The Tupelo journal., 1904-10-21

ness of the world. Below the storm and
conflict of life may rage. the darkness
may be appalling, and the rocks watch
Ing for their prey, but all unmoved the
light far above will shine out and guide
many a soul to the safe haven of Christ's
redeelnlng love. Think you that it does
not matter whether or no your light Is
shining? The command to all Is to
shine.
TT WAS a marvellous truth to which
l Christ gave expression when He de-
clared to Philip, after he had asked to be
cnown the Father: Have been so long
a time with you, and yet hast
thou not known Me, Philip? He
that hath seen Me hath e e
the Father; and how sayest thou,
then, Shew us the Father?' And it Is
equally as marvellous a truth that the
Christ is to be revealed to the world
through His followers. All, how Chris
tians by their imperfect. weak, Maynard
lives dishonOr and misrepresent the
Christ! But it IS Gods purpose and de-
sire that His glory should be seen upon
the Christian. We are to be the mirrors
in which the Christ will be seen. 1t may
be difficult and often absolutely impcs-
sible to get a lost and %perishing soul to
listen to a sermon. but the Christian can
and ought to be a living epistle, known
and read of all men" If he were such
the world would be speedily brought to
the feet of the Saviour of men. On the
ceiling OF one of the magnificent old
churches Of Europe is spread one Of the
rare paintings of a celebrated master OF
the art. Its striking beauty was ap-
preciated by all who would lift their eyes
upward and gaze upon it, but few en-
ioyed it because of the tiresome and IN
natural position one was forced to take
in viewing it. This was unfortunate and
a real loss to the hundreds of worshipers
who passed to and fro under the master
piece, without taking the time or the
trouble to look up. This was a source of
grief to the church dignitaries. and how
to place the beautiful painting within
lllS easy lSdCu VI dIl as LC ploOlClu GC-
manding solution. At last a large and
perfect mirror was placed on the floor
at such an angle as to perfectly and
clearly reflect the painting In all It's
beauty and bring 1t within the vision Of
all who came and went.
TT HE Christ, the perfect Model, tae
i Saviour of men, has been exalted to a
place in the Heavens. and His disciples
have been left in the world to reflect His
glory. 1t may be difficult, yea, impossi-
BILE, to get the worlds people to look up
and see the Christ. but His disciples may
be the mirrors in which the beautiful
graces and virtues of the Christ
life may be reflected, and men
b%eholding shall be impressed and
influenced thereby. Let US, then, be
the mirrors in which the Light may be
sent into all the dark places of the earth.
1t was not long after the mirror was
placed in the floor of the cathedral that
it was noted that more and more Of the
w~orshipers were turning their gaze
from the mirrored reflection to the orig
inal painting. Having gained a'vision.
a dawning conception. of the beauty and
grandeur of the art treasure, they were
no longer content with only the mir
rored reflection. They wanted to study
and know the original. And so It is
bound to be with the disciples of Christ
- d,rx1 hnap cot NC ltnhfC In th Unr1d
II they faithfully reflect the life and
character of the Christ Whose they are
and Whom they serve it will not be long
until there will be many longing to see
and know the Christ Himself. They Will
no longer be satisfied with the reflection.
but will want to meet the blessed Christ
face to face, and heart to heart. Then
will a new mirror be set in the worlds
pavement; then will there be new light
shed in the dark places; then will there
ne other souls blessed, and the Gospel
light will be spread. Arise! Shine! Oh.
Christian! Thy Light has come! You
realize it. You know it. Why, then. are
you not shining for Him? Arise!
Arise!! Arise!!! For there are perish
ing souls all about you who need the
light. And true it is that the voice of the
prophet is the voice of God as he cries:
"Arise! Shine!" What shall our answer
be? Because of the Christ Who has come
as Light into the world; because OF the
souls perishing in the darkness of the
worlds sin; because we have been set as
lights in the world. surely we can make
but one reply. We will say: 1--WE will
let our lights so shine before men that
they may see III good works and
glorify our Saviour in Heaven"