The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-04-14

meridian is not able to tell the story OF the
little lichen that clings to the stone in the
wall, "root and all and all in all" How.
then, shall human wisdom answer tor me
those awful rreStionings concerning origin
and duty ana destiny which l. reasoning
and feeling, shining and suffering, mortal
and immortal. must know? What lore OF
man will unveil to me the face of the great
God, my maker. and roll DacE the cloud
that enwraps His throne?
What mechanic skill will suffice for un..
raveling the dread secret of this dark woof
of evil which is woven into human expe-
rience? What scholar, though he have
drunken at every Castalian fount, can
tread with me the brink of the grave, and
peering down into that abvss of dreadful
night give me any assurance that confined
dust will rSe resplendent in some resur-
rection morning? What pupil of the most
cultured Gamaiel cain sit by my bedside IN
the hour when heart and flesh are failing
and set one single star of hope aglow IN the
dark midnigh. that gathers around me;
Just one star beam to tell me that beyond
the cloud and darkness are the many man
s;ons Of an eternal home. that Eonder
waits a fathers welcome to love. and llghc
and JOY ineffab,e: Most majestic are the
achievements of intellect.
Greek tragedy tells US how King Edipus
at the close of life heard a cry-a strange,
weird, imperious summons. far otf, yei
near. i'm some distant world, yet close a.
hand: Voice that drew like gravitation.
So does every man. in virtue of that royal
nature which allies him with heavens
throne. hear at times just such cry re-
sounding from some distant sphere. even
from that spirit realm which is his true
fatherland, yet near, within his very soul,
that beckons him to his highest destiny.
ooh. soul of man, awake, awake, shake
off the chains of spiritual slumber and
sloth. Escape the earth-bound life. Heav,
n-born and heaven-aspiring, live Tor 6od!'
The Hindoo palace echoed with that cry,
and Buddha swept out to brood in the VII
derness depths over its mysterious mean
ing. Those accents hoated over the land
Of Pallas Athene, and i'll academy and poi-
tico there gathered groups Of thinkers that
sought to follow its leading as the wise
men followed the Orient star. Every
dweller in Christian lands hears that cry
more plainly. 1t is borne to hum IN the
quiet peacefulness of the Sabbath that
whisners to his toil-worn spirit of that rest
that remaineth when the toll of this work.
aday world is done. It comes to him from
the open church door that tells him of a
home shelter for his storm-beaten SOUL 1t
speaks to him from the Scripture, where IT
svllables the splendors of the Christ. and
declares that such is the glorious. image
which God has planned to reproduce IN
him now sullied and sickened with SIN:
But where, in all the ages, is the man that
cirding himself at this signal call has won
in the race for holiness? Are we not some.
times glad that thoughts are not audible?
that motives are not visible? that we. are
not breastplated with transparent glass,
through which the workings of the inner
life might lie open to the curious eye:
Are we not glad that it is sometimes
function of language to conceal, as well as
to convey thought? If our struggles after
holiness be as honest hearted as that OF OF
the old pagan seekers after God, we VIII
nnhesitat;nglv echo their sad avowal,
voiced by one Of that high-souled but dis
couraged company, Il approve the better
courses, but follow the worst. And II
our own hearts, sin-darkened and SIN
warped, condemn US, how can we meet the
scrutiny of Him who is greater than our
hearts and knoweth all things?
eff thou contendest with the footmen,
and thew weary thee, how canst thou con.
tend with horses?" There is but one
method by which this problem of the He
brew prophet can be wrought out to an
encouraping solution. Let its terms be m.
verted. Read the formula backward. II
the horsemen could be conquered first, who
would waste thought upon footmen: II
we could meet the mightiest foes and over
ride them there would De little difficulty
in outmatching lesser needs. II we could
run with horses and outrun them, we
should shake the dust of sandaled scorn
in the face of the footmen. Such soiu-
tion is limited at in scripture. Turn the
Bible page. Put the apostle against the
prophet. Reply to the challenge OF Jere-
miah with the triumph shout OF Paul.
I can make money in the market place;
I can obtain pleasure In the playhouse; 1
can win culture in the school room. bue
the remission of my sins can secure only
nnon Calvary. Christ is the solitary Sa-
viour.
When the sin want IS appeased all want
is met. When this is righted all Is rlgnt.
With the regal robes of righteousness go
the sceptre of power and the dladem OF
peace Bring the matter TO- test OF q
nersonal experience and see II 1t IS not SO,
and IMAGINE that every one in this assem-
biy was a Christian; that each one or US
beran the weeks work as a saved soul.
You 90 forth tomorrow morning, your
heart aglow with brighter splendor rhan
the glory-bath with which sunrise HOODS
the earth. "The light of the knowledge OF
the glory of God as it shines In the face OF
Christ" You 60 downtown, not knowing
what the hours may be bringing to meet
you. Every footstep carries you into
realm untrodden. Every clock-tlck swings
YOU into a mysterious future. But you
know some things now. You know that
Jesus died for you; that God loves you;
that. as far as the setting of the. sun IS
from the rising, so far has your. sin been
carried away from you. Toll begins. Jesus
worked. Trial approaches. Jesus SUI
fered. Your truest words are TWISTED,
YOUR noblest acts are misinterpreteo, TOT
your manifest endeavors mean motives are
sucrested. Jesus drank the same bitter
Gun. He who told Capernanm fisher folk
to launch out and cast net calls you 20
take up the pen or the plane or the yard
stick or the needle or the loom; lie VINO
said to Peter Feed Ny lambs has sald 70
YOU: "Sit by the cradle-side and 90 nurs.
erv work" He who said to Mathew ,, I,
Take up the cross and follow Ne mas
sa;d to YOU: "Come after Me into the lone,
" pavilion of pain, keep midnight vlgli VIZ
WITH Me in the shadowed paths OF Getn-
semane." Evening-tide draws on. Home
shelter beckons to rest. Fireside reunions,
with their heart deep satisfactions, Whisper
70 vou OF another home that waits beyond
w and van