Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-03
[Origlnal.l
WAIT ON GOD.

Strange as it may seem, man in his natural
state has very little, if any, confidence in God.
Much is said about believers in God, and
many claim to be believers in him, but the
truth is, there are few of Adams race who
have implicit confidence in God, either as
creator, preserver, or saviour. Thousands
have faith in mixed form but few have
pure and unalloyed faith. There is pre-
vailing disposition in most, if not all men, to
trust partly in themselves and partly in God.
Human wisdom is consulted more frequently
than the Divine oracles. Thousands Of men,
who are called Christians, and say they have
faith in God, seek counsel, when in great
straits, from their fellow men, or rely upon
their own judgment, who never think of 60
ing directly to God in prayer and asking
him for light and direction. No wonder the
Bible is so full of exhortations to believe in
God. Men have but little confidence in his
wisdom, in his power, in his love, in his mer-
cy or in any attribute of his nature Adams
race are described as enemies of God. The
human heart is said to be enmity itself against
God. All the acts of the human family to-
ward God fully justify these declarations.
Men pray, but they neither expect God to
hear nor to answer their prayers. Nothing
would more astound the world than for God
to answer the many prayers which are daily
offered up to him. The prayers of most men
are mere fornalities or idle gossip, of which
they never expect to hear any thing more
Rather, they resemble the stiff business salu-
tations, which pass between two persons not
on friendly terms. So soon as this business
transaction is over, the individuals separate
to recognize each other no more.
This may seem to be dark and discourag-
ing picture of the.condition of things in our
world but it is not overdrawn. The facts
warrant us in declaring that there is very lit
tie of that faith which makes men feel toward
the Lord, that "although he slay me yet will
I trust him." There is strong desire in
mans heart to do something, and an utter
aversion to leave consequences wholly in the
hands of God That man is not far from the
kingdom of glory who can simply do what
God, in his word and providence, directs him
to do, and leave the results and disposition of
things with God. He has fought good fight
and won glorious victory, in that he has
conquered self and its natural enmity to God,
and let faith have full dominion in his SOUL
When man was created he had implicit
confidence in God as his maker and preser-
yer. Man sinned and lost his confidence
and having lost it, he continues and must
continue, sinful and SHINING, until confidence
in God is restored to the soul. This want of
confidence in God is not only the cause of all
our transgressions, but it is the source Of all
all misery. If we had implicit confidence in
Gods wisdom to guide us, in his power to de-
fend us, in his love to pity US, in his mercy to
save us, in his justice to punish us for trans
crossing his law, we would not only be free
from sin, but we would be happy in God.
Mans want of confidence in God digs an i'm.
passable gulf between God and mans soul;
the restoration of confidence in mans soul in
God, fills up that gulf and makes the ap-
proach of man to God and of God to man, not
only possible, but absolutely certain. Hence
the exhortation so often repeated in the scrip
lures: Crest in the Lord, wait patiently on
him." This is the key that unlocks the store
houses of inefable bliss. Confidence in Gods
providential care enables us to feel that he
who feeds the ravens and hears and answers
the hungry cry of the young lions, will feed
his people. Confidence in the atoning blood
of Jesus supports the soul when passing
through the valley and shadow of death. The
want of this confidence keeps tie soul in
fret during all time, and sends it into hope
less Punishment during an endless eternity.
POWER OF EXAMPLE.-1n a town in Ba-
varia, there was little tumble-down church
building, where the duke, as often as he came
that way, used to 60 in and pray. If, on COM
ing out of the chapel, he happened to meet
any of the peasants in the field, he loved to
converse with them in friendly way.
One day he met an old man with whom he
fell into conversation on various things; and
taking liking to the man, he asked him, in
parting, whether he could do anything for
him?
The peasant replied, "Noble sir, you cannot
do anything better for me than you have done
already"
"How so :" answered he. II do not know
that have done anything for you"
"But I know it," said the old man +; "for
how can I ever forget that you saved my son
He travelled so long in the ways of sin that
for long time he would have nothing to DO
with the church or prayer, and he sank, every
day, deeper in wickedness. Some time ago
he was here, and saw you, noble sir, enter the
chapel. 81 should like to see what he does
there" said the young man, scornfully, to
himself, and he glided in after you. But
when he saw you pray so devoutly, he was so
deeply impressed that he also began to pray ;
and from that moment he became new man.
I thank you for it. And that is why said
you can never do me greater favor than
you have done me already"
sa- Let him who regrets the loss OF time
make the proper use of that which is to come.