Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-10-09
SILENT HOURS.

Thoughts the Best
Our highest thoughts come IN our
quiet hours. The fruit of tho soul
ripens, like the fruit of tho vine, in
tuietude. Thoughts, like berries, must
not be disturbed while ripening. Our
greatest experiences, whether OF the in
tcllect or OF the spirit are not made,
they grow. 1t is when Newton is lying
on his back and chances to sec the APP
pic fall that the law OF gravtalion Hash
os into his mind; when Watts IL sitting
by the kitchen lire that the steam from
his mothers kettle suggests to him to
harness this genie and set him to work;
when Morse is resting on the ocean
steamer that the magnetic telegraph
suddenly uncoils itself before him.
SO, in our spiritual experiences, our
best thoughts are our quiet thoughts; in
the silence of the mind God makes to
us Ills suprcmest revelations. The
placid lake REFLECTS the heavens, When
the storm is past it is in the quiet bow
spanning the sky that God makes the
prophecy of His Gospel. The blare of
the trumpet announces the coming OF
the King, but the trumpet is not the
King. When the head Of the process
son is past, he comes riding by III
pain carriage and without decora-
ton. The startling manifestations of
grandeur and power are not the
voice OF Cod they are simply can 10
Us to halt and be still that we may hear
His voice, which is always a still, small
voice. The burning bush Gompels
Moses attention, and when he has
stopped to look, it is voice which
speaks to him. The whirlwind, the
fire and the earthquake harmonizo
with Eli,ah's storm-tossed SOUL but
when the greater fury OF nature over
topping his own has claimed his spirit,
as the fury of the wind sometimes itself
beats down the waves OF the seas, it is
in a still. small voice, or, in the ex-
pressive language OF the Hebrew, in
sound Of gentle stiffness. his Father
speaks to him. The glory in the heavens
wakens the shepherds; but their
Lord they tiI.d rs common babe in u
common manger. Paul falls 10 the
ground with his companions, startled
by the light which dims the br,lllance
Of the sun; but the voice which speaks
10 him is voice in his own soul which
his companions can not hear Not
lightning lash, nor re- cri Grating thun-
der, nor earthquake tossing the solid
rocSs into sea-waves, are the symbols
of God disclosures OF Himself; but the
light-the light which does its work in
absolute silence, the light which no
wind can ruille, nov.olence disturb, the
light which nothing can obstruct sav
the eXhalations which the earth itsel-
throws up in da:kening clouds, end
even these the light in time drinks up,
dssolvrs, pierces and rolls away. In
history we look for God when the earth
tremb.e5 under the tread OF myriad sol
diers and the earth is sulphurious with
smoke, and tao tempc,t OF battle ills
the air with darkness and all hear S
with dreal. But God is not in the
storm; when 1t has passed away lie
bcckons the hero OF a hundred battles
into SICK room and there bids him
wait IN silence the SLOW siege OF death
and the Nation learns more OF Cos
and HIS divine consultations and sus'
talnmcnts from the silence Of the sick
room than from the battlefield Of
Shiloh, the sic . OF VlcksbHrg or the
surrender at AppomattoX Court House
Inc earth Is lull OF CHRISTIANS VINO
wish to 60 back to the days OF the
burning bush, the mountain tempes
and the Heavenly illuminatloni bu
they are living in the era oil the still
small ' Dice. 1t is as If Moses had CLOSED
his ears to the words OF the l AM thai
he might have admired the burning
bush unconsuned; or Paul bad failed
TO listen to the voice which disclosed t.
him the prlckings OF his own con
science that he might admire the ligh
shining IN the heavens. such Christian:
are like the small boys who run with
the advanced guard OF the procession,
and care not for HIM whom that pro
cession -honors, Like John IN the
Apocalyptlc vision, they look for lion
uni john, they do not see the Lamb.
"Be still and know that am God,
isthe utterance OF profound philoso
ply. II is only In the silence OF thu
mind that we can hear the sound O
gentle stiffness. Immersed in thu
whirl OF society or the equally exciting
whirl OF business life, we can not heai
tins sacred unspoken word or realize
this sacred unseen presence. As in the
concert-room one closes his eyes that he
may concentrate his whole soul upor
the music. follow it in its mazes, anc
interpret It's mystic meaning, so in life
we must sometimes close eye and ear t
all surroundings and forget the visible
that the invisible may gain entrance
into our heart Even Christian worl
may prevent Christian communion. II,
who would impart God 10 Others mus
first receive God himself. We can no
give what we have not received; and
we receive God only, or chiefly. il
hours when the mini is relaxed anC
resting. Every soul should secure some
silent hours. The greater the worl
the greater the necessity for sucl
periods of rest So Christ spen
whole nights upon the mountain
tops in prayer, not wrestling with Goo
like Jacob, but resting in God as DaviC
would have done when he desired wing.
too anxious too nreoccuniod with ou.