The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-04
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camo wise men from the East to Jeru-
salem, saying. Whore Is Ho that is
born King of the Jews? For we have
seen His star In tho east, and are
como to Worship I1im.''--Matt. Ii. 1-2
They searched for and found their
King. There is something very signif-
cant in the fact OF that King being
discovered as n child This royal
child was tho answer to their desires,
and was accepted as their King. In
spite of Ills humble surroundings
There arc kings of mems making, and
command which men obey involun-
tarily is the submission of the Ruler
himself to law. And this is the secret
of the royalty of the hpma nifty of
Christ. The most striking principle OF
His llro Is His submission TO another
Will. This is the secret of His king
ship. lie became obcdcnt. .where-
fore God also hath highly exalted
Him.
This is the secret OF all influence
and all command. obcdicnce to a law
above YOU subjugatcs minds to you
yielded to mere will. "Rulo thysclf,
thou rulest ALL
The alteration OF the Magi Is very
touching and fun of deep truth Here
wo sec the wisest of the world bond
ing before the Child in His cradle.
remember tho history OF AIagianism
IL began with awe. entering into this
world beneath tho serene skies Of the
East, and developed itself in wonder
and worship. 1t passed into priest
craft and skcpticism. II cndod; as Il
began. In wonder and in adoration bu>
with q truer and nobIcr meaning ana
ideal
And this is but representation or
human life. Heaven lies around us
In our infancy" The child looks upon
this world or Gods as beautiful. Won
dcrful, and the creation of Ills Fathers
hand. The man dssccts breaks il
into fragments. loses love and wor-
ship in speculation and reasoning, and
becomes less irradiatcd with a sense
Of the presence OF the Lord OF all:
derinSs uf he be one whom tho Star
OF Cod is lcading). and by IL way ho
Knows not. he begins to sec all as one
again, and God all in all. Buck onco
mere comes the chldlko sp!ri, In tho
Christianity Of old age We luccl he
fore the child-wo feel that To ,aor,
is greater than to reason: that 20
love and worship and believe brings
tho soul nearer heaven than any scion
tifc analysis. The child is nearer
God than we
Note the Joy of the Magi. They had
seen the star in the cast. and had fol-
lowed IL; but IT seemed to 20 ont in
dim obscurity. They went about in
asked IIcrod. who could tell
them nothing: asked tho scrihcs. who
only gave them vague directions At
last tho star sl,one out once more, clear
before them in their path. when they
saw the star they rcjoiccd with OK
cccding great joy
There may be some who have seem
the star OF earlier days 90 our
qucnchcd in black vapors and smoke.
There are some who have followed
many = star, which proved to be only
an 'ignia fatuus,' bright, but utterly
untruslworthy and disappointing. But,
oh. the unspcakahle ana "exceed,np
JOY after following after inauiring
OF the great mon and learning moth
ing; Of tie religious men. and tindinr
little-to sec tho star once more and
10 ind that religion is a thing far
more simple than we thought; that COD
is near US and that TO knecl and adore
alone will bring peace and rest.
For God Will guide him Alright who
faithfully follows his own star. R,t
to each ono the message is differently
He spoke TO those wIso
men ny the star: TO the shepherds by
the melody of the heavenly host. to
Joseph by a dream: TO Simeon bv an
Inward revelation Cold. franklin
cense and rnyrrh," these, and ten times
these. were but poor ami trumpery 10
give. for a blessed certainty that tho
Star of God Is Gent to lead US on.
That star is now looking down on
the grave OF those wise men: and II
there be no life beyond, ,hen we must
reach this conclusion: That mass of
inert matter is still pursuing It's way
through space. and the minds that
watched 1t. calculated its movements,
ana were lea by it from aspiring
Wishes 10 holy fulflmcnt and adora-
tion--those iniEds, more precious than
q thousand stars, have dropped for
ever from Gods universe! Then, does
God care more for material masses
than for n spirit which is part of Him
self? Impossible! God is not the God
OF the dead. but OF the living" He is
the God and Father of our spirits.
Eternity and Observation-Disclosures be-
long 10 thought alone. You may ,nea
l,n - 80