The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-25

vine providence. Hence man must
always be regarded as infinitely great
err than the world itself, and all the
triumphs of civilization.
Gods dealings with human life are
not so inscrutable after all. To the
~obedient, affectionate and right-nind-
ed child in our homes, the laws OF
the household and the will of the pa
rents are never subjects Of mystery.
Such child knows by the instinct of
right perception that they are for Its
well-being and ultimate advantage.
And so it comes that the final fiery
destination of the world, after it has
served its purpose, flls US with no dis
may. 1t will have served its use as
the schoolroom in which we were all
trained.
We, I take it, shall be elsewhere,
and not greatly concerned that the
sun has devoured our old home. We
may therefore contemplate the fiery
ending of this world with entire equa-
nimity. And yet herein Is a marvel
lous thing. Science assures us that
even after millions of years of use of
this world by animals and men, its
elements will be just as fresh and un-
| diminished as when the world began.
| Nothing will have been worn out.
| Everything in use only changes. Its
apparent wear and tear is only a
passing from one form to another
form. A bundle of wood is placed
in our kitchen stove to kindle the
fire. It is consumed. 1t ashes repre-
| sent what the tree took from the soil.
Its carbon goes up the chimney, re-
| storing to the air what some tree took
from the air. Nothing was lost. The
earth received again what it originally
gave. To the air was restored its
original contribution of carbonic acid
gas. which the leaf manufactured in
to wood. And SO God has made a
universe of perennial youth, where
nothing is lost or can be lost.
1t is the law of God that the end
ings Of all things are the beginning
| of new things. When night ends, day
begins. When summer ceases, win
ter is upon us. The old year ends
only to project its power or weakness
into the new. Nothing is stationary.
| All things are fluid and progressive.
The sure and final ending of this
planet. suggests that it was but the
home and school room Of human life
in it's initial stages. When we leave
it for a larger and greater world, or
when it finally ceases to be there need
be no regret nor undue alarm.
Our considerations, in looking for
ward, cause us to read into life as 1t
is the great truth that all things are
by divine appointment working tow
ard q great ethical and dramatic con-
clusion.
In spite of the present popular
| tendency against church attendance, l
believe that more people are truly
and thoughtfully religious than ever
before. It Is bound to be so when
people become thoughtful. For then
they must see that NOW we have no
continuing city, but we seek n to
come" But all this is the story OF
the gospel. Our Saviour taught dis
| tinctly that this life is but the prep
aration for higher life. He melted
us to prepare for it carefully. He
promised that no one who set his
face towards the skies should want
grace and strength for the difficult
upward climb. The beautiful Church
of God stands pledged for this as
sistance. 1t exists to help men up
ward and onward. 1t exists to help
men not only in all social ways along
the hard lines of life, but to give them
a strong hand as they struggle out OF
| the natural into the spiritual and
| eternal. The natural being left we'll
behind, it need not greatly concern
us what becomes Of 1t.