Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-11-21

tOoH fOr Hum" Nor
} F5urtiy-Docs the Christian cease fron
his seeking when he leaves tn, stYictiy -selig
lons field Of the Dirine ordinances.
In regard 10 all dctipe duties Of life. uhethej
} sacred or secuiar. the language Of his heart il
} stili-I pW look for Got. I,ciN look for God
In those strictly sacred duties, that we owe
to God as stewards of ths divine mysteries
the true Christian. in every foo,step Of activ
lty. still seeks the Divine Presence.
Aud here, alas for much of our religion:
sbortcoming. in that very greatest Of al
'abors, the work Of converting souls, how
ainot exclusively has our searching come "a
be a ooklng for instrumentalities,
The parent sends his children to the Sun
day school, without bringing them to Jesus
The Church talks of missionaries, and money
aud men, more than Of Jehovah. We 60 up
annually to our religious anniversaries and
hear seigloriiying reports, OF moneys that
have been raised. and missionaries that have
been appointed. And we hear eloquent har-
nngues upon the duty of more entire con-
secration of person and property to the great
work. And we come back again to our mis-.
sionary concerts 10 find some few scattered
disciples making manifest that they feel that
though Panl plant and Apollos water, yet
God, and God only, can give the nclease
And it is no marvel that God. whose trent
nent of His children is so analogous to
jealousy, that he calls Himself a JEALOUS
God-it is no marvel, | say, that He should
et hose the ruthless destroyer npon fields Of
missionary labor when the Church talked so
much aud so proudly about the mere ma.
chiuery Of the work. nnd prayed 80 little TO
| God, the great Omnipotence Of the operation
| Jn all Snch fields OF labor the true Christian
'ooks for God-trup, he does well bis own
| work, because he remembers that il is only
IN the path of active duty he eau hope to find
Jehovah. The promise 10 regard of this very
! labor OF missions being,--"Go, 90 and teach
all nations, and then am wirh you ol,rays."
Nevert heless, he never substitutes means of
grace for Grace. Let him go where he will
IN the path Of religious duty, he feels that,
without the Divine Presence, his walk will he
II wandering. If he lead his child to the
Sunday school-if he go himself to the prayer
r"om--if he give his money or give himself
to tue missionary work-he still feels that if
be meet on the way with no Divine Helper,
his walk is all naniiy. And 50 humble. low
ing. gentle. his eyes and his work are ever
nnto the Lord. Oh he cries, want the
Father In" Redeemer, the SADctifer. IrW
look for HIM. UiW look for Him
Meanwhile out even OF the higher walks of
sacredness, aud into the lower and common
walks Of the secular and the socim does the
true child Of God caray the self same spirit.
How beautiful in this regard are the lives of
the Old Testament worthies: Whether 60.
ing ont to journey, or going out to battle.
they always asked Of God special direction
and guidance. And especially was this true
in times OF threatening disaster ! know Of
nothing more beautiful in history than that
story OF llezekiah. The naughty. tyrant Sa.
necharib, bad sent him terrible letter, threa.
trniug destruction to his kingdom, and at
once the gody king bears that letter IN to
the temple and SpreadS II before the Lord.-
He does not at first summon his wise coun-
sel!ors and strong warriors, asking their wis
dom aud strength for the battle, but he be-
takes himself to higher wisdom aud strength
And as IL result thereof, behold on the NOR.
rev, an hundred and forty and four thousand
Assyr,ans were dead cOrIses in the camp. all
under the sword of Gods angel And would
to God men would ever most literally initiate
that Honarch Take that price Of paper
which troubles you, take it on the morrow
before you go out business, and alone in
your secret closet, lag IL GsfOre God and if
he DO uot work Sht miracle for YOU out.
irardiy, and you will 80 TO the battle Of life
with Iens~pd strength and couruge-jecausc
you took for he Lard
"Dehold," says the Psulmist, Behold as
the eyes of servants look unto the hand of
theft nis.ers so our eyes lock upon the .ord
our Gud." And this not more for re,IreSs
ihnn Tor direction. 'Uhaf must ! do 10 davy"
lnqar"s the faithful servant ";rhGf wW Cad
hare me 10 do tO-ddg?' inquiries the true
Chr!stlUn.. tnd srrkIng thus earnestly and
prayeHniiy for the Divine will he will walk
sGieIy ana happily. Let man. even in the
common basin as OF life, make Gods word the
man ui his counsel not asking how do other
men act or What in my present circumstan-
ces seems the best selfish policy-but as an
h nest, benevolent, prudent, God fearing man,
| what are the Bibles practical directions for
conduct in my circumstunccs--nnd he will
surely find in the end that the vine COUNSEL
is the guarantee OF success in business; and
verify IN his own experience the blessed pro-.
mise, That they who seek the Lurd shall not
want any good thing"
GUuiiness makes man a good business
man. 1t reudrrs hun Industrious willing 10
DO Anything for his daily bread which is not
IN Hseit sinful. 1t gifts the man ,ciM prudence
and JorCthOught iOreseelng aud preparing for
future disasters. 1t imparls tn the muu 5
character decision aud trmnrss So that those
very storms which shaiier the dead tree on
ly give nobler strength 10 his root, as au oak
or cedar, 1t makes the man honest, and with
u reputation established lor unimpeachable
Integrity, II is in the power Of no temporary
disaster permanently to injure him. In u
word, II develupes aud Strengthens in tho
man all those fine business graces which rem
der him efficient aud eventually successful in
every walk of life. so that while constant
disaster aud ultimate ruin may be his lot who
follows rules oi present expedienCy, as sug-
gcsted by the counsels of wise Hen-.or the
financial philosophy Of public journuls--o
boards Of dlrectioA-preseut comfort aud ul-
tlmate success are Certain to him, who turns
from all private wisdom to take counsel oi
Qmnsciruce. ami whose motto IN all the per.
IpieXllIes aud embarrusnents IF business is
ever anu only, II riU Took for God, ! wiH look
to God"
the true Christian may, and indeed must
10 limes like these, share in the general dis
uSters-LIke earthquakes and pest.leuces
these commercial COMMISSIONS stdrtle ana
shake whole communities. so complex anu
nlerwoyen is The whole fabric oi civilized life
that an honest mans interest must be tang
led and loru by the dishonesty OF his neigh
Oors. veltheless, no great truth is Wore
patent IN times like these than that fortunes