The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-14

the Creator of all worlds and the Father
of all spirits. Strange that the very
thought of the greatness of God. of the |
vastness of the universe, of the num-
berless multitude Of kings for whom He
must individually care, if He cares for |
any. causes many people to doubt his |
personal care for them. Is it not proof |
enough that He is my God that He has
created me in His image, is my Father,
has redeemed me at the cOstliest price
He could pay, and assures me of His
constant care? The idea that God is
the refuge OF every SOU, that He loves,
thinks of, cares for each individual
separately, pervades the Bible from be-
ginning to end. lis one of the truths
that is as clearly taught in the
Old Testament as in the New.
The confidence of the patriarchs,
of the psalmist and of all the
prophets in Gods personal sympathy
and care was as strong as Paurs.
Witness Abraham's unwavering faith
in the supreme trial of his life, and in
all its journeyings and changes. How
perfect must have been Isaiah's COLI
seriousness of refuge and protection in
God, when he wrote the Divine assur-
ance: Fear thou not, for am with
thee; be not dismayed, for l am
thy God; will strengthen thee;
yea, l will help thee; yea, / will
uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness. When thou passest
through the rivers they shall not over
flow thee; when they walkest through
the fire, thou shalt not be burned, nei-
Their shall the flame kindle upon thee. ="
And not even the Saviour's declarations
that He who feeds the ravens, clothes the
lilies with beauty, notes every falling
sparrow, must certainly shield and pro-
vide for us, can inspire astronger conf
dence in Gods tender, personal love
and care that the psalmist possessed:
"God is Cur refuge. and strength, a
very present help in trouble; therefore
will not we fear, though the earth be
removed. l will say of the Lord, He
is my refuge and my fortress; my God;
in Him will trust; yea, in the shadow
Of Thy wings will make my refuge
until these calamities be Overpast"
| Sooner or later every soul must make
God his refuge in sorrow or be utterly
crushed by it. There is something pa
: thetic in the way in which the pressing
need of Divine support comes to every
body. No man has lived 10 mature
years whose life has not been broken
again and again by terrible diappoint-
ments, disasters, bereavements. The
only sufficient shield and refuge in such
trials is God. BLESSED is that man
whose trust is ia God and whose hope
the Lord Isl" but dreadful beyond de-
scription is the case of those who come
: suddenly into heart breaking sorrows
and know not how to find refuge,
strength, consolation in God.
If we would know how to make God
, our refuge when trial comes we mus,
, make Him our refuge from sin; fol
the consciousness of sin bars out the
, strong consolation which the loving,
plying God longs to pour into every
, stricken soul. We must have the habit
of trusting and obeying God in health
and prosperity If we would be able to
hide in His pavilion when calamity
comes. Only the man whose life is hid
with Christ in God is prepared to make
Him his refuge and strength, his very
present help in trouble.-N W. Chris.
tiax Advocate.