The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-16
OUR RELIGIOUS CONTEMPORARIES.

Monday morning we found that one tiny
violet had come to tell us of the APP
preaching spring Under the leaves in
a.s the border it was peeping
~ VIOLETS out, lowly, modest. gentle
SERMON. but true to it's kind and
brave. 1t was the first
messenger to arrive, the advance courier
of the coming host. What a splendid
message it brings from the world Of life
under the sod! It tells of the hidden
wealth Of sleeping seed and dreaming
bulb. of the vast power Of the life that
has laid willingly at rest until the sun
comes back to call ituout to all its Won
Gerful growth and order and beauty. 1t
is a. bidding to faith and patience and
confident expectation.
Some one writes Of 'the patience and
punctuality Of natural things" All the
winter long. through cold and storm,
under the heavy snow. when the sun re-
fused to shine, and the skies were as
lead these natural things have slept
their life by hiding deep in the ground,
and in their obscurity and silence have
waited patiently for their appointed time.
In all the underworld there has been
no such thing as an idle root The vio-
lets have worked away, gathering just
the food they wanted, and sending up
the ascending stem and the unfolding
| leaf, until now they come punctually to
| their sweet Towering.
1t does not take a great voice to tell
| the best message. 1t is not always the
| blare Of silver trumpet, nor the elo-
| quence of a silver tongue, nor the blast
| Of a great storm of testimony that brings
the tidings Of the greatest blessings.
| Small things of fidelity tell of grateful
| love, and a right conscience, and a lofty
purpose Words and deeds, not boast
! full and loud, Tut modest and gentle.
| may tell OF great life begun, Of a
| heart turning to God, and give the
| promise of a new and better life. which
| shall blossom and fruit abundantly in
! the coming springtime of God.
| AS we believe in the vast powers Of
| life that lie under the ground, so do
we believe in the greater power of that
! life which God is hiding in the hearts
| Of his children. 1t is not natural and
earthly. but supernatural and heavenly.
! 1t is not human and mortal. but dl-
vine and immortal. When the sun comes
back. when tho Sun of Righteousness
| comes nearer, all this hidden life stirs
| and signs, longs and prays, until it
comes to its happy Towering day We
! look for rev earth and a new heaven
made one, wherein dwelleth righteous
| ness" conquering, ruling. abiding for
ever.-Central Presbyterian.
| In tho days Of Rome's military and
! commercial power, she built those re-
| markablc highways of hewn stone run
! ming out to every
! THE PREACHING part of the empire
! OF PHILIP. roads which have
| been allied the
| greatest material fact before railways, a
very wonder OF the world. Let some
distant province rise in revolt and down
these smooth highways ratified the Ro-
man chariots. and the rebellion was soon
numbered with the past. Along these
highways poured in to make rich the
Imperial city the silks Of China. pearls
and nard Of India, gold of Africa, and
grain from the valley of the Nile. figs
and balsam from Syria-the wealth OF
the world. Hence came the expression,
"All roads lead to Rome.
Just as all the highways of the great
empire sooner or later bring the traveller
| to the eternal City" as the Romans
| proudly called their capital, so all the
paths of Scripture revelation bring tho
seeker after truth at length to the eternal
character, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 1t is,
therefore, peculiarly suggestive to read
| in the pa ssage assigned Tor our next
Sundays lesson. that as the Ethiopian
/ treasurer was puzzIing over a selection
from Isia1as prophecy and sought the
guidance of Philip, that good evangelist
| began from the same scripture ana
preached unto him Jesus. Acts will, 35.--
Religious Herald.
i We believe Gods house should be SUI
/ perior to the best homes Of the Wor-
/ shippers. There is no niety in ugllness
i and 6rudeness Of architecture mere IS
no religion in an ignorant pulpit, nor In
a threadbare parson. DeHout& M etho-'
dists worship in cei1ed temples Of cedar.
II "a Ne rich towards God? Re Not IN sub sub