The Untraversed Continents

““The riches of His grace.” — Epn. i. 7.

In a published letter, Thoreau, who was not always the wisest adviser, for his chords of sympathy were not very plentiful or refined, gives this admirable counsel, which has, perhaps, wider significance than he conceived: ‘‘ Explore your own higher latitudes: nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought.”’ There is always very grave necessity that we should be reminded of the untraversed stretches of country in our own being. There are forests which hide wonderful possibilities. There are new trails to be cut in the domain of thought and imagination which will open out vistas of light and beauty. What discernments are awaiting development! What sleeping powers, like the sleeping princesses in the old legend, are ready to spring into vigorous life and service! Yes, there are reaches of our own being which are like higher latitudes in undiscovered country.

But I am wondering how the Apostle Paul would have given Thoreau’s counsel. Paul was very objective, and his counsels of exploration would lead us away from ourselves. ‘‘ Not I, but Christ!’ ‘‘ While we look at the things which are not seen!” ‘‘ Beholding the glory of the Lord!” ‘‘ Looking unto Jesus!” If the Apostle had spoken to us of higher latitudes, and bidden us be as a Columbus in whole new continents and worlds, he would have been directing us to the glories of our unclaimed inheritance in Christ Jesus. There are hidden wonders in the untrodden realm of the divine love. There are new trails to be followed through the tropical luxuriance of redeeming grace. What we have already discovered is only the finding of a single leaf as compared with boundless forests! It is only the glint of a single nugget as compared with the wealth of unfathomable mines! And therefore would the Apostle have stirred our ambitions to covet and explore these waiting treasures, for “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”

And the wonderful thing is that we can use our common circumstances as implements and ministers of exploration. We can use a dark circumstance to find a bright one. They say in Yorkshire, ‘Never a nettle without its dock!” Never a pain without there being at hand some compensating balm! let the nettle lead you to look for the dock. Let the sting send you after the balm. Let some disappointment send you exploring for the riches of hope in Christ Jesus. Let some seeming failure stir you to gain the patience of unanswered prayer. Let some bereavement make you a zealous discoverer of the consolations of eternal life. Let your sin drive you in almost fierce quest of redeeming grace. Every circumstance may be used as an instrument of discovery, and every day we may advance more deeply into the higher latitudes of the wonderful love of God.