Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-05-08
7 h e I n s t met
Of Z t erni t "
By REv. JOHN WATSON, ID. ID.

By REV. JOHN WATSON, ID. ID.
"rhey desire better country.
that is, MI heavenly, wherefore Gcd
Is not ashamed to be called their
God, for he prepared for them a
a city. Heb. XII. IS.
Those words are laden with a
singular gravity and majesty
of faith, but it is open to differ about
their reading. They may express
the feeling of God toward the pil
grim soul, and in that case they
contain an inspiring truth since they
are yindication of the saints. As
we read the roll of faithful men we
apt sometimes to be over critical
about Abrshsm's falsehood, and
lsaac's weakness, and Jacobs deceit.
and fierceness of the Judges, Just as,
today, the shortcomings of religious
people exposes them to our scornful
judgement. We take for granted
that God will be still more merciless
with imperfect men, but according
to this writer we misunderstood the
mind of God. With finer vision he
pierces beneath the faults of the out
er life to its secret motive, and if ne
finds faith he is satisfied. When
anyone becomes Il stranger on earth,
because he desires better country.
when he is ready to sacrifice the
things which be can see for the
things which are beyond sight. h.
has in his soul principle which
will sooner or later cleanse his heart
and dignity his life. For him there
is
Set up a mark Of everlasting light.
Above the bowling senses ehb and flow
If IN the straits of life and the sore
travail of the soul such man. strug
gler Of the past or of the present.
should call on God and have the
courage 10 say "My God!" God will
not fling his sins in the mans face
aud disown him because he has tax
Ell divine name upon his lips If he
cannot see the end from the begin
ming, God can If We cannot un
derstand the pathetic aspirations of
lhe soul, God can. Because this hu-
man being though he be the frailest
mat ever lived, has dared TO believe
- utterly and hoped so high, he has
r'ndered the Last honor in his power
10 God, and God. neither in time nor
ia eternity, neither before men or
angels. will be ashamed to be called
hi> God.
Perhaps. however. this apologist of
falth Intends that we should read
his saving. another way. and i. E..
indicating not man, but God. Dur
ing the CENTURIES of his review many
brave souls had heard the inward
call aud hroken up their familiar
home aud - nut on p long journey.
IL Was AZ .'n.nrnse sacrifice to start,
il was -phnue hope that they
would arrive. Upon what ground
did those vnvegers make their great
venture: II al anyone come from
IN" unSci.n 20 hr;r testimony, had
any driftwnod from the New World
been cn.i uu their shores, had they
any sign upon which to rely? None,
When uuspiritnAl men inquired why
they had taken rilgun's staff and
gone forth AZ such cost. and flOut-
ed thrm Tor their fooliShness and
crciulitv. what defence had they:
None hut their faith They had
been moves To bei!G;r !h!S, tnal
there was u better country, even at
heavenly; they bad been able to be
lieve this: they had dared 10 give eff
feet to their faith. aud this, therefore
must BE- true. Their faith was itself
the ground of things hoped for. the
evidence Of things not seen. Ii there
were no outer life. for thefh then theii
fntn hal been Won on false pre-
;eDCes. and they were the victims ot
the most heartlees deceit. WhOevet
had allured them Oh to thlS woefu
disappointment had touched th'
very height of treachery. and thi
could be- none else but God. lil
had been the words thy heard, an'
his was the hope which lifted Them
aud be himself was thc reward the,
coveted. For him they had givei
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