Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 192]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

184 " F o r thou hast made [man] a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor; thou hast put all things under his feet." [Ps. vi,i: 5.1 It is worth your while, sometimes, to climb to some lofty height where you can scan a wide view; where you may fill your lungs with the pure ether, and cause the generous currents of your blood to tingle to your finger tips with expanding energy and refreshed life. 80 would I lead you to Pisgah's lofty summit and bid you look over into the promised land, yours to enter and to possess, full of all possibilities and delights to him who has the secret of mastery over himself and them. Whence come to you all these benefits? and, " W h a t will you render to the Lord for all his benefits toward you?" [Ps. cxvi: 12.] I answer with the psalmist: " 0 praise the Lord all ye nations; praise him all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever." [Ps. cxvn.l But the tale of God's mercies is not yet complete. That which has been enumerated, that which you have delighted to gaze upon from the pinnacle of Pisgah—beautiful, glorious and yours to enjoy—that is all of the earth, and will some day vanish from your enfeebled vision. Beyond the valley, on the far side of this promised land—and I pray for each of you that the journey thither may occupy you many happy years—there stands another eminence, overlooking a dark and chilly river, from whose farther shore no footstep hath returned, through whose mists no eye has seen. Yet have we this account of the land beyond, whose confines are separated from the borders of our present life by but the breadth of a > breath. Listen: [Bev. xxn: 1, 3, 4, 5.] "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,, proceeding out of the throne of God and the lamb. "And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face. "And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord giveth them light; and they shall reign forever and ever." This also doth God offer to you to have and to enjoy: the materialized expression of a condition of happiness and joy, not otherwise recognizable by your comprehension. Again lift your voices with David and sing: [Ps. c m : 2, 8, 4.] "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits. " W h o forgiveth all thy iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies." Such temporal and spiritual blessings hath God prepared for you* I know not how much thereof you will choose to accept. You may*