The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-12-01

uduLCk VI UuO OAAS"uS
man of the world; but intuitively AN
comprehensively as one familiar wit
our origin, nature, powers and attaln
ments. He knew what was put int
our human nature in the beginning
He knows what the image OF the Gre
ator in US means; He is acquaintet
with the scope and uses of all our fac
ulties; He did not need to have an.
one to tell Him what man was like
or what man would do, or what viii
be the consequences of our conduct
when we die.
Man has always been a mystery tt
himself, as he must be, when left tt
his own understanding, imagination
and will. But no creature can be g
mystery to the Creator. 1t must be
that God knows man better than
man can know himself, just as wise,
good parent knows his little child bet
ter than the child can know himself.
And it would be strange if the eternal
Son of the Father did not know what
is in man, and therefore what is best
for each, and all of us!
And knowing us the Lord comes to
US on the spiritual side of our being,
and deals with us not as of the earth,
earthly, but as souls immortal, here for
a season, but bound for the realms of
eternal glory. He estimates us not
simply by what we are in the weakness
of the flesh, but rather by what we are
as the children of His love; and by
what we may become, hereafter, made
perfect in the Spirit by faith, hope
and love.
The spiritual life in US can be evolved
only by our own free choice. There
fore our Savior does not seek to fright
en-, argue, tease, nor in any way to
force our Wills to make US good, after
the manner of certain Jealous evan
gelists. His service is perfect freedom.
Calmly, and gently, and with sympa-
thy, as one who knows the deepest,
secret springs of the human heart, and
certain of the all-prevailing power Of
truth and love, at last, He meekly
says: IF any man .willeth to do His
will he shall know whether 1t be of
God, or whether speak from myself. "
The secret of the divine life is in the
will. We must be willing to do the
will of God. or we cannot enter into
the Kingdom Of truth and holy love.
We cannot be forced to believe; we
cannot be compelled to hope, or love;
we may be convinced and persuaded
of the Fathers good will toward us;
but it is only ds we are led to seek,
that we shall truly find peace and joy,
and the satisfaction ''of reasonable,
religious, and holy hope" through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now to this great end the practical
results of the life and teachings of
Christ on the earth are: to so lead,
and so help US, that the conduct of
this life shall correspond with the
glorious hope of the life to come
that our characters may be formed
according to the divine plan for our
eternal destiny. Every plant and
every animal on the earth was designed
for it's own particular sphere; and In
the course of nature to reach certain
specific results. And it can reach its
highest perfection, and fulfill it's prop
er end only as it is conditioned in har-
mony with it's original nature and
divine destiny. A tropical plant, for
example, can seldom be brought to its
highest stage of growth, and full fru.
ition in temperate cline, even if we
afford it the best artificial imitation
of a tropical season. Every living
thing needs the culture which God
meant for it when in His infinite wis
dom He created it.
This then is our lesson: Christ
knowing what is in man,-compre'
hending all our powers, faculties and
relations; and being familiar with the
whole scope and range of human ex
istence, knows what is best for us here
in view Of that which is possible for US
in the hereafter. And He would have
US so live this present term of our life
that the future will open to us an I'M
broken and harmonious line of prog
ress. We should be climbing in faith
hope and love the highway Of holiness
toward our eternal home in the heav
emily world, even though it may Otter
lead us through the rugged expert
enceS Of toll and sorrow.