The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-18
Some Negatives Of Life.

usefulness. Friends are the desir
OF many, while TO others self is al
sufficient, Whatever our hopes il
life may be they are seldom real
ized--our desires satisfied and on,
ambitions gratified. Oftener on,
cry IS answered with a negative
than by all affirmative. This, not.
withstanding we put forth our best
endeavOrS to attain that which wt
desire.
Above all other negatives OF life
there are three mentioned in the
twelfth verse OF the second chapter
OF the Epistlc to the Ephcsians
Compared with these, all other
negatives of life are as nothing
They are: Without God in the
world without Christ in our lives
aud leaving no hope beyond the
confines OF this present life. Such
II life is difficult to picture to our
minds and we are tempted to cry
at a first consideration, no one can
be thus living. What does it mean
10 live with these negatives as our
constant attendants?
The man without God has a mar
row vision. lie looks upon the
deliCately tinted rose, but while
conscious OF its beauty, fails to per
ceivt the Artist Hand that gave its
color and form. Across the broad
prairie, flower bedeCked, he sees
the rugged snow-capped peaks
He is filled with a sense OF their
grandeur, but discerns not the hand
that beauties the plain and estab
fishes the mountains III their places.
He beholds the armament, the
fixed stars abiding in their places,
the planets chained to their several
orbits, but these speak to him III
all uninterrupted tongue, declaring
the glory Of God and displaying
His handiwork. In all nature, be.
holding the evidence OF a Master
mind, he fails TO recognize the wis
dom and power OF the creating God
Without God, lie lives in a world
that recognizes no controlling pow.
er. For him there is no Supreme
Law -Giver, no iufallible standard
OF right and wrong. Human Gus
toms and cnactments are his only
restraint. When these run con-
trary to his desires and have not
sufficient force in themselves to de.
mand obedience he violates them
at will. Without God means law.
lessncss. Anarchy i'll its most vio-
lent forms denies not only man 5
right to rule by law, but also the
right OF the supreme Being to rule
over His creatures.
Without God there is no over
ruling power that controls and di-
reCts the affairs of men. Man be
comes a buffet OF fortune, play
thing OF chance. He is as a ship
upon the traCklesS waters, without
rudder or purpose. Every shifting
breeze alters his course and he rises
and falls with the waves lashed by
the fury Of the storms. Every
changing current bears him whith-
er it will. And the end, a water
logged vessel, sinking beneath the
waters into unfathomed depths.
Without God means for man and
for the world the greatest depths OF
degradation. In the first chapter
of Romans there is picture of this
degradation. Man gives the reins
to his baSer nature and passions,
Ever sinking lie approaches closer
and closer to the unreasoning brute
following instinct alone.
Without Christ-without the III
struction of that pure life OF earth
without the helpiulnes and hopeful
ness, the comfort and cheer of tn,
words OF Him that spoke as no 9th.
er man; without the atonement fol
sin accomplished by Him through
which man is reconciled to God
without His resurrection, the only
victory by man over death and tn,
pledge that these bodies shall no
forever fail; without the sustaining
knowledge that love personified in
a living Savior forever is interested
in man $ welfare.
Without God, without Christ anC
without hope. These three are in
separately united. He who is il
the former condition can have II,
hope that extends beyond the col,
confines of this life. For himsel
there remains only the allotted sis
feet of ground and oblivion. Fo
his loved ones, as he lowers then
into the grave, there is no though
beyond their bodies as prey t,
the vermiu of earth. Above thei
heads he cannot write, truthfully
AT Rest" Asleep. But onl'
The End
o, Life deny us, if you will
the enjoyment and comfort o
wealth, causing us to bear the bur
den of poverty. Let our place j,
life be among the lowest of the low
Give fame to others and cause on
names to be forgotten in the world
blotted out from the remembrance
Of man. Instead of pleasure S cup
cause us to drink the poisonou
dregs of pain. Fill our lives will
sorrow that is of this world only
Take away from us friends AM
multiply our enemies. For us lie
there be no homes with their com
forts and loves. Take all that
in your power to give, but LET II
live in whatever our surrounding
with the knowledge that God. on
Father, rules over alt, that In Hi
IAiSve atfd Iiheteys and wisdom ,Heui
faakfhg ''dasF tAHAksto Nbax tegtAH
Ilor eraQak,1 ,1nervy 1ypj .p1LSd0U tHe;ii