Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-06-19
COVENANT IN GOD
Real Significance of Fact That
Is Conveyed in Stone Point
ing Upward.

Jacob left such stone at Bethel
1t was a witness to the fact that a
soul had been deeply conscious Of the
presence. the forgiveness, the call, and
the protection of God, and had entered
into a covenant with him. In that
stone pointing upward Jacob had al
ready begun to be a pleasing to all
the families of the earth. II all the
church towers and spires in Christen-
dom were gathered into a skyline,
what reaching heavenward OF human
aspiration they would reveal. That is
what they are: stones pointing up
ward, and bearing witness to the up
ward reach of the soul OF man.
In many places throughout the land
there are points where humanity gath
ers and looks out toward the greatest
natural beauty that appears in the dis
lance. There is Cliff House at San
Francisco; there are observation
points at Niagara; there are 'inspira-
ton points in the great mountain re-
gions; there are the ocean piers at
seaside resorts; places that stand as
witnesses to the impulse that human
ity has to admire and get as near as
possible to the beautiful So are the
church spires witness to the fact that
souls of men are athirst for God.
They mark the places where men
gather to give their souls a chance
IN look heavenward.
Have Special Drawing Power
And these points have drawing
power. They draw people to them.
until towns and cities and business
and commerce have been built up
about them. They draw until high
ways of travel are opened to them
as .centers. They multiply the value
of real estate. Travellers are glad to
pay special prices for the privilege of
being near these drawing points. The
stones pointing upward have the same
power. Church spires draw buildings
up in the air. Sky-scrapers are not
to be found except where church
spires point downward. Where these
are lacking men live in huts, and the
comforts of modern Christian civiliza-
ton are not to be found II men
could know today the places out on
the plains. where church spires would
point heayenward in twenty-five years
from now, they would rush there to-
day to buy land. The points in
heather lands where missionaries GO
TO preach the everlasting gospel are
the places that will be the great cen.
tiers of influence in the years to come.
Business, commerce, manufactures, all
things flourish in the light of the
gospel of peace.
1t is in the consciousness of God
that the soul of man develops. 1t is
in the light of Gods truth that man
grows a conscience and a character
And where these develop everything
else prospers. Christianity is the
most practical thing in the world to-
day. 1t blesses everything that II
touches
1t is great thing to go out into
a land that lies in darkness Of ignor-
ance and superstition, and plant even
single stone that shall direct the
gaze and the thought of the people
to God. How little did Jacob realize
how much the world would hear OF
the stone that he set up at Bethel
Let us claim Gods promise too, and
set the stones that voice the aspira-
tons of the soul of man, until all the
families of the earth shall be blessed
in us.-United Presbyterian.