The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-06-01

Text Il Cor. Iii, 21-2s): Wherefore
let no one glory in men. For all things
are yours: whether Paul. or Apollos,
Cephas. or the world, or life, or death,
or things present. or things to come;
al are yours. and ye are Christ's; and
Christ Is God =
Perhaps there is no better way to
correct an overestimate Of men and
things than to AK attention upon the
grand generic realities from which all
specific interests derive their. value.
Partisan narrowness Of both thought
and feeling robs us Of the larger
wealth which comes Of discerning es-
ambitious strifes, which had sprung up
wherever found. Partisan divisions and
sential worth in it's larger modes. and
In the apostolic chuches, met with
this manner Of rebuke from St. Paul
which turned upon their partisan glo-
ryings. such burst OF Gods infinite
meaning, for them, as exposed their
shallow misconceptions and the abject
littleness Of their partisan ambitions.
With one grand swoop he seemed to
grasp the whole church, shake and lift
and stand 1t in the center Of universal
truth, that Its every member might see
the beundless resources OF Its own in
alienable wealth. Wherefore, he i'm.
plies, let no man be SO small as to
glory In particular men, for all are
yours, and We are Christ's, and Christ
is Gods. Isl
That we may get q good, practical
hold of this text we will ask: !
First What is the essential mean.
ing of this world and all its life?
Second What relation do. ali per.
SONS and things hold to this meaning!
As to the first question, there seems
to have been among thoughtful people
In all ages. q curious, but solemn
query which in effect, cried, Whence!
Why? Whittier 2" Although all felt
In their independe nce, there must be
an independent cause, the more puz
cling question doomed up, namely
what manner of cause is it? Is it fate
or force? If god, what kind Of q
god is he benevolent, malevolent, OF
indifferent? As there are good and i'll
IN apparent conflict, are there two su
preme beings one good, the otherevil
ever at wal? And. thus, on and on
through endless, helpless wanderings
have men CROPPED until in our own day
4 some like Haekle, find the founder q
the universe in the most helpless and
dependent thing in it, dead matter
But that a dependent world could
emerge from dead matter confuses ant
confounds thought, and finds nothins
In life to make It of more worth thar
g hobo's dream. Thus the learning ant
wisdom Of men, unaidel by revelation
have been able to meet these deepes
queries Of the soul with little that /.
better than the widest vagaries. Ths
CRY Of human nature In its best moot
is well expressed by q great poet:
.Oh, Thou Eternal One, whose pres
ence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion
guide,
Unchanged through times all devas
tating flight.
Thou.only God! there is no God be
side. 4. n. "a I'll
Being above all beings! mighty on,
Whom none can comprehend. and non,
explore,
Being whom we call God. but know n,
MORE"
But Hight breaks In upon us when W,
turn to the Bible. Nor need we all 1t,
luminous power, but one passage il
sufficient. and that the very brief dis
closure, God FIG love" AT once til,
csntsr 81 our intelligence is touche,
and blazes with these radiant reflec
tions, namely, "a loving nature yearn
for objects to love. IS Objects which
can perceive. and feel, and reciprocal.
his love-" Therefore. He created us q
the objects; persons, beings imagin,
n formal character His infinite. inei