The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-26
THE CHRISTIANS REFUGE.
A Sermon Preached Ina the Berean B@p-
tlst Church, West Philadelphia, by thC
Rev. j. Cooper.

Sermon Preached Ina the Berean B@p-
tlst Church, West Philadelphia, by the
Rev. j. Cooper.
Services were held at this church both morn
ing and evening. The Rev. j. Cooper chose
as his text the words, The Eternal God is thv
refuge" which are found IN Deuteronomy 39d
chapter, 9th verse. These form part Of the
last words which were spoken by Moses jus.
before his mysterious DEATH They we're ad.
dressed to that people with whom he had been
identified for more than forty years as their
divinely-appointed leader.
Beautiful and true Is the thought which was
expressed by Moses il tnat Impressive hour
when the mystery of his death began to over
shadow him. True and beautiful is the thought
of the dying ruler.
We Will consider, lst, the sublime idea which
the text presents. Mans assumption of power
has but served to show his weakness and utter
helplessness. Pride of strength makes us hold
out until the concealed disease saps the founda-
tions of our life, and until our sins bring us 10
the foot of the altar. Those who find out their
weakness in time, and who submit to bend to
the decree OF God rather than to break in USE
less resis ance, are happy in His refuge.
In the text weakness and power are subiimeIy
contTastCd. The omnipotent arm OF God is our
refuge. The leading ideas OF safety and blessed
ness are also shown forth. We associate these
ideas with our dwellings. The sanctuary is a
spiritual home where halowed enjoyments are
afforded. There they are safe from the excite
ments and temptations of the world.
In all ages mountains have been the refuge of
the oppressed. He who was more than mortal
sought their solitude for repose from the en-
CT cIoachments of men. They are tbe SYMBOLS OF
strength. "The Lord is my rock and my for
tress," and He is the refuge of the weak and err
ing and sinful OF the race.
2. Consider the clear index Of the Divine
regard for US which the text furnishes. God, IN
his goodness and kindness, might have dlrected
us TO look to His angels for help and protection
but in HIS ininty of kindness aud mercy He
proclalms Himself the refuge. 1t would have
been an expression OF regard il God had con-
ferred the power of providing for our defense
and support upon "the spirits OF good men made
perfect But we have more, infinitely more.
TO Him Himself would He have US look for
strength in weakness, for support in trial., for
| comfort III sorrow, and for victory in death.
| 3. The text supplies an absolute ground Of
| confidence in all emergencies God is our
| refuge in every state and condition. and the
most trivial events that happen are scanned by
| His all-seeing eye: the very hairs of our heads
| are numbered. Those small tribes that We deem
| which are the chief hmdrances to our progress
| in religion. 1t is The chief arg gument OF the
| lufdel that the triviaities of life are beneath
| the notice OF such an Infinite Deity. More par
| ticularly are these petty veXauons daily recur.
| them to veX their spirits, then is the time to
| pray to God Tor help. The testimony of be-
| levers Will bear me out in the thought which
| has been expressed that the relation of the
| Eternal God as a refuge supplies an absolute
| ground Of confidence in all seasons and in all
| emergencies. Great is the Lord, and greatly to
| be praised in the city of our God An unbroken
| chain of evidence unltes the saints of ages ago
| with those Of to-day. The ofty and the lowly,
| the wealthy and the poor unite together in His
| praise, and find in Him tower of strength and
| refuge,