Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-09
VIII IS MAN2


stars, which thou hast ordained what
is man. that thou art mindful of himF
and the son of man. that thou visit
est him -PSalIns. viii. 3, 4.
We are In constant danger of
INDUCING in wrong thoughts of man.
We are too apt to regard man as a
weak, ephemerai creature. of the ut
most insigaIfcanee when compared
with a star, moon. a sun-with the
material universe, AS we direct our
attention to the glorious page of heay-
en- unfolded overhead. alive with clus-
terinG consultations whose bright des-
TIMES move at an Infinite altitude
above the petty waves of time, and
whose passlonless purity and eternal
peace seem to mock the soul. the spon-
taneous utterance of our hearts finds
expression in the Psalmist's words:
when consider thy heavens, the
work of thy fingers, the moon and the
stars. witch thou hast ordained; what
is man, that thou art mindful of him!
and the son OF man, that thou visit
est him?"
AS David looked upon the resplend-
ent orbs OF heaven he was filed with
profound humility and cried out In
awful establishment: what is manT
Modern astronomy has given us a
faint conception Of the magnitude of
space and the physical universe. We
cannot help feeling that such magni-
tude and vastness are worthy of GOD.
We cannot help acknowledging our
lfttleness and weakness in comparison
That such a God. SO vast in concep-
ton, so mighty in operation, so Won
derful in wisdom, so august in exc
cution, should have special thought
for every one of the millions of in
finitesimal men crowding the world
faith staggers at such thought. The
divine greatness becomes appalling.
We cry out: What is man, that thou
art mindful of him."
But David did not stop with this
exclamation. Upon second thought he
wisely concluded man could not be
inferior to the heavens. for God Las
not made him but little lower than the
angels; or as | read in my Hebrew
text. a little lower than "Elohim"-
God So far from being insignificant
in comparison With the heavens. man
is of infinitely more value than they.
The Worth of man in these days needs
constantly to be emphasized, for a
striking tendency of modern thought
H.. l. Of l. nj n
as larger views are taken of the uni
verse In which man dwells. Man is
the greatest and noblest work of God
The old Roman conception of man as
the lord OF creation approaches the
truth. Gods glory unfolds as we rise
in the upward scale of creation, cul-
minating in that being who, made but
little lower than the angels. bearing
the image and superscription of God,
crowns the highest pinnacle of crea-
ton.
On earth there is nothing great but man;
In man there is nothing great but mind.
True greatness consists not in
weight. bulk or extension, but in in.
telleetual power and moral worth.
Man is created in the image of God.
God is spirit The soul of man is
spirit Man as spiritual being is in
a peculiar sense Gods offspring and
partaker of Gods nature, Man there
fore is selfdetermining as God is; ne
is free as God is free. He IS a per-
son as God is a person This mate
rial image of God man never loses. So
long as he continues he continues a
person. Man is immortal He Is more
than n plant, more than a mere ami
mal--he is man. Man is man not
because he is strong, ingenious, af-
fectionate, but because he Is Gods in
breathing, Gods image. Gods son. So,
Though lost he may be recovered,
though waRderer ne may return and
feast. forgiven. at his Fathers table.
because though n prodlgal he is still
a son.
In view of these transcendent truths
what should be our proper attitude
toward man? We should respect and
love him. But. you say, 1t is difficult
to respect some men. for they daily
violate the most sacred laws. betray
the highest trusts, abuse our conf
dence and prove recreant TO the most
binding OF human obligations. Such
cases however. are the exception and
not the rule. The great majority of
men are honest and true; they stand
interrupted, nnimpeached and incor-
ruptible A man may sink into vice
and degradation. yet he cannot com
pletely efface the image of God which
is stamped upon him.
Yet in this feeble. stunted, sinful
specimen of humanity, In this ruin Of
noble manhood. lie wrapped wonderful
possibilities. For let the favorable
conditions come, let the spirit of the
living God breathe His energizing
power into this darkened. chaotic soul,
and at once there is order. light, pur
ity, peace. The image of God is re-
newed from within. the prodigal son
returned home and there is joy in the
presence OF the angels OF God
Mans greatness Is revealed by
Gods thought of him. Though a sin
ner God did aot dlsown him as an
incorriglhle son. He would save man.
History is the demonstration of His
great purpose. The key to history is
redemption. God 50 loved the world
that lie gave His only begotten Son
that whosoeYer belleyeth in Him
should not perish. but have everlast-