The Newtown bee., 1903-10-09


nature, over which by divine appoint
ment we have dominion. Like the
beasts Of the field and the fowl of the
air the physical man was formed of
the dust of the ground and we are
therefore part and parcel of the ma
terial universe. We are related to
the creatures and things Of earth by
our common origin and common ma
ture. We are the work of creation,
and the offspring of God We stand
at the head of all the orders of, living
creatures, but we are linked together
with all these below US as to our phys
ical structure, appetites, natural af-
fections, instincts, mental faculties,
environment, and means of support
Man is the sum of all below him and
the prophecy of all that is above him
in the grand scale of life.
One thing is built upon another and
so all things are interrelated; and this
law of evolution helps us to under
stand the lower orders of life, and en-
ables us to comprehend ourselves and
Rour fellow mortals. ,''All flesh is grass"
as the prophet declares, and all grass
grows out of the ground. The veg
etable kingdom grows out of the earth
and the animal kingdom lives by feed
ing on the vegetable kingdom.
Science and revelation coming as
they do from the same divine source,
must be III harmony with each other,
and therefore, in the nature Of the
case must perfectly illustrate and en-
force each other. Nature as we call it
is a revelation of God for it embodies
His thoughts, plans, will and purpose
concerning His earthly children.
"The heavens declare the glory of
God" and so do the beasts of the field,
the fowls of the air, and the fishes OF
the sea. But Revelation, (which in
the Holy Scriptures appeals to mans
moral and spiritual nature, gives a
meaning to the works of God in the
material world, of which science alone
has no perception. In the Bible we
are taught the origin motive and pur-
pose of the works of the creation.
If we know God we can understand
everything that He has made. For
God is the only adequate cause, motive
method and conclusion of all created
things. And on the other hand, if we
learn to see the wisdom and goodness of
God in the miracle of nature, we shall
understand more and more the moral
and spiritual attributes of Him who is
the author and the finisher of our
faith.
The Word of God is full of the no
dom and goodness Of the Creator in
works of the material universe. The
beauty, fitness, sublimity, perfection
and spiritual significance of the things
Of earth are very conspicuous in the
minds of the inspired writer's. The
attributes Of the Infinite One are to be
seen in all his works, when once the
soul of man has been enlightened by
the Spirit of Truth. To the spiritual
man the earth is a parable Of the
things eternal. And in Christ the
most common things of earth are made
to teach US the highest truths of
heaven. The tree and it's fruit; the
vine with its branches; the house on
the rock; the salt Of the earth; the
lilies of the field; the SparrOwS on the
housetop; and the grass beneath oul
feet, by his love are all converted in
. to symbols of the heavenly graces
and hence, the knowledge OF all true
sciences; and the reverent study OF
the work of nature, help most power
fully to furnish and prepare the mind
and heart for the best services for Goo
and man, and for the enjoyment O
the highest offices of true religion.
The suggestion of text is simpl
one, but in it's application is far reach
ing and highly significant. The init
mate relationship between the crea
), lures and things of the world and tn
= life Of man is clearly indica ted in tn
:, beginning Of all human experience
Man was brought at once int
contact with them. His educa
ton was begun by the stud
of nature. The naming of thing
implies both knowledge of things, an
speech to express the truth. Namin
in Holy Scriptures means the discern
ing OF character, fitness, adaptation an
use. The name of anything stand #
what it really is in spirit and in trutl
- The inspired authors of the Bib
recur again and again to the marve
Gus provisions in nature for the we
L fare and happiness OF all the creature
of earth. The Psalmist in particult
no dwells often upon the wisdom ar
y. goodness of God as seen by his poet
sense of the fitness and beauty of tE
-- science of life. The 1O4th Psalm is
poem Of nature. The earth is full {
-, Thy riches.
n The relations Of domestic ANNA
M to the service of man is a marked
" lustratiOn of our Heavenly Father
Il care for His earthly children as SET
q in the help, sustenance, companio
y ship and pleasure they give. The OK
N a living parable Of submission and p
X thence; the lamb is the sacred symt
" of our Christian faith. The horse is
81 striking figure in divine revelation
N and even the dog teaches us lessons