Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-06-02

drinks IN the gentle ram drops, making the
grass to grow; just as the bee sips the
honey from the fragrant, flower, SO we must
learn to appropriate the good in every
thing, to our own growth and refinement.
Life everywhere is sustained by appropriate
ing the outward to itself. The great in
telects which teach and bless the world
to-day are great and capable because of this
appropriation of knowledge. To the good
belongs the best of two worlds. 1t was
once thought that the Christians world
was exceedingly limited. The Bible,
hymnal, long sermon and dreary prayer
meeting were all that the Christian had
his fervor and narrow his vision, and
tarnish his soul Thank God, that day is
90 far behind us. To-day we know that
everything within reach and everything
within sight is ours, if we love God, to be
used in the advancement and enrichment
of our lives.
Look at it moment. Take an inventory
Try to temize the blessings of the good
God. Explore the world of art, the product
of the centuries, it is ours, for God made
the beautiful. What store house of les.
sons and inspirations and soul delights are
the art galleries of the world! The win
dows in cathedrals and churches have for
ages been telling the story of Christ. The
Nativity" by Burne-Jones, is the pride OF
England; "The TRANSPORTATION" by Raph
ael, the glory of Italy. These arc but sam
pies of the beautiful in art, which are ours
for the delight and culture of the soul.
All sciences and literatures belong to us,
for God is the Author of all truth: Sha kes'
peare and Booth and DE Reszke, these
and the host of others like them, are ours
to charm away our cares and rest OF mind.
The marketplace crowded with the yield of
tba E,lJ tha v of Tho mil thn nrnl
uct of the factory, is ours, for God is immi
nent in nature and industry and human
skill. The advance in surgery and medl.
cine, the limtless Pleasures i'll travcl-all
this is ours, available and disable assets
to make life rich and happy and good.
All this is the product of the past, the
gift of the good God. Its presence should
shame badness out of existence. How can
people be bad when they think of the
goodness of God? What are we doing with
lfes assets? They are the raw materials
out of which we may weave the souls SER
aphic robe; they are the steps by which
we ascend to the home of perfect day.
They are to our spirits what air and dew
and sunlight are to the seed. Plants
grow by appropriating things alb extra to
their use; souls grow by doing the same
way. The business of life is to convert
all these forces and gifts into life and
character. The soul must drink in its
full of God and rise to the perfect life IN
the endless day beyond the stars.
What we need to know to-day is tho
proper use of things. That means study,
the exercise of the mind. Others have
studied and thought for us. The result IS
the locomotive, carrying us sixty miles an
hour; the electric wire, by which we talk
to friend 1900 miles away. If wealth
is to benefit the owner of it. he must use
it and use it wisely. So, if we are to feel
the stimulus and reap the benefit of the
accumulatons of the ages, as life assets;
if these arc to answer their need, in the
making of man-wc must study and
think and pray. In the right use of these
is the making of a holy character.
All that has been said is, we believe,
true. But it is not the whole truth. We
must 90 a step further. Man has heart
nature, nor science, nor Scripture, can
meet. Man needs God. God is every.
where. God is in the sunlight which
bathes us every day with its warmth and
glory. He is in the bread which we eat;
He is in the music which comes floating
through the air, making he heart to dance
for Joy But this God is too vague, too
vast, too impersonal. Can this God be
personalzcd? 1t is Gods eternal purpose
to adapt Himself to the limitations and
needs Of His children. We do not think
of God merely az Power, or Majesty, OF
Holiness, God ia Love. Love is the win.
ming thing Love conouers. Love is bent
on drawing home to the Fathers heart all
His w,yword and lost ones. The human
heart cries for God. What kind of God:
Not the God Of the atheist, not the God OF
the Deist, not the God OF the narrow
theoogan, but the Eternal God. And
Jesus Christ has revealed HIM 10 the
world. This Jesus Christ and this sod
are ours. This completes the list. There
is nothing more that can be added. Flow.
ers, pictures, music, ships, railroads, tele'