To attain in a life, at best but a span, Any knowledge of God, 'cept his "image"in man, Is an impossibility, without any doubt. For God and His ways are past man's finding out. The great law of God, in the heavens teach man, Through its teaching we strive hard the future to scan, But, how can the future to us e'er be shown, 'Till the present is more clearly studied and known. The truths that each day are revealed to our sight Are as stars in the heaven of life's dreary night In the light of those stars every living soul may See a type of the light of some great endless day. How great is the comfort which every soul feels As it prizes the truths which the present reveals, And contemplates the wonders of the great Hand Divine, In the beauties of Nature so grandly sublime.

We look toward the sky for a glimpse into heaven, But, remembering that Adam from Eden was driven, Our thoughts unto Earth and Earth's lessons return, As we realize how much we must study and learn. Adam dwelt, as we dwell, neath the eye of the Lord, A free moral agent in action and word, When his strength he extolled as a strength of his own Then the Lord drove him forth to wander alone. Alone in his thought, with no light of God's love. Alone to the worship of mere flesh and blood. His reason dethroned by dearth of the spirit, An outcast till life should again be its merit 'Tis but darkness to glorify sentient self. It leads us to grovel for honors and pelf. Give God all the glory for what we attain, Then we the new life that is promised will gain.

Down through the past ages, the Spirit of God, 'Mong a few chosen mortals majes tically trod, It shone with effulgence that to this day is seen, And accepted as life, light and glory serene. Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob his son, We learn where this spirit of new life begun. And so down to Mary, the favored of God, We trace the increase of its merciful rod, While this spirit of life was awakening the Jews, The heathen were wrestling with heavenly news, A bright star had risen - a star in the east, To guide certain wise men, in unto the feast. This star was first seen in Socrates' land, Wise Socrates saw it, but could not understand, Its glorious import, yet died in its light, That his people might know that its teaching was right His followers obeyed it and to King Herod went. Saying, "Where is this King whom from God has been sent, For, we, too, have a knowledge of truths yet to come. For the signs of your prophets and our signs are one,"

Thus, led by the star of Socrates mind, They searched through the kingdom of Herod to find The blessings long promised to Abraham's seed, To bring light out of darkness for man's future need.

In a Bethlehem manger, that manger a brain,

The new light from God, in God's temple was lain -

That temple, not made by the rude hand of man,

But, a temple, whose glory forever shall stand.

The wise Jewish minds were the "inns," and no room

Could be found to receive the wonderful boon,

That had come as a ransom for long lost mankind.

So its throne was firm fixed in an infantile mind.

Then, the temple was reared as a Saviour for all.

Who accept the redemption from Adam's great fall.

And the throne was made strong and annointed with grace,

As a token of truths for the world to embrace,

This temple was Jesus - the Spirit, his word,

Termed "Christ," the annointed, whose voice had been heard,

Crying out of the wilderness of darkness and sin,

'Unburden your souls, let the light enter in,

Thus the world that was dead, was bequeathed a new life.

And peace, joy and gladness replaced former strife,

But, the old Jewish bottles, could not hold the new wine,

So in envious madness they trod down the vine.

But the vine had its root in the Kingdom of Heaven,

And its fruit to the world was once again given.

To show that dead souls with sinfulness filled,

Are as naught to God's truths which can never be killed.

By the light of God's trains, as revealed unto man.

In gospel, in nature, we clearly may scan,

The majesty, wisdom, the power and might,

Of the God of the Universe, of truth and of light,

Every soul is a branch of that much abused vine,

For life, or for death, for old or new wine,

Every man is a temple and fashioned with care,

God begs the sweet gift of a dwelling place there.

Will ye grant Him a home in the depth of your heart?

Or will ye renounce Him and bid Him depart,

So, turn the rich temple, He made for His own,

To a vile den of robbers, with thieves on the throne.

When your candle of life, begins to grow dim,

And ye feel ye will stand in the presence of Him,

Your courage must fail you, unless ye have grace

To meet the great judgment which all men must face.

Then bend ye with meekness, devoid of vain pride,

Put all your weak quibblings o'er "isms" aside,

Give all glory to God, and His majesty scan,

By the study of Nature and His "image"in Man.