Beautiful City
107
very clear, so that the white, sandy bottom can be distinctly seen for a
considerable distance. It is strewn with rocks, and with mounds of sea
moss of lighter and darker shades of green, forming a lovely picture.
At a little distance from the beach is an extensive park four miles in
length, a dense forest of beech-trees interspersed with evergreens. This
forest is kept like a garden, and there are walks and drives extending
through it in all directions.
The dark blot on this beautiful scenery is the beer gardens. At the
entrance to the grounds are buildings fitted up in the most attractive
manner for the sale of wine and beer, and these places are liberally
patronized. It is not enough that temptation lurks at every street corner
in the great city, but it lies in wait for all who go out for recreation amid
the scenes of nature. God designed that we should be refreshed and
invigorated by the blessings he has bestowed upon us in his created
works. It is his purpose that the beauties of nature should have a
[187]
refining, elevating influence upon us. He has endowed men with mental
powers capable of reasoning from cause to effect; by studying the
great book of nature, they may comprehend the majesty, the goodness,
and the power of the Creator. Were the senses kept clear, and the
intellect unclouded, they would thus find manifold sources of elevated,
satisfying enjoyment, and their hearts would go out in praise and
gratitude to God.
But this Satan is determined to prevent. Therefore he tempts men
to the use of wine and strong drink, by which the understanding is
darkened, the senses confused, and the image of God defaced. By the
indulgence of appetite the perceptions become so blunted that men
cannot discern God in his works; they may range through the most
beautiful scenes in nature, but they have not a thought of the Creator.
How many, endowed with good natural abilities, thus degrade the intel-
lect and dishonor God. Their nature becomes brutish; it is impossible
for them to be heavenly-minded. They have rendered themselves inca-
pable of governing or guiding the springs of mental or moral activity.
Thus Satan prevents man from fulfilling the destiny which Heaven
has marked out for him,—to reach the highest attainments, physical,
mental, and moral, that he himself may be happy, that his fellow-men
may be blessed by his example, and that God may be glorified.
The things of this world would be enjoyable, were it not for the
curse of sin; but crime, sorrow, suffering, and death meet us every-