62 New York at the "Woeld's Columbian Exposition. 



stimulated human thought that the discovery of America was plainly in 

 the designs of that providence which " reacheth from end to end mightily 

 and ordereth all things sweetly." Once more, take God's dealings with 

 the human race, as illustrated in the central fact of all history, the incar- 

 nation of his Son. The promise of the Redeemer runs through the Scrip- 

 tures of the Old Testament as a thread of gold in a tangled web. When 

 all seems most forbidding, the gracious promise is most clearly renewed. 

 For instance, Abraham is told of the wonderful increase of his posterity, 

 when in the order of nature he could not hope for issue; and later on he 

 is bidden to sacrifice Isaac, through whom the promise was to be accom- 

 plished. Just as all seems hopelessly lost, an angel stays the father's 

 uplifted arm, and the patriarch receives the divine assurance : " I will 

 multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand by the seashore, 

 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." 



So it is time and again in the life of Columbus. All seemed dark and 

 hopeless; for instance, when, after years of weary negotiation, the court 

 finally refused his demands, and he was sorrowfully bidding adieu to Spain 

 forever, Santangel unexpectedly persuades the Queen to yield to his con- 

 ditions. Later on, when he could not induce a single sailor of Palos 

 to make the fearful venture across the dark ocean, at the last moment 

 Pinzon comes forward and the caravels are speedily equipped. Returning 

 from his first voyage of discovery, in all the glory of his success, a horri- 

 ble storm overtakes his frail bark. All on board consider destruction 

 imminent. The next morning, to their glad surprise, the sailor on watch 

 at the masthead exclaims: " Land! land! " In fact these unexpected 

 rescues came so often and so regularly in the history of Columbus that we 

 cannot but conclude that the Lord for his own wise purpose was with him, 

 and evidently not for his own sake alone but fdrours as well. 



And if the Lord had mercy for the sake of the thousands and millions 

 of souls who are to serve him, not only in this glorious republic but 

 throughout the length and breadth of America, may we not reverently 

 repeat the admiral's prayer: " O Lord, eternal and almighty God, who 

 by thy holy word didst create the heavens, the land and the seas, hallowed 

 and glorified be thy name; praised be thy majesty, which has vouchasfed 

 to suffer thy holy name, by the work of thy humble servant, to be made 

 known and proclaimed in this new part of the world." And since we are 

 here to thank God and commemorate his servant, may we not also ask 

 that the blessing which brought Columbus safe through all his journeys 

 may rest on us too, and on this building, and on our beloved State — the 

 blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to whom be 

 praise and glory forever. 



