St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-11-19
TY7HAT a relationship to sustain to the
WV Chricf tho i0If of tho WOHld


that to every heart into which the Light
has shined there should not come the
cry: arise! Shine!" Yes. arisel You
need to get upon higher plane. You
must rise out of your life Of the flesh and
live in the Spirit. You must cruelty the
affections and lusts of the old man. and
rise and put on the graces Of character IT
the new man. 1t Is q call to leave the
valley Of the worlds life and to get up
upon the mountain top. where you may
be seen as a light in the world guiding
men to the true Light which Is shining
through you. No man ever thinks OF
putting a beacon light on the low levels.
1t rises above every surrounding object.
1t stands away above the projecting
rocks of the coast, and the leaping bill
lows can only dash and foam in their
mad effort to mount the lofty pile OF
stone, while the faithful light shines out
unmoved far above. And so it should be
with the Christian. Arise! Is the cry.
Carry the walls of the Christian graces
far upward where the light Christ has
given you may shine out upon the dark
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 soul to the safe haven of Christ's
redeeming love. Think you that 1t does
not matter whether or no your light Is
shining? The command to all Is to
shine.
TT WAS a marvellous truth to which
1 Christ gave expression when He de-
clared to Philip after he had asked to be
:hown the Father: Have been so long
a time with you. and yet hast
thou not known Me, Philip? He
that hath seen Me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou.
then, Shew us the Father" And It IL
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. hayward
lives dishonor and misrepresent the
Christ! But 1t 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 win be seen. 1t may
be difficult and otter absolutely fmpcS-
sible to get a lost and perishing soul to
listen to a sermon, but the Christian Gao
and ought to be q living epistle, known
and read Of all men" II 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 ia spread one Of the
rare paintings Of celebrated master Of
the art. Its striking beauty was ap-
preciated by all who would lift their eyes
upward and gaze upon 1t. but few en-
joyed 1t because OF the tiresome and I'M
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 source OF
grief to the church dignitartes and how
to place the beautiful painting within
the easy reach of all was the problem ce-
handing solution. AT last a large end
perfect mirror was placed on the floor
at such an angle as to perfectly and
clearly reflect the painting IN all its
beauty and bring It within the vision Of
all who came and went
THE Christ, the perfect Model. tie
! Saviour of men, has been exalted to
place in the Heavens, and His disciples
have been left In the world to reflect His
glory. It may be difficult, yea. impossi-
BILE, to get the worlds people to look up
aud 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
beholding 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.
It was not long after the mirror was
placed in the floor Of the cathedral that
1t was noted that more and more of the
worshipers were turning their gaze
from the mirrored reflection to the orig
inal painting Having gained 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 II 10
bound to be with the disciples Of Christ
who have been set as lights in the world.
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 Ugh,
shed In the dark places: then will there
he other souls blessed. and the Gospel
light will be spread. Arise! Shine! Oh.
Christian! Thy Light has come! You
realize 1t. You know 1t. 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 1t is that the voice Of the
prophet is the voice Of God az he cries:
- rise! Shine!" What shall our answer
be? Because Of the Christ Who has come
as Light into the world: because OF the
souls perishing 10 the dark ness Of the
worlds sin: because we have beer set a.
lights in the world surely we can make
but one reply. We will say: 1--WE viii
let our lights so shine before men thai
they may see our good works and
glorify our Saviour In Heaven"