Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-05-02

not seen nor ear heard, neither nad II
entered into the heart Of man, and
John In Patmos fell down as one dead.
When | read Of these strange incidents
| shall always think Of the oyerwhelm-
ing Impression which one gets from his
first view Of the Grand Canyon Of Ari-
zona. 1t Is a species of measuring rule
by which estimate other impressions.
1t Is this kind of eliminating compari-
son that Paul uses in my text
The Celestial Music.
In the first place, Paul leads us into
the celestial choir lofts of heaven. He
gathers before US the sweet voiced
singers who once sang the song OF the
Nativity above Bethlehem OF Judea.
He leads those white winged messen-
gers of the sky to sing until their unit
ed choruses roll about us in great tidal
waves Of harmony. Some Of us have
heard the most famous songstresses on
earth lift up their voices In praise. But
never will our ears hear melodies ike
those celestial songs until at last as
redeemed spirits we ourselves are sing
ing the song Of Moses and the Lamb
before the great white throne OF heav-
en-. Then after Paul has In imagina-
ton led us up through the bouleyards
of gold. down past the great white man
sions of the skies, and has overwhelmed
US with the beauty and pathos ana
grandeur Of the inspiring oratorios OF
the celestial city he says to US: THAT
singing is the most beautiful singing OF
all the ages. From human lips and
throat could never come music so en-
chanting. But. though we could sing
like that. our song would be empty and
meaningless and discordant If it had
not In 1t that one thrilling note OF love.
Though | speak with the tongue OF an
gels and have not love, l am become
as sounding brass or a tinkling GYM
bal. 1t is love that gives celestial mu-
sic it's sweetness"
Then Paul has US sit at the feet OF
Hebrew teachers like Gamaliel and
Hillel. He introduces to US the proph-
cts of old. He brings before US the
wise men or the magi Of the east. He
solves for us all the knotty social prob
lens of the day and leads us down
amid the temples of old Egypt and
amid the wonders Of Nineveh and
Babylon and Rome and Athens. Then
he shows us the giants of faith as IL
tans changing the typographical con-
struction of the earth. Then after he
has piled learning upon wisdom and
intellectually upon intellectually and
| superlative upon superlative and made
| man omniscient as well as omnipotent
he utters these words: "And If / have
the gift of prophecy and know all mys-
teries and all knowledge and If l have
all faith so as to move mountains, but
have not love, am nothing" All, yes;
| love Is greater than all the knowledge
contained within the walls Of an Alex
andrian library Love is greater than
the wisdom of King Solomon. Love Is
greater than the prophetic eye which
can look through the black curtain
which separates the present and the
events that will happen millions OF
years hence. Love is greater than the
strength of the everlasting hills. Love
is greater than the highest triumphs OF
art. For If we have not love, no mat
ter how great our intellectually may
be, we are as nothing. Aye, we are
worse than nothing. Is not Paups sec
ond comparison again approaching the
eliminating superlative?
Love the Greatest Of All.
Then, as a guide leads US higher and
higher over a mountain range and we
climb from peak to peak until at last
we stand upon the topmost pinnacle
overlooking all mountains. rising out OF
material into moral elevation, Pau
says: love is more than this. Though
you labor for others and seem to spend
all your life In the service Of your fel
low men, though you become paupel
for their sake and go to the martyrs
stake, If you do not love your fellow
men. in Gods sight all your deeds oil