Omaha daily bee., 1884-12-09
COUNCIL BLUFFS
ADD1TI Al LOCAL NEWS,
SERMON ON STORMS,
Rev. Mr.. Fisk Sees Some spcCin'
Lessons III Hail. Lightning
and Wind.


preached, his text being: Jesus an.
swered and saith unto him, what l dc
thou knowest not now, but thou shall
know hereafter"
After showing from the Bible and sur
rounding events that there are mysteries
connected with Gods p%rovidences diff
cult for mortals to comprehend. He said
that "God seemed to WOO, or draw the
people of Iowa to him by tho invisible
cords of His love and goodness and
when they are dlsobedient no warns
them by His judgments. Ho has given
them q sslubrious, healthful climate and
q rich, productive soil. in Iowa, perhaps
more than In any other state, has the
promise of seed-time and harvest been
| verified, for there has not been q failure
| of crops from its earliest settlement to
tho present time.
People have come here from other states,
poor, and having to rely upon the kind.
ness of other settlers for means of sup.
port, to he refunded when a crop was
raised. BY industry aud economy they
have become comparatively rich, but did
not realize that they were dependent up
on God for His blessings. They did not
have God in their minds or thoughts.
When their crops were gathered, instead
Of spending the winter months in devo-
tionsl services and giving thanks to God
for His blessings, they spend their time
in sleigh.riding and %carousing about the
country.
To warn them of their wickeduess and
folly God permitted billiards. to blow and
fill tho air with snow. rendering 1t i'm
possible to see which way to travel, SO
that some have persisted within a short
distance of their homes, teaching the peo-
pie that there is a God that rides upon
the stormy skies, who can say to the
wind and snow storms be still, and they
obey him. Some have p~rospered until
their whole hearts are absorbed in their
riches. Think of the rich man described
in the twelfth chapter of Luke. He said
that he would tear down his barn and
build greater that he might have where to
store his goods. He said to himself,
''Soul, eat, drink and DO merry, for much
goods are in store for thee" just then
q voice said to him, Thou fool, this night
thy soul shall be required of thee"
A similar scene took place in Hazel
Dell township only two or three sum-
mers ago. A farmer had raised several
successive crops, and stood n day ad-
miring his fine prospect of o crop. He
said to his neighbor: Last year L sold
several hundred dollars worth of corn,
but this year my crop will be much more
abundant" But q still small voice
whispered to him and said, sin one hour
your fine crop will be destroyed" The
farmer looked, and saw In the north and
west dark, lowering clouds rising. They
continued to rise and increase in dark
ness. Presently lightning, forked light
nings flashed and darted in vivid bright
ness In zigzag chains across the sky, while
muttering thunders rolled and mingled
with the halls whizzipg moan, making
melancholy music. The pelting pebbles
of hail soon crushed and entirely
obliterated that beautiful crop and
blasted his prospects for that year. Take
another instance, which occurred ak or
eight years ago, near the Big grove, In
this county, familiar to the minds of the
old settlers. Tho wife was o Christian,
and rejoiced in the happy assurance she
felt in her heart, that she had a clear title
to a mansion in the skies. She often in
duced her husband, who was a protested
intidel to 60 with her to church. During
the week they conversed about the SER
mon. He remarked to his wife that the
preacher gave a beautiful description of q
region where everlasting spring abides
and never fading flowers. He said he
did not want any better country than
Iowa. 1t is true our flowers fade in thu
fall, but they bloom again in the spring
with renewed beauty. You christians
boast of houses not made with hands,
eternal and in the heavens, but | do not
want a better house than ours here. II
is solid and built on a firm foundation, so
that it can Withstand any tempest, or
defy any storm. But look yonder in the
southwest. What means that terrible
commotion in the air2 See with what
rapidity it whirls and tears up trees, toss
ing them In the air as though they were
but straws. 1t is advancing toward US.
Pray to your God to help US, for I can
not pray, as l have never yet acknowl-
edged the existence of a God. In a few
minutes more that house with Its boosted
strength was torn from its foundation
and borne to the skies upon the giddy
gyratlons of that cyclone with as much
apparent ease as though it WAS
but the lighteat ligament of a feather
We may not know now why God dis
played his power in such frenzled fury,
but we may know hereafter. Affections
and dhappointments may seem severe,
but they are often sent in mercy, or as
blessings in disguise. God may send his
billiards. to blast to blind and bewilder
man and send hail storms to demolish
crops, and cyclones to uproot trees and
destroy houses, as q warning to the peo-
pie to admonish them that as long as
they live In Iowa , they will be subject to
the loss of property and friends, and will
have at least to grapple ~withdeath. They
are also ~admonished that the riches and
honors of this world, are but the fleeing
phantoms of folly passing away like NOV.
ing melting meteors, that dazzle for q
moment, and disappear leaving no son.
ISOLATION or comfort behind. Persons
may know hereafter that their disap.
pointments, and losses of property and
friends, have all combined together to
work out for them a far greater, more
excellent and eternal might of glory in q
brighter world than this. Friends, be.
lieye In Jesus. Adore God and cheer
fully submit to the eternal designs of
Gods justice, knowing that all things
work together for good to those that love
God and keep his commandments.