The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-25

to look after affairs" After awhile the father
comes back and finds everything at loose ends.
and the Whole business seems TO be going wrong.
He says: Il am going to take possession OF this
business-you know never fully surrendered
1t; and henceforth consider yourselves subordi-
nate Is he not right in doing itH He saves
the business. The Lord seems to let us go on in
life, guided by our own skill. und we make mis-
cradle work of it. God comes to our shop or our
store, and says: Things are going wrong;
come to take charge / am master and know
what is best, and proclaim my authority" We
are merely subordinates.
It is like boy at school with q long sum that
he cannot do. He has been working at it for
hours, making figures here and rubbing out tlg-
ures there, and it is all mixed up, and the teach
err, looking over the boys shoulder, knows that
he cannot get out of it. and cleaning the slate
says: Begin again." Is he not wise and loving
in so doingl
l think the trouble is that there is so large
difference between the divine and the human es-
innate as to what is enough. have heard OF
people striving for that which is enough, but L
never heard of any one who had enough.
What God calls enough for man. man
calls too little. What man calls
enough, God says is too much. The difference
between poor man and a rich man is only the
difference in banks. The rich man puts his
money in the Nassau Bank, or the Park Bank.
or Fulton Bank or some other bank of that
character, while the poor man comes up and
makes his investments in the bank of Himswho
runs all the quarries all the mines all the gold,
all the earth, all heaven. Do you think man
can fail when he is backed up like thatY / want
to bring this truth close up to the heart or those
people in the audience who have to calculate
rigid economy who are perplexed how they will
make the old garment hold out little longer,
with whom the great question is not which IS
the best investment or the most lucrative Sc.
curity, hut how shall make the two ends meets
To such people bring the coincidence OF this
Christian truth
You may have seen a map on which is de-
scribed, with RED ink, the travels OF the children
of Israel through the desert to the promised
land. You see how they took this and that dl-
rectlon, crossed the river and went through the
sea. Do you know God has made map OF your
life with paths leading up to this bitterness and
that success, through this river and across that
sea? but. blessed be God the path always comes
out at the promised land. Mark that! Mark
that!
1 remark again: That all those things that
seem to be but accidents in our life are under
divine supervision. We sometimes seem to be
going helmless and anchorless. You say; III
/ had some other trade; if had not
gone there this summer; If l had lived
in some other house" You have no
| right to say that Every tear you wept, every
| step you have taken. every burden you have
| carried is under divine inspection and that
event which startled your whole household with
horror God met with perfect placidity, because
| lie knew 1t was for your own good. 1t was part
| or great plan projected long ago. In eternity
| Wneu you come TO reckon up your Iu0rCl0Si you
will point to that affection as one of your great
| est blessings. God has strange way with US.
| Joseph found his way to the Prime Minister'S
| chair by being pushed into pit; and to many a
| Christian down is up. The wheat must be
| failed; the quarry must be blasted; the diamond
| must be ground; the Christian must be afflicted;
| and that single event, which you supposed stood
entirely alone was a connecting link between
| two great chains-one chain reaching through
all eternity past. and the other chain reaching
| through all eternity future; small an event
| fastening two eternties together
| Some of you have been disappointed this sum-
mer-yacations are apt to be disappointment
| but whatever have been your perpexites and
worriments. know that MANS heart deviseth
his way, but the Lord directed his steps" Ask
these aged men in this church If it is not so. 1t
has been so in my own life. One summer l
started for the Adirondacks but my plans were
SO changed that / landed in Liverpool. / re-
solved to go as missionary to China, and /
stayed in the United States. / thought would
like to be in the East, and | went to the West;
all the circumstances of life, all my work, diff
ferent from that which l expected. IA mans
heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directed
his steps.o
&c. my dear friends, this day take home this
subject Be content with such things you
have From every grass-blade under your feet
learn the lesson OF divine care, and never let the
smallest bird fit across your path without think
ing of the truth that five sparrows sold for
two farthngs, and not one of them is forgotten
before God" Blessed be His glorious name for
ever. Amen.