St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-11-19

gency of the need, and the blessedneAs
of the privilege Of being light holders.
isaiah sees before his vision the revived
and re-established nation of Israel. The
Christ, the One Whom the nation re-
,ected when He first came to earth. has
returned and has been received by the
nation as its Messiah and King. And
the cry Of the prophet comes to stir the
people to universal missionary activity
as the glory OF her King Is reflected upon
her and she goes forth to shine for Him.
As one reads through the chapter the
glory, power and influence Of the ma
ton Is unfolded. All nations are to
come under the influence and sway Of
the restored nation Of Israel. and all are
to come to know the Lord. This is the
great and ultimate fulfillment Of this
prophecy There is. however. a nearer
message for the heart that knows and
loves the Lord. Israel is not ready yet
to receive her King. She is not prepared
TO cry: BLESSED is He Who cometh
In the name of the Lord" But there are
Individual hearts all over this land and
the Light which has come into the
world; who have received that Light
,s the beacon ray which could light
hem back to God. and eternity with
Him. To such the cry of the prophet
comes as a present appeal. a present
blessed story Of the Christ Who has
come into the world to save sinners. q
present glorious privilege Of serving
that Christ to the saving Of others.
Arise, then, shine: for thy Light IL
come and the glory Of the Lord is risen
Upon thee. Yea, more, His glory
shall be seen upon thee"
VOU may read these words without =
I thrill stirring your heart You may
hear the prophets words without being
conscious Of their wondrous message.
but 1t IL not the fault Of the mighty
and glorious truth set forth, but the
result of the cold. unresponsive heart
which hears. yet II not conscious OF the
marvellous music Divine; which sees,
yet does not appreciate the exquisite
colortng which God has placed here. The
story is told Of the celebrated artist
Turner that one day as he was exhibiting
one of his masterpieces to lady she
Viewed 1t critically aud then remarked,
unappreciatively: us not this coloring
little unnatural and overdone? never
saw such sky as that" "Ah. Madam"
replied tho artist, "but don't you wish
that you coald?" She did not have the
artistic eye that could catch the ex-
quisite colorings that the artist was able
to see and put on canvas. But the tints
and eolors were there just the same
And the heart a. it hears the message
II cur text may fail to feel the thrill Of
Divine rapture. The lady critic Of Tur-
GERS masterpiece could never know the
artistic vtsion that would give her full
appreciation Of the beauties Of the pic
.ure, but, thank God! It need not be so
In regard to things spiritual. Whe"e the
hearing II dull and the eyesight is dim.
30 that the message awakens no respon-
Give echoes In the heart. and no vision
comes with It's inspiration and power. it
may all be changed under the gracious
operation Of Gods spirit. The heart
may be quickened to hear and the blind
eyes may be opened to see. 1t need not
Be said Of you or me that 1t was impossi-
BILE to feel the thrill of Gods message.
or to catch the vision Of glories beyond.
which would urge our tagging feet on
ward. We may all know the Joy and
encouragement Of the prophets mes
sage: "Arise! Shine. for thy Light Is
come. and the glory Of the Lord is risen
upon thee. His glory shall be
seen upon thee"
THE great initial truth Is that light
/ has come into the world. This is
the center from which ill other truth
radiates. Light in the world, and yet
how Indifferent We are to that Light
How unresponsive to It's quickening
Gays. The hard bare rock by the road
side lies under the rays Of the sun, its
surface Is warmed thereby. but how
unresponsive and Indifferent It is to the
great light holder glowing in the heav-
ems. But the little flower by the edge
Of the great rock eagerly watches for the
drst faint ray Of light In the east and
then unfolds its petals to the advancing
tight. It catches the rare tints Of the
rainbow in its leaf and flower a. 1t fol-
lows the sun in It's course. 1t II con-
scious of the light all the livelone day.
and, responsive to that light. 1t grows in