Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-01-09


gested. and recently a twelve-yearold
boy attempted mathematicaily to
demonstrate II before the professors
OF Harvard university.
When. however. we pass from the
realm Of the physical to the spiritual.
We find this idea clearly expressed In
our text The humble bowling of the
Apostles knees at the beginning OF
this matchless prayer. and tho limtless
heights OF glory transcend our hu-
man capacity OF comprehension. In
the center Of this stands the text. a.
though Paul. pausing at some vantage
point. would look TO the right and the
left. backward and upward. and ex.
claim. "oh. that you might compre
hend the breadth. the length. the
depth and height Of the love OF
Christ" Let us apply these four meas
urements to our lives.
|. Breadth. We pride ourselves upon
breaking from provinciaiism and mar
rowness. and that the world Ia laid
upon our breakfast table each morn
Ing: but unless our activities are also
quickened OF what benefit 10 our
worldwide vision, Our big cities are
provincial. Many a New Yorker thinks
the world begins at the Battery and
ends at Yonkers. There are scores In
Chicago as absolutely ignorant Of the
resources. need OF people Of China
Japan or even Europe ~ they are o,
the planet Mars. yet they say -tak'
care OF the home field before you a
anything for foreign missions." "
need not only . world vision. but mot
breadth Of vision Of the problems ,
labor. social and civic life.
ii. Length. Persfstence. stick-eo-I
fveness. A gentleman was asked Vi
% few great ciergymen In Amerfcl
and his reply was. America II In 70
great hurry" or course perspectiv
leads TO n wrong estimate of great
ness. but certainly we need more min
listers who are ''forth-teliers" Of God'i
message to lost men When cierry
and iaity learn TO think through to &
conclusion these questions Of ethics.
reform. world needs and. most impor.
tant of all. the needs OF the human
soul. and will apply themselves TO
these problems with persistence and
abandon. we shall have clergy and
laity whose leadership will never be
called in question.
III. Depth. Americans are fond Of Q
good front" but have we correspond
ing depth7 Study our cheap front ar
chitecture. music. business and waste.
Are We right on fundamentals' Our
thinking must stand upon a better
foundation than the shifting sands OF
philosophy. Our statements OF life
be based upon more enduring ground
than the nebulous unstable assertions
Of false science. Our commercial fab
ric must be built upon a more stable
basis than that OF expediency. Our
moral code must be less concerned
with pleasure seeking externals and
consist more OF rectifed. purified. re
deemed lives OF honesty and integrity
Not dollars. culture. nor club life
should dominate our ideals. and our
religious life must be based upon the
-1mpregnabie rock OF ages the holy
word When We get on the God side
OF these problems and see them In his
clear light we shall be building upon
the rock and be immune against as
sauit Faith In the authority OF the
inspired word Is what gives a nation
strength and TO the individual q mes
sage that will heal. enthuse and en-
courage.
w. But Paul had a fourth dimen-
sion, "the heights OF glory"-the God
side OF life. We all respond to the
suggestion OF a world vision because
OF our business relations. We spell
success with a dollar mark. Material
success does demand a world vision
and a concentration that Is sapping
the vigor OF our manhood. But We
do urge upon all to measure his life
by his fourth dimension. the love of
God that passeth knowledge. Who
can span the extent OF breadth. Who
oan find the ultimate end OF length OF
plumb the lowest bottom OF all depth
or measure the uttermost limits OF the
heights OF Gods love for US In Christ
Jesus? A love that was willing TO
empty himself and to become obedient
unto death. even the death OF tho
cross
when I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince OF glory died;
My richest gain count but loss.
And pour contempt on all my pride"
Let US lift our eyes from the ma.
teriai to the spiritual. This vision ID
the Transforming vision that led forth
the prophets OF old and that moved
Martin Luther and every other great
reformer. This vision was the power
giving vision of Dwight L. Moody
Frances Willard and all OF the rest
This was the peace giving. heaIIns
vision of Florence Nightingale and
that has comforted the hearts Of thu
saints throughout the ages amidst ali
the vicissitudes OF life.
Measure your life by this and you
will indeed be filled unto all Che full
ness OF Cod