase
OF precious stones-thc topaz and the
sapphire and the chrysoprasus-
holds out Of this beautiful vase just one
crystal and holds it up until it CLEANS
in The warm light Of The eastern sky,
and he exclaims: "The crystal cannot
equal it,"
Oh, it is not stale religion; 1t is OF
q stupid religion; it is not toothless
has, as some seem 10 have represented
it; 1t is not Meg Mcrrilics with shriy-
cled arm come to scare The world: it
is the fairest daughter Of God, hcircss
Of all His wealth; her cheek the morn
ing sky, her voice the music Of the
south wind, her step the dance Of the
sea. Come and WOO her. The Spirit
and the Bridc say conc, and whosoeyer
VIII, let him come. DO you agree with
Solomon and say it is n lily? Then
pluck it and wear it over your heart.
DO you agree with Paul and say it is
crown2 Then let this hour be your
coronation. DO you agree with the
Apocalypse and say it is springing
fountain? Then come and slake the
thirst OF your soul. DO you believe
with Ezclsicl and sAy it is foliaged
cedar? Then come under it's shadow
DO you believe with Christ and say il
It bridegroom come 10 fetch home
bride? Then strike hands with your
Lord and King while | pronounce YOU
everlastingly one. Or if you think with
JOB that it is jewel, then put it on
your hand Hike ring, on yonr neck
like bead, on your forehead like
star, while looking into the mirror
Gods word you acknowledge: "rhe
crystal cannot equal it,
Again, religion is superior to the
crystal in its transformations. Tho
diamond is only a capitalization Car
Donate Of lime rises till it becomes cal
cite or aragonite. Red oxide Of copper
crystallizes into cubes and octahed-
rons. Those crystals which adorn our
persons and our homes and our MI
seums nave only been rcsurrectcd from
forms that were far from lustrous
scientists for ages have been cxamin.
ing these wonderful nsforma tions.
But l tell you in the Gospel Of the Son
OF God there is a more wonderful trans
formation. Over souls by reason OF
SIN Diack ms coal and hard as iron
God' by Ills comforting grace, stoops
and says: "They shall be mine in the
day when I make up my Jewels"
What" say you. evil God wear
1cwelry :" If lie wanted it, lie could
make the stars Of the heaven His
belt and have the evening cloud for
the sandals of His feet, but lie does
not want that adornment. lie will
not have that jcwelry. When God
wants jewelry Ho comes down and
digs 1t out Of the depths and dark
ness Of sin. These souls are all crys-
talllzations Of mercy. IIc puts them
on, and he wears them in the pres
encc Of the whole universe. He wears
them on thc hopd that ,,,o, >,.;1,