The Washington herald., 1909-04-24
A Book of Vision.

TCTss CuTTs1ts JD1l the Christian ErdsaT0r TpTcc
for Nay ? Life Lessons FOR Ne from the Book Of
Isaiah" Isa-. Via
Ancient IsraeTs seers were men Of far
vision They saw the inner meaning OF
the past they saw deeply into the heart
Of men. and they saw in the dim future
a better day for the friends OF Jehovah
and for all mankind Or these great
teachers the chief was Isaiah, whose
writings are among the worlds master
pieces OF literature In any age Isaiah
would be ranked as a great writer. But
70 his skilled pen was added the flaming
Inspiration Of a man consumed by the re-
EgiOus impulse.
Literature reaches It's highest form
when it speaks 70 the deepest religious
impulses.
The greatest author IS he who has
caught the clearest vision Of the perma-
nent spiritual verities.
Isaiah knew God: that was his force:
and he knew men; that gave him his
feld- Possessed Of a message and the
ability 10 command mems hearing, he
could shape their thinking according to
his viii
The greatest dearth IN most present
day writing is that 1t lacks conviction.
Authors are not tremendously bUrdened
with message to their time. They write
for money OF fame or even less worthy
motives, and so their work fails to show
the divine fire Of inspiration II is when
men are consumed by a dominating pur-
pose that they produce the most powerful
literature. Isaiah had something 10 say
to his own people, and 10, It has contin-
ued 70 be a message 10 all the centuries
since.
The Isaiah note is suited To our day.
he conceived Of the social aspect Of re-
ligiOn- To his vision there appeared a
golden age when peace should reign and
men should war no more. A great peace
congress is to be held in Chicago this
month, and the Scripture lessons and
many of the platform quotations VIII
doubtless be taken from this ancient He
brew sage
Isaiah IS best-known and loved by
Christian readers for his Afessianic pas
sages. His portrait Of the Christ IS dear
1 TO every devOut heart. Il depicts Jesus as
] w kAAUA HIN II AAaE -NCA LEeA@Al+eLal-
And his other most popular charge is the
/ Invitation TO salvation: "Ho, every one
that thirsteth.'
Amos r. Wells has summarized some
/ Of the more pertinent teachings Of the
prophet in these paragraphs:
Even a stupid animal that knows its
owner is wiser than the Wisest man If he
! =, 7~.@ h I'D
! $ease 10 do evil. learn 10 do we'll Is
la comprehensive formula Of religion on
SIS outward side. GJ6. H.
/ Red is the color farJhest removed from
white and yet the most scarlet soul car
! be made as white as snow. d:lS)
When the world knows God. the mos;
useless thing on earth viii be a sword; Il
is TO be transformed into one Of the NOS
useful things on earth, a piowshare- (ii:A
I To cease from man is merely TO be
gin with God Gi.22a
Every man feeds upon his past-bit5el
food or sweet, yet he must eat>it- Gii-10
IN Isaiah's day there was the devil o
the buying up Of great tracts OF land tha
are not really used (v-2)
The sensual man considers music. anC
art, and literature. perhaps. but he doe
not consider the one thing best wOrtl
considering. namely. theology. (v.l2)
What a man IS in his own eyes neye-
counts. let him learn 10 see himself viii
the eyes OF God (v:2I)
Whenever men are in perplexity ie
them raise the ancient cry. To the Law
and 10 the testimony" (viii.20)
What a little glimmer Of light wa
vouehsafed 20 Isaiah, and yet ne woul,
cali it 2 great light. ux;z)
Eight elements in the wonderful nam
Of Christ BY how many OF these name
has our heart learned 10 call Hin? (ix.s.
Even the Nisest man Is only a tool i