St. Landry democrat., 1885-07-04

blessed God; he says: "Delight thyself in
the AIn1ighty." Is it not singular that he
should choose term descriptive of om-
impotence as the paramount cause of the
believers delight? God is love, and can
readily understand how one might delight
himself in God under that aspect; but the
believer is taught to delight himself in
God as strong and mighty. What a mercy
it is that there is power that makes for
righteousness that at the back of all
these wars and confusions, and behind all
sin and false doctrine, there is an infinite
ly powerful God During the last few
weeks you have felt an intense joy in the
omnipotence of God. You have whispered
to your forebodings: SIT is all right. The
Almighty is not paralyzed, His arm is not
shortened, the Lord reigneth." Brethren,
the pendulum swings to and fro, advanc-
ing and retreeting, but yet there is a real
progress made; you can not see it by
watching the pendulum; but up higher on
the face of the clock there is evidence of
an onward march and of coming hour.
The Kingdom of God is coming righteous
ness shall prevail Delight also in the fact
that Jehovah is almighty in mercy mighty
to save. He can forgive the greatest sin;
He can change the hardest heart; Ee can
help US to fight out unto victory the stern
est of our battles against righteousness; !;
He is stronger than sin and Satan; for all
power dwells with him. Surely, when
you see omnipotence linked with right
eousness and mercy, you will delight your
self in the Almighty.
Think Of the Lords aImightinass in the
matter of the keeping, preserving, defend
ing and perfecting of all His people. The
sheep of His pasture shall not perish; for
the good Shepherd is omnipotent to smite
the roaring lion who would devour them.
None that trust in Him shall ever be
ashamed or confounded, world without
end.
THE UPLIFTED FACE.
Now, let us turn with intense satisfac-
tion to the other expression used by Eli
phaz: ''Thou shalt lift up thy face unto
God" What does it mean? Does it not
mean, first, joy in God? When a man
hangs his head down he is unhappy; it is
the attitude of misery; but oh, when our
thoughts of God are changed, and our rela-
tionship to God is different, we lift up our
faces and sun our countenances in the light
of Gods favor. The face of God in His
Amounted is toward the believer, and there
fore the believers face is toward the Most
High. He hath said: ''Seek ye my face"
and how can we seek His face but with our
own faces? "Look unto Me, and be ye
saved, all the ends of the earth," is the
divine call; and the believer looks to God
with intense joy, knowing that In Him is
his salvation.
Does not our text indicate fearlessness?
Fear covers her face, and would faIn hide
herself altogether, even though to accom-
p1ish concealment the rocks must fall upon
her. That sacred bravery which the Holy
Spirit breathes into the child of God makes
him cry: "Abba, Father" and in the spirit
of adoption he lifts up his face unto God.
May it not also signify expectation? ~
viii lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from
whence cometh my help" 'My expecta-
tion is from him. says David. Oh, to lift
one's face toward God, looking for deliver
ance, safety and rest, and expecting both
grace and glory from his right hand
Brethren, am talking very simply of
things well known to me, and yet can not
convey to you a sense of the joy of face
uplifted unto God. You must feel it for
yourselves, by lifting up your own faces.
Some of you poor creatures can not lift up
your faces unto God by reason of despond-
ency; but we pray that you may yet do
So AS for you who are Gods own people,
and yet go through the world in bondage,
I charge you, cry unto the Lord to change
your condition, and fill you with His joy,
for then your faces will shine in the light
.of His face.
When you delight in the Lord, nothing
can disturb the unbroken current of your
joy! The sublime serenity of the heavens
which arch above your head enters into
your own spirit when the Lord who made
the heavens dweIls in your heart. Strive
after this sacred peace: delight in the Al
mighty, and lift up your faces unto God.
Sinful Lamenting.