West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-09-10

years OF recorded history. and yet we
know no more about the secret OF life
than they knew I'm the beginning We
live. We plan. we have our hopes. our
fears. and yet I'm n moment n change
may come over any one OF us. and this
body Will become mass OF lifeless
clay. What IL IL that. having. we live
and, having not we are as the clod3
We know not. and yet the progress OF
the race and the civilization which
we now behold are the work OF men
and women who have not solved the
mystery OF their own lives.
And our food-must we understand
II before we eat IT. IL we refused TO
eat anything until we could under.
stand the mystery OF It's growth. we
would die OF starvation. But mystery
does not bother us In the dining room.
Only I'm the church Is IL an obstacle.
l was eating piece OF watermelon
some months ago and was struck with
lis beauty. took some of the seed
and dried them and weighed them and
found that II would require some Ave
thousand seed TO weigh n pound And
NhNA AlliA'h 10 lnuI
forty pound melon. one OF these
seeds put into the ground when warmed
10y the sun and moistened 10y the rain
goes to work. II gathers from some
where two hundred thousand times It's
own weight and. forcing this raw ma.
tcrial through n tiny stem, constructs
watermelon. IL covers the outside
with n coating OF green. inside OF the
green II puts layer OF white, and
within the white core OF red. and all
through the red II scatters seeds, each
one capable OF continuing the work OF
reproduction. Where did that little
seed get its tremendous powerT Where
did IL find its coloring matterf How
did It collect It's flavorlng extract7
How did II build watermelon? I'm
I'll YOU can explain n watermelon do
not be too sure that you can set limits
to the power OF the Almighty or say just
what he would do or how he would do
II. cannot explain the watermelon
but eat II and enjoy It,
Power That Is Infinite and Divine.
Everything that grows tells like
story OF Infinite power Why should
deny that n divine hand fed n multi.
tude with few loaves and fishes
when | see hundreds OF millions fed
every year by hand which converts
the seeds scattered over the field into
an abundant harvest? We know that
food can be multiplied In few
months time Shall we deny the pow
or of the Creator to eliminate the ele-
ment OF time when we have gone so
far In eliminating the element of
space?
But there Is something even more
wonderful still, the mysterious change
that takes place I'm the human heart
when the man begins TO hate the
things he loved and to love the things
he hated, the marvellous transformation
that takes place in the man who be-
fore the change would have sacrificed
the world for his own advancement,
but who after the change would give
his life for principle and esteem Il a
privilege to make sacrifice for his con-
victions. What greater miracle than
this that converts n selfish, self cen
tered human being into n center from
which good Influences flow out In
every direction! And yet this miracle
has been wrought in the heart of each
one OF us, or may be wrought. nnd we
have seen ii wrought in the hearts OF
those about us. No; living In the midst
OF mystery and miracles. shall not
allow either TO deprive me OF the bene-
fits OF the Christian religion.
Some OF those who question the mir
acle also question the theory OF atone
ment. They assert that It does not ac-
cord with their idea OF justice for one
TO die for others. Let each one bear
his own sins and the punlshments due
for them, they say. The doctrine OF
vicarious suffering is not n new one.
II Is as old as the race. That one
should suffer for others Is one OF the
most familiar OF principles, and we see
the principle illustrated every day Of
our lives
/ find proof that man was made in
the image Of his Creator in the fact
that throughout the centuries man has
been willing TO die that blessings de
MED TO him might be enjoyed by his
children, his children's children and the
world.
The seeming paradox, He that saw
eth his life shall lose II, and he that
lOseth his life for my sake shall find
IT," has an application wider than that
usually given TO II. II is an epitome OF
history. Those who live only for them
selves live little lives. but those who
give themselves for the advancement
OF things greater than themselves flnd
larger life than the one surrendered
In g.f I.g.f.,
the plan OF salvation is in perfect har-
mOny with human nature as we under
stand II. Sacrifice is the language OF
love, and Christ in suffering for the
world adopted the only means Of
reaching the heart, and this can be
demonstrated not only by theory, but
by experience, for the story OF his life,
his teachings. his sufferings and his
doath has been translated into every
| language, and everywhere II has touch
ed the heart.
But if 1 were going IL present an ar
! gument In favor OF the divinity OF
Christ I would not begin with mira.
| Giles or mystery or theory OF atone
mcnt ! would begin with the fact
that Christ lived. Christ presents an
example Of purity I'm thought and life,
and man, conscious Of his own imper.
| fcctions and grleved over his short.
comings, finds inspiration IN one who
was tempted I'm all points just as we
| are and yet was without sin.
Christ as an Example Of Humility.
Humility IS a rare virtue. II one ia
rich he Is apt to DC proud Of his riches.
| If he has distinguished ancestry he Is
| apt TO be proud Of bis lineage II he Is
well educated he Is apt TO be proud OF
| his learning Some one has suggested
| that n one becomes humble he soon
| becomes proud Of his humility. Christ,