Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-10

on" and then, STOPPING down toward the
cave where the wild beasts were roaring
to get out, again cried, "Let them come
on"' All, Yes, it is persecution to put
you in glorious company, and while there
are many things that you will have to
postpone to the future world for cxplana-
ton | tell you that it is the whole tend
ency Of your religion to unravcl and OK
plain and interpret and ilhnine and IT.
radiatc. Job was right. 1t is glorious
transparency. "The crystal cannot equal
it,"
/ remark again that religion surpasscs
the crystal in its beauty. The lump Of
crystal is put under the maCnifying glass
OF the ys1allogrnpher and he sees in it
indescrihable cNquisiteness snowdrift
and splintcrs of hoarfrost and corals and
wrcahs and stars and crowns and con-
stcllations Of conspicuous beauty. The
fact is that crystal is so beautiful chat
can think of but one tling in all the uni
verse that is as beautiful, and that is the
religion of the bible. No wonder this
Bible represents that religion n the day.
break as the apple blossoms. rs the glitter
OF Il kings banquet. 1t is the joy of the
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 twcnty-scven times, while it mentions
crown eighty times? Ask that old man
what he thinks Of religion. He has been
q close observer. lie has been cultivat-
Ing an aesthetic taste. lie has seen the
sunriscs Of half century. lie has been
an early riser. He has been an admircr
of canoes and corals and all kinds Of
beautiful things. Ask him what he thinks
Of religion, and he will tell you: at is the
most beautiful thing | ever saw. The
crystal cannot equal it,"
Harmony and symmetry.
Beautiful in its symmetry. When it
presents Gods character, it does not pre-
sent him as having love like n great pro-
tuhorance on one side Of his nature, but
makes that love in harmony with his JUS
tice-a love that will accept all those who
come to him. and justice that will by no
means clear the guilty. Beautiful religion
in the sentiment it implants. Beautiful
religion in the hope it kindlcs. Beautiful
religion in the fact that it proposes to
garland and enthronc and cmparadjsc an
immortal spirit. Solomon says it is a
lily. Paul says it is crown. The Apoc-
alypse says it is fountain kissed by the
sun. Ezekiel says it is foliaged cedar.
Christ says it is bridegroom come to
fetch home a bride. While Job in the
text takes up a whole vase of precious
stones-the topaz and the sapphire and
the chrysoprasus-he 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 eXcaimS, 1.-The
crystal cannot equal it,"
Oh, it is not a stale religion; it is not a
stupid religion; it is not toothlcSs bag
as some seem to have represented il; il
is not Meg Ncrrilies with ShrivelcG arm
come to scare the world; it is the faircst
daughter of God, heiress of all lii
wealth; her check the morning sky, nci
voice the music of the south wind, hcl
step the dance of the sea. Come an
WOO her. The Spirit and the Bride say
come, and whatsoever will, let him come
Do you agree with Solomon and say it i
lily? Then pluck it and wear it owe
your heart. Do you agree with Paul an,
say it is crown? Then let this hou
be your coronation. DO you agree will
the Apocalypse and say it is a springin!
fountain? Then come and Stake tn
thirst Of your soul, Do you believe will
Ezekiel and say it is a foliaged cedar
Then come under its shadow. Do yor
believe with Christ and say it is a bride
groom come to fetch homo a bride? The
strike hands with your Lord and Kin
while / pronounce you everiastingly one
Or if you think with Job that it is
jewel, then put it on your hand like
ring, on Your neck like a bead, on you
forehead like q star, while looking int
the mirror of Gods word you acknowl
edge, The crystal cannot equal it,
superior TO Crystal.
Again, religion is superior to the crysta
in its transformations The diamond |
only n capitalization. Carbonate of lin
rises till it becomes calcitc or aragonite
Rcd oxide of copper crystallizcs int
cubes and octahedronS. Those crystal
which adorn our persons and our home
and our museums have only been rcsul
rcctcd from forms that were far fror
luStrOus. Scientists for ages have bee
| examining these wonderful transforma
tons. But l tell you in the gospel Of tn
Son of God there is "A more UOndprfl