The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-04-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Here l am; Send me-lSalah b:S.
THE CONDITION OF VISION
If there is to be any vision there
must be some one to see, place from
which the seeing is done and suitable
circumstances to call it forth. Edi-
son saw the Mazda lamp long before
it came from the laboratory; Bur
banl, smelled violets instead of onions
years before he changed the vegeta-
ble's odor Neither could have eX-
changed his vision for the character
of the seer determines what is seen.
The transit Of Venus can not be OBJ
served at any time, by any person at
any place. 1t is seen by trained OBJ
servers through carefully placed in
struments at a time when planetary
movements make it possible. Soul
vision is dependent upon something
of similar import. No man who does
not think God can ever see God. lisa
iah was a princely soul, familiar with
palace and public and evidently train
ed in both school and social life. His
naturally fine mind was quickened by
the contacts Of court and street. He
knew history and was a statesman, a
prophet, a poet and a seer But the
chief characteristic is his utter faith
in God; thru no matter what great
crisis the nation passed this was the
outstanding thing in the thinking and
living of this adviser of kings. And it
was this that determined something
of the vision that should be his. Cir
cumstances were ripe for it, Uzziah
had carried Judah to a position of
power unequalled in any other day
Tho a leper he had not abandoned the
direction of affairs. and when the
body Of the great king lay in state in
the palace the very foundations of
the government seemed destroyed
What would be the outcome? 1t was
with this blow to his hope for Judah
in mind that he turned with dimmed
eyes toward the Temple. He would
take his trouble to God. The singer in
Psalms 70 found no place of under
standing in his perpIexity until he
event into the sanctuary" Isaiah
took his care to the same spot Even
a telescope has to be erected outside
the city's murk and smoke if heavens
vision is to be seen and eyes dimmed
with the dust Of business or dazzled
With pleasures lights fail to catch
the glory that appears in the clear air
of Gods hills From Abraham to
John circumstances, position and soul
have conditioned the vision.
THE CONTENTS OF THE VISION
after Mary died" is the marker in
many a life. Some heart scar is the
detriment of soul time From that
desolated throne in Jerusalem Isaiah
lifted his eyes to an occupied one that
dominated all the earth. 1t reminds
one Of Garfeld's word in New York
on the morning after Lincoln's death
when uncertainty gripped the hearts
Of every loyal American: God reigns
and the Government at Washington
still lives" hushed the throng into the
same confidence that possessed the
soldiers own heart. Judah's throne
might totter, but that was not the
final authority. Even the Temple was
too small for this Lord of the world.
Far above it yet sharing it so that
the church of Judah became like the
church of today, the basis for the
throned Ruler of the race, Isaiah saw
an ordered universe. All about that
throne were radiant figures yelling
their faces in humility and reverence
and yet poised upon ready wing for
immediate service. And above all
the clamor of earth their voices ut
tered a great chorus of praise that
revealed the character of that God
able to call forth the alteration of
men of every race and condition. Hol-
mess is His. 1t is a God with char.
acter that appears and not a Diety of
caprice. And tho separated from
men by that very fact of quality of
life that leaves man far below Him,
yet His glory fills the whole earth so
that it becomes intimately a part of
the soul of each believer in Him. All
the universe under ordered rule by
holy life that includes in its sweep
earth and heaven, church and state,
men and spirits held the spirit of the
prophet quiet in his hour of despair
and thrilled him with reverent awe.
And it is such vision that this world
needs in these days of discourage.
ment, struggle for place, and despair
over the results of the great war.
Could all the world catch the sight
that Isaiah did there would be speedy
improvement in all its life.
THE EFFECT OF THE VISION
1t is the pure in heart who see God
but the immediate effect is the re-
Vealing of sin in the light of His holi-