The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-15
TO HIM THAT ovERo ooMErH
t1s The Power Given Eloquent Bac-
cslaureate Sermon of Rev. Prof. =
sD5rA. J,iBewera, Before Glass 4.
~ of808, On Sunday.

Rev. 2:7-''To him that over
eo,meth will I give to eat Of the tree
of life, which is in the midst Of the
paradise Of God" y -.
This, the closing book Of the New
Testament. and the Bible, is full Of
promise as well as Of prophecy. The
text is a blessed declaration and a
promise. Like, q final word to, the
ready runner; on the race-course,
whose eager ear is intent to hear the
starting call, the Masters voice falls
i with invigorating power. To him
S that overcometh will I give to eat
of the tree Of life. Like the ring
ing cheer caught up by the heart Of
him who has now left half Of the
course behind him as with straining
nerve and tenest muscle and quicken
ing pulse, he turns the goal, the same
good voice rises high above the
shouting, I will give thee to eat Of
the tree Of life. And like the last
clarion note now indistinctly heard
by him who with painting breath and
bleeding feet draws nigh the finish,
outstripping all and reaching forth
for the prize, the same unfailing
spirit, still near the weary runner
cries, the tree Of life in the paradise
Of God, eat, eat, faithful racer; it
is thine. But life is no less war
fare than a race.
Overcoming would seem to indi-
cate engagement in struggle. Con-
quest points backward to a battle
fought and won. To him alone who
despises life and turns deaf eal to
the secret urgings Of the God within
and seeks to hush the tender plead
ings Of the better spirit, who laughs
to scorn the yearning entreaty of
those who sing the songs Of high duty
and man. g mission in the world and
brands it oil the pitiable croak Of
hypocrites, life seems plaviug, a
pastime or a farce.
His faith has vanished before the
foul breath Of an unsteady practice
and all things appear but vanity and
folly. Whoever would win must be
persuaded first that there is an
enemy, a foe worthy Of his steel. "To
him that overcometh" means moth
ing to him who thinks there is naught
to overcoma 1t is but silly pretense
to him who sleeps calmly in the camp
nor cares for dangers, Of which, he
believes there are none. He does
not f"cl the solG;or's lust for battle.
the wrestler's keen glow to measure
his strength with aao. o.h"r'* anu wien
he wakes at last his will and power
to resist and conquer have fled.
Be sure. then: first Of all, Life
is strife. Who would feed upon the
fruit Of the tree Of life must over
come. Who would have access to
the paradise Of God must win. Who
would burst the bonds Of this pres
ent death and leap forth unshackled
into the fullness of Immortality must
bestir himself, gird up his loins for
battle and sally forth to meet the
foe.
Aeschylus Of Athens was a great
poet, under w!cse might Influence
the multitudes wept and laughed as
they were moved in the powerful
grasp of his genius. But on his tomb
this brief epitaph, himself its author,
is inscrib Il: ''f1e was sol:lier and
fought on the field Of Ma,:.tl,"i -
TO his m;.,.l. there was no finer fact
than this, that he had been soldier
and overcome his country's. foe.--a
title and a guarantee Of life and i'm
mortality.
A truer heroisul and a nobler con-
quest than that even Of Aeschylus
or Leonidas await him who is brave
and wise enough to brace himself for
life's combat with evil, pick up the
gage of battle and with unfaltarins
confidence in the issue and cheer
full trust in God and reliance on him
who is at once the Master Of life and
the God. of battle, press manfully
on. The skulking coward who mutters
as he turns away, there is no foe, is
dead or dying. His faith is ebbing
fast or gone, and he will presently
be left naught but the barren beach
on whose dry sand in whose hot
hrootl, oil l;Po rnuct cOOn hpcOme eX-
tinct. They tell us "life out of
death is Heavens unwritten law
h,,f r. 10 morn t,,,e and more to the