The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-09-30
The Morning Star"

Selected for The Times Dispatch)
II ann the bright and morning star"
Rev. xxi l6.
This is the last place in Scripture where
the glorious Saviour bears witness to
himself. 1t is the last of His own words
rcgardins His own excellence ana majesty.
Il am the star" Why "the star?
Most certainly the word with an its
radiant beauty is no mere flight OF fancy
Prophecy had long ago pointed 10 Him
RS tho star OF Jacob" The word ind
Gated His kiIgly dignity. touched and
slor-fied with tine Light OF Deity.
81 ann the star" lie claims here to be
the mystic King. immortal. spiritual.
! divine; the regal Conqueror. queulng His
foes and possessing His redeemed
The text not only claims the ancient
prophecy for Jesus as the King Of the
new Israel; st expands that prophecy and
brings truth out Of truth from within It
The saviour does not only assert Him
SELF 90 be "the star" the bright Star;
but HIS presentation OF the glorious
metaphor has in it something new and
special
Il am the Morning star"
Messiah Himself So qualities the word
Toy this one wonderful epithot as to show
Himself as not the King simply. but the
King of the morning: around whom gather
and shall gather forever an things that
belong TO tenderest hope ard youthful
visor and most cheerful aspiration; such
beginnings as shall eternally develop. never
to contract into fxity or decline.
lie claims to be the secret Of such vjror
and power as nothing else can give to the
finite spirit. For His Israel Tie claims
/ 20 be the ever blessed antithesis 10 all
/ that has to do with decay or ruin. TO all
the woes and weakness Of melancholy.
/ to an regret and Iongings vain"
Not that re bids Ills followers to crush
/ pain, ignore bereavement or forget the
past. but He Himself as Master the
/ King OF a future which Will far move
/ than make amends for the discipline of tho
/ present. And meanwhile. being the eter-
tal one. lie is always SO present with HIS
own as to put them already into vital
connection with that future. ana 10 pour
liis strength and joy into their lives NJ
this hour
.l am the Morning Star" Te is NOT
tiosperus who sets. but Phosphorus who
rises. springing into the sky through the
earliest dawn; tho pledge Of re.ivine rfa
and growing light with all the energies
and pleasures OF the happy day. And the
word indicates Joy for which the open
noon would not be so true a slmue 70,
it suggests the joys OF hope along with
those OF fruition-a happiness IN which ono
OF the deep elements IS always the
Thought of something vet to be revealed.
light with more radiant light TO follow
JOY To- widen into further joy. as the dawn
expands into the morning and then into
the day
Here. Indeed. IS One able to guide. en-
iNen and develop the whole Of existenc,
for His disciple. NOT only 10 prop IN,
dying head. bat 20 animate the fullest en-
orgies OF Ills stronsest prime.
TO know Him is TO live IN light indeed
10 ls 90 touch "a sympathy boundless alflz
in ITS tenderness and IN It's power. II d
to deal always ana everywhere with on,
who is not "a poetic legend. but the Ger.
. tral rock OF history. lie has proved HIM
self 20 Doe reality forever. ard IIc "a
exercising az this hour. ia human *
pcrence. a personal influence too vas,
& too manifold, too peculiar to be cxplaine