Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-28
The Times Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
Isy j. 4. IIul,nnk.
SEEING GOD.

IL
Blessed the pure hi heart: for they
shall see God."-Matthew " S.
Since God. the Father of us ALL mani
rested himself In the flesh In the person
OF Jesus there has been 10 occasion for hu.
mainly 10 put veil Its face In order
|" gee God as He Is. That VOL Ia done away
In Christ. and all. if We will may with
open face behold "ns In n glass tho glory
OF the Lord" ana thereby bo Changed int
tho same image from glory 10 glory even n
the Spirit OF the Lord"
Men and women who arc sincere In their
devotion To the religion OF tho Lord Jesus
knowing that in the OF nature they
are Fastening to the grave whence they
must pass on into the Divine Presence, with
fear and trembling. indulge all kinds of re :
Elections aS To the majesty which surrounds
His Being. then To be revealed to them thus
voluntarily refusing. or ncglcctinx. to avail
themselves OF tho glorious privilege of see
ing Him every day Of their mortal lives as
promised in the text. Ordinarily our con-
ccptton Of the unseen things OF both the
material and spiritual world takes form and
substance from idea. as TO what con-
s'itut" desirable qualities. and these depend
upon the culture and rcnncmcn, of the in
dlN!duti. as illustrated by the fire which
takes color from the substance ii consumes
seen In diSpla: ~ fireworks. Hence the
various conccp'ions Of the supreme Being
by different civilizations. But as before
stated. with tho Nazarcnc Teacher to guide
know and see the Divine Father In the rlo-
ri"us fullness OF Ills true nature. And the
key I" that knowledge Christ has already
intrus;eh to us: blessed arc tho puro in
henrt: for they shal snc God" How many
OF US nr" using that key to satisfy the hunger
of the heart?
Titus tells us that Unit" the pure all
things are pure" and have the ass,ira nrc
from tn" example ana teachings OF the Son
of God Himself that tho all pcrvadinr sun
fn lie utrn
heaven inviting shrinking. fearing humanity
l" come out from the shadows OF unhelict
into its glorious cTulgcncc. and
Like tho stained web that whitcns i'm the sun
Grow pure by being purely shonc upon"
Charles Dickens is without n peer among
writers in accomplishing through the char
hcteis OF his hooks those simple virtues OF
the Christian religion whose practice bring
not only the individual himself into intimate
relation with the Father heart. which ycarns
Tor communion with the hearts OF the chill
dr"n Of His creation. but irrcsstibly draws
others int" His comforting presence. Rc-
oeiving his early training In the school Of
hard knocks Dickens familiar!zod himself
with oil Ciasscs and conditions of men lie
was tru" rcliEionist. Fascinated with the
simple life. creed and tonets OF the Master.
without being doEmntist. he was Il broad
humanitarian. and all his books were aimed
at some evil. tina, brought suffering TO hu-
manty. His heart went out In all its phaseY
TO the poor
In The character OF Mark Taplcy. in Mar
tin chuzZl"wit" we have example Of that
abundant optimism which Is part OF every
one who daily sees God Wherever he went
he dispensed sunshine He was ALWAYS
ready to do his fellows service and was
able TO see virtue and hope in absolute ad-
vcrsity. which was to Dickens the cfnbod.
mcnt OF that Christian charity that should
he Of
each other. 1t is faith like that in practice
that iins the hearts OF men into the atmOs-
phere va ich purifies and reveals tho smiling
face OF Divinity. There is never any crown
ing Providence to thos" who. launching out
upon tho promiscs OF God. enter into the
service Of their fellow who need n X ind
" hand extended to lif; them above growing
despair.
Underneath these are tho everlasting arms
and their way Is the way nf rejoicing