The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-29
A D l. M Conducted
n / RevR }.
THE VIRCINIAN'S WEEKLY SERMON
THE IOY-BRlNGER

II H. w
by the Rev. r. A.
How beautiful upon the noun
tains are the feet of him that bring
eth good tidings." This vision OF
the hills of home, and Of messengers
Fastening over them with tidings OF
peace and salvation To their breth-
rem in exile. is of more than historic
interest; it is OF endless interest
wherever the human heart beats.
The message is prophecy far-hung
across the years, greeting US here
and now.
1t is the coming of the Joy
Bringer, and we all want Him. albeit
we do not always recognize Him
when He comes. Are we not all
exiles? The happiest among us
have we yet come where we would
be, to the best we would be? Have
we ever yet touched the Land OF
Hearts Desire? IL every hope real
lied, every prayer answered, every
dream fulfilled?
We have much; some have more
than others; but not one has all;
not yet If the night be not dark,
yet are we far from home.
Like the exiled hillmen in Chal-
dea, we live In a land of low levels.
a world so largely made up of mere
labor, of mere getting and spending,
while the home of our heart lies in
faith, a hope. and love which
rise above these things like the
mountains above the plains. In this
sense. Jerusalem ia the mother of
us ALL" and like cold waters to
thirsty soul. so is good news from
far country"
Every note Of the message from
the mountains is ioy-note.
Peace goodness salvation
thy God reigneth.' Hark how
this joy-note swells in the words
which follow: Break forth into joy.
sing together We waste places OF
Jerusalem: for the Lord hath com
forted His people, He hath redeemed
Jerusalem"
I Do We hear and heed this note as
we might? We have felt the power
/ of the Divine message, but do We
always realize how lyrical it is?
Our Lord has many attributes; He
comes to us in wisdom, in majesty,
in holiness. in com passion, in re-
damption, in glory; but Is He known
to us and beloved by us as the JOY
Bringer?
We GO to the Bible for many
treasures. for its history, its prop
hecy, its poetry, its wisdom litera-
iture, its Divine revelation, but do
We drink of its pure wells OF glad
uass2 In no other literature that
We know do these wells so won
drously abound They are every
where, and can hardly be missed,
We must. indeed. seek larger fg-
ure than the we'll The JOY of the
Lord is like the light that fills the
skies, like the pure air that fills the
green spaces of the world
The Joy Of the Lord is your
strength" Never does the human
spirit thrive as when the JOY of tie
Lord informs its life. since 1t is the
JOY OF that love which "beareth all
things. belieyeth all things, hopeth
all things, endureth all things, and
never faileth"
HIS IL lIiE SLi CuEtA NAtNH mas
disarmed the most deadly tempta-
lions. broken the power of inVeterate
habits, and ushered in a radiant
emancipation.
Said one 10 me who had been a
slave of intemperance. but whose
face was aglow with great glad
ness Il never want the drink now"
He had entered into the secret
place OF the Most High. and the JOY
OF his Savionr's love had utterly
broken once dark and terrible
power.
Other dark and terrible powers
are broken in the same manner -
the fear which hath torment, the
sorrow which hath no hope, the sell
fishness which isolates. the depres-
sion which disintegrates, the SEN
sualism which desolates. the hard
ness and materialism which kill the
soul: these vanish away like smoke
at the coming of the Joy-Bringer,
and are no more found.
They can and do withstand all
rother powers like education, criti-
cism satire. condemnation, but when
the pure joy of the love of Christ
comes, they die or shame.
Said the Master: These things
have | spoken unto you, that My Joy
might remain in you, and that your
JOY might be full" This was the
end of His teaching, the fair, bright
fruit of His ministry, the issue of all
the Divine discipline they would be
called upon TO endure.
| have recently been tracing, not
for the first time. the supremacy OF
this truth through the Scriptures.
and a more suggestive, iHTigefating
study ii has not been my lot TO enter
upon. Right through. from first to
last, the promise OF life according to
the will OF God is the promise of joy.
Through every night OF doubt and
sorrow burns and shines this guiding
light Ordeals OF every kind, includ-
ing the last ordeal itself, terminates
in purest gladness. Beauty for
ashes, the oil of JOY for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit
OF heaviness."
This is the great underlying prln-
ciple of Divine government.
Weeping may endure for night.
but Joy cometh in the morning"
Eye now have sorrow. but will see
you again. and your heart shall re-
joice. and your Joy no man taketh
from you God shall wipe away