Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-28

little child with him. They walked along
by an embankment, and rock at that mo-
ment became loosened, and falling instant
ly killed the child. Was it an accident?
Was it surprise to God? Had he allowed
His servant after life of conservation, to
come to such trial? Not such is my God.
There are no accidents in the Divine mind,
though they may seem so to US. God is
good, and by every single incident of our
life whether it be adverse or otherwise, be-
fore earth and heaven, God will demonstrate
His mercy.
I hear man say, "That idea belittles
God. You bring Him down to such little
things" o! I have more thorough ap-
probation of God in little things than l
have in great things. The mother does not
wait until the child has mashed its foot or
broken its arm before she administers SYM
pathy. The child comes in with the least
bruise and the mother kisses it. God does
not wait for some tremendous crisis in our
i,ne, but comes down to us in ouI most in
significant trials, and throws over us the
arms of His mercy.
ago thought of that passage in the Bible
that speaks of God as weighing mountains
in a balance. AS looked at those great
mountains I thought, Can it be possible
that God can put these great mountains in
scales? 1t was an idea too great for me to
grasp; but when saw blue-bell down by
the mules foot, on my way up Mount
Washington, then | understood the kind
ness and goodness of God. 1t is not so
much of God in great things can under
stand, but of God in little things.
There is a man who says: "That doctrine
cannot be true, because things do 90 so
very wrong" l reply it is no inconsistency
on the part of God, but lack of under
standing on our part. hear that men are
making very fine shawls in some factory.
I go in on the first floor, and see only the
raw materials. and I ask: care these the
shawls have heard about?' NO." says
the manufacturer; ego up to the next
floor" and l 60 up, and there begin to see
the design. But the man says: ''Do not
stop here; 60 up to the top floor Of the fac
tory. and you will see the idea fully carried
out" do SO, and having come to the top,
see the complete pattern of an exquisite
shawl. So in our life, standing down on a
low level of Christian experience, we do
not understand Gods dealings. He tells us
to 90 up higher and higher, until we begin
to understand the divine meaning with re-
spect to us, and we advance until we stand
at the very gate of heaven, and there see
Gods idea all wrought out-a perfect idea
of mercy, of love, of kindness. And we
say: "Just and true are all thy ways" 1t
is all right at the bottom. Remember there
is no Inconsistency on the part of God, but
it sonly our mental and spiritual incapacity.
Some of you have been disappointed this
Summer-vacations are apt to be disappoint-
ments, but whatever have been your per-
plexitfes and worriments, know that 'Man's
heart deviseth his way, but the Lord di-
recteth his steps, Ask these aged men in
this church if it is not so. 1t has been so
in my ow n life. One Summer started for
the Adirondacks, but my plans were so
changed that 1 landed in Liverpool.
studied law and 1 got into the ministry. I
resolved to go as a missionary to China ,and
stayed in the United States. l thought
would like to be in the East, and l went to
the West; all the circumstances of life, all
my work, different from that which / ex-
pected. ga mans heart deviseth his way,
but the Lord directeth his steps,"
So, my dear friends, this day take home
this subject Be content with such things
as you have. From every grass blade un-
der your feet learn the lesson of divine
care, and never let the smallest bird fit
across your path without thinking of the
ruth, that 'tfve sparrows are sold for two
farthings, and not one of them is forgotten
before God" Blessed be His glorious name
forever. Amen.