Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-03

rejected. and our sovereign benefactor
failed not TO undertake its attainment.
For this purpose the splendid fabric OF
religion arose, every part of which dis
played the kind anxiety of its author
for the salvation of his creatures.
wherefore did his Providence watch one ma
ton and through ages of Ignorance and vice,
preserve within II the spark Of truth ana vir-
tue II not that from Il might break forth n
light of salvation to all the races of the earth!
Wherefore did he communicate TO man those
resources OF his WISDOM anu p oWgI wn VIZ "a
the creation He had reserved to Himself, ana
unfold the yelled mysteries OF the future
through his servants the prophets, II II We're
not that authority might be given 10 those
accompanying calls OF mercy and kindness, by
which He assured the sinner that He willed
not his death, but that NE should be converted
and live and exhorted the wicked man to
abandon his ways and seek with sincerity OF
heart the salvation Of the Lord?
with what view did He deliver into the hands
OF His weak creatures the keys of life and
DEATH and invest them with the power OF
varying the laws which He Himself mad I.i I'M
posed on nature? With what view in particu-
lar did the Son of God work such splendid
series Of miracles, II not to fix attention and
confirm the reliance OF all men upon that hrst,
that fundamental doctrine of Christianity, that
He was the Saviour of all, so often inculcated
by the apostle; that no distinction OF Jew or
GENTLE OF Greek or barbarian can exclude
anyone from REDEMPTION and the earnest de-
sire CT the eternal Father for his salvation.
These however. my dear brethren, are but
the mrre distant manifestations of Gods kind
intentions IN our regard He knows how little
We are moved by promises OF happiness De
5und our senses, and He has cOndescended TO
meet our weakness; drawing from before our
e. ea the curtain of His holy sanctuary, and
breaking down its wall of separation.
He has, In his inspired work. invited us TO
gaze on the glories to which we should as
pire, and allows u.s. like Moses, from the noun
tain OF Nebo, TO survey, even while in the VIII
da-ness, the land OF promise which are
TO inherit And all IS shown to US in that
blessed city, as would be deemed on earth
most glorious and beautiful; golden edifces
and jewelled gates and streams Of living crys-
tai and groves Of most excellent and peren-
NAL fruits, with the Lamb that was slain
for a temple, and the bright eye Of God for
its luminary. And when mingle In thought
with the happy Inhabitants of this holy city,
we find that no strangers there, but
rather brethren; that much is thought among
them and much done for us that the altar
which stands in the midst of them, burns for
it's incense naught but such prayers as we send
up from earth; that the golden viols which
from around its footstool, have no fragrance
save from our supplicRtion that holy martyrs
who cry from beneath the altar for Gods retri-
button, are soothed TO rest by the sweet prom
Zee that we. their brothers, necessary for their
complete happiness, are Fastening to join them
and share their crown.
And why are the eternal gates thus lifted
un and why IS this sublime spectacle revealed
II not that we may be induced to take the
doves wings ard hy-iy from this earth which
the waters OF bitterness and .iniquity yet cover.
and bear the olive branch Of our reconciliation
to this open ark where alone our feet may
rest?
| There may we see many orders of blissfrA