Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-02-06
THR REPUBLICAN.
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.

Saviour near; and this wherever you
are. 1t needs not that you ascend a
special pisgah or Moriah. 1t needs
not that you should enter some awful
shrine, or put OF your shoes on some
holy ground. Could a memento be
reared from every spot from which an
acceptable prayer HIS passed away,
and on which a prompt answer has
come down, we should find Jehorah
shammdh, "the Lord has been here"
inscribed on many cottage hearth,
and on many dungeon floor. We
should find it not only in Jerusalem's
proud temple, David's cedar galleries,
but in the fisherman's cottage by the
brink in Genesareth, and in the upper
chamber where Pentecost began.
And whether it be the field where
Isaac went to mediate, or the rocky
knoll where Jacob lay down to sleep,
or the brook where Israel rested, or
the den where Daniel gazed on the
hungry lions and the lions gazed on
him, or the hill-sides whore the Man
of Sorrows prayed all night, we
should still discern the prints of the
ladders feet, let down from heaven
the landing place Of mercies, because
the starting point OF prayer.
SECRET FAULTS =" Cleanse thou me
from secret faults This may mean
not so much faults concealed from
others as those which are hidden
from ourselves. Do you think this
impossibleg
Long ago a friend Of mine made
the startling suggestion that men are
usually ignorant of their greatest
faults. Said my friend, II did not
make the discovery myself but it was
suggested by a gentleman Of much
experience in life and in the world
1t set me to thinking, and what | at
first denied, afterwards concluded
must be true.
In the first place, if we really saw
a thing to be our greatest fault, if we
had any true desire for improvement,
the first impulse would be TO correct
that fault, and then it would cease to
be the greatest. For our own sakes
we do not 20 willfully indulging what
We know to be fault or a blemish in
our character, and one which others
must recognize our desire to stand
well in their esteem is too strong for
that.
Then we may mistake in our esti-
mate of our own characters, and so
remain ignorant. For instance, what
others regard as obstinacy may ap-
pear TO us but proper firmness, or per
haps fixed principles. Men do not
always know themselves.
/ have seen an avaricious man who
called himself and who really thought
he was, liberal and benevolent. lie
had generous impulses and was always
going to do something at some future
time. The only trouble was that be
had so many schemes for gain, SC
many present uses for his money, that
his generous plans were always in
the future and receeding. He loved
benevolence but he loved gain better
Nothing could have surprised him
more than to be told be was not I
liberal man. He was and is ignorant
Of his greatest fault.
/ know " woman who is uncharita
bic and severe; she speaks out jus
what she thinks, and so says a grea
many hard things. Yet she does not
mean 10 be harsh and hard she con.
siders it only commendable frankness
and would be surprised and led to AT
indignant denial, if she were tol,
that she disregarded the law Of love
She does not mean to do so; she ha
kindness in her heart, but her sewers
judgment is stronger than love.
1 know person who is thoroughly
selfish, and yet is exceedingly kline
to his own family or friends, and HI
thinks he does a great deal for others
But, indeed, he never puts himself ou
Of his way, and what he does, is done
for those who are his own his second
self He would be astonished if yov
would accuse him Of selishness
Said my friend, "Tell me my creates
fault, and see if ! do not know it.
"No, you would net believe it, an,
would only be disturbed you ooul,
gain nothing, and / should not stan,
as well with you"
That is a hard case, if we are moi
only ignorant Of our faults, but vii
not bear to be told them. Then tn
help lies in this; There is One whl
"searcheth the heart" If we trul,
desire TO be better, let rs searcl
and try our ways and turn unto In
Lord Let us honestly pray, "Clans
Thou us from secret faults"
1 have seen o lark rising from hi
bed of grass and soaring upwards
singing as he rises, and in hopes t
get to heaven and climb above th,
clouds; but the poor bird was boatei
back with the loud singing of an cas-
tern wind, and his motion made irreg
ular and inconstant. descended nor
at every breath Of the tempest thar
all the vibrations of his wings serve,
10 exult him, iill the little creatur
was forced TO SIT down and part, an,
stay till the storm was overpast; an,
then it made aprosperous fight fot
then IL did rise and sing, as If il hat
learned music and motion from SOM
angel as he passed sometime through
the air. So is the prayer Of the goo,
man when agitated by any passion
He fain would speak 70 God. and biz
words are Of this earth, earthly; hl
would look to his Maker, but he coul,
not help seeing also that which dis
tractcd him, and a tempest was raise,
and the man otorruled; his prayei