Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12
GOD AND THE SOUL.
Human Dependence Upon the Divine
Strength N Pivotal Thought In
the Christian Religion.

Like as a father pltieth his children
Psalms, Gill; IL.
In the gallery of my memory there |
hangs very simple picture which |
never look at without peculiar salts |
faction. The incident occurred many
years ago, but it is as fresh in my
mind as this mornings rosebud.
a father and child were roaming
through wide country pasture. The
little one prattled in the sunshine, now
chnging to the fathers hand in an
ecstasy of confidence and now flying
as fast as its feet could carry II to
thicket where the wild flowers grew.
When away from the imme date
presence of the protector the child
would turn every now and again to be
sure that the father was there, as
though for the moment 1t had forgot
ten that 1t was not alone, and then,
with the delightful certainty of being
carefully watched, would roam still
further, intent on some new object.
Suddenly danger appeared in the
ominous bark of dog. The child felt
the instant need Of guardianship, and
with trembling haste rushed to the ia
theirs embrace, it's cheeks blanched
with fear, it's eyes filed with tears.
The strong arms, however, were no
sooner round him than he grew calm
again and the old smile returned. The
consciousness of absolute safety de-
stroyed the terror OF the dogs bark.
because father and child were heart TO
heart.
That is very imperfect symbol of
the true relation between God and the
soul. Nothing will exactly typlfy that
relation, but strong and wise father
, and a little child dependent on him viii
serve our purpose.
A thorough appreciation Of the fact
that God Is always close to US, Is al
ways interested in our welfare, is al
ways within call when we stand In
need of help, would be equivalent TO
a revolution in the life OF the world
To-day 1t is blind fact, or fact TO
which We are blinded, and it's practical
value is therefore reduced to a mini
mum. We assent to the statement as
a boy in school asssntE to dsmonstra-
| ton on the blackboard, but who does
not assimilate the truth and afterre-
cess forgets all about It. If he could
! once fix il in his brain il would last
/ a lifetime and help him to solve many
| a hard problem.
Whether it is too large q fact for our
| present intelligence, or whe we are
so absorbed in material things that
we thrust Il aside, cannot say. But
this l know, that if could convince
you that though you are but an atom
y IN ha ~ hnv -
and your life Is only single thread
in the vast fabric OF progress, still
the sun by day and the moon and stars
by night shine for you as though you
were the only being on earth and they
were created to serve you in just that
way, that God ia your personal God,
| filing your life with His presence,
ready, willing, anxious 20 serve you as
! though heaven and earth were made
for you alone, would fill you with
conscious dignity, and so enlarge your
conception Of your destiny that you
would be transformed end tranSfig-
I ured.
That thought Is central in the Bible
The decaiogue and the sermon on the
mount swing on 1t as on a pivot. That
one thought constitutes true religion
+! For is centuries it has been vibrating
through the generations, and you and
| have looked at 1t and not recognized
it. 1t is, indeed, the whole Of religion,
for he who has God in his heart owns
the universe and must needs keep his
face turned toward heaven.
To know shat all the forces of the
universe are on your side and will
assist in your development is q heri.
tage into the full possession Of which
we have not yet entered, truth so
grand that he who receives it become
ennobled; a truth SO precious that
when the shoulders bend beneath the
burdens of life the soul still rsjoices
for the power to bear Is given by Him
who is at your side, though invisible.
The religion which has that for its
pivotal point Is like the bugls call
which announces victory. Human and
divine have met and become one. God
and man are working for the same sub
lime purpose. The Christ has at last
achieved His mission. What is to be
borne will be borne IN the sublime
consciousness that even the hard pas
sages of life lead to greater light
Some may weep, but wet eyes see be
, yond the clouds the outstretche6
hands OF loved ones reckoning the
weary soul to its rest. That thought
Is the beginning, mean and end of al
things, and man rises to knowledge
of his sonship to the Father.
God in the heart is awelcome guest!
! Life school from which to graduate
! the lessons learned, into the Nearer
! Presencei Grasp this truth, guard il
and every day viii become stepping
stone to higher things.-George H
9 | Hepworth, in N. Y. Herald