Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-06-01
The Solitude of the Soul.
Presbyterian Review.

Presbyterian Review.
There is a region in the conscious
ness of every human being which
none but God can inhabit-a place
which, lacking its rightful occupant,
is chamber OF desolation. Aztec
ton or friendship cannot fill this
void. The closest and most intimate
relationship of life lie wholly outside
of it. So likewise the pleasures of
intellectual attainment and aesthetic
pursuit. Alone with God Every
soul must face that solemn Presence.
Every human being recognizes, con-
sciously or unconsciously, the fact of
God. Not merely those who cry
with the Psalmist, "As the hart
panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, o God"
but even in his lowest degradation
and ignorance man in his helpless
ness reaches out instinctively after a
god of some sort. 1t may be but a
fetch or a charm. 1t is something
beyond, outside of himself, unknown,
feared, with power and influence of
varying degrees; and it stands to
him for God. We regard with pity
the childish worshipper of inanimate
things, the superstitious votaries of
false gods, and the victims of the
innumerable forms of idolatry and
error that fill the earth. But re-
pulsive and debasing as are these
forms of worship, they prove that re.
ligion is essential to the human
being. They are the outcome of the
noblest instinct of the soul. Crop.
ing in darkness, feeling after God II
haply they may find him, these
deluded fellow pilgrims have lost
! their way and have been made cap
! tive by the Devil at his will.
) But what shall be said of the mar
: who wilfully stiles the religious as
pirations of his nature, who cut,
: himself off from his kinship with thu
divine nature, who banishes Goo
from his soul? "rhe fool hath sale
in his heart, There is no God" Thu
fool who does this and fancies him
self convinced of the truth of hi
statement, has shut himself into {
solitude indeed, cold, desolate, ant
dreadful. What misgivings, wha
doubts, what fears, haunt that empt.
chamber! Better were the faith tina
l believes and trembles, for such sou
) may one day come to himself ant
{ arise and 60 to the Father. Then j
4 the solitary place made glad. TIL
: abiding presence of a reconciled CO.
. meets every need and satisfies ever.
craving of the heart. There is n
longer loneliness, but joyous sens
: of companionship with the Frien
a that is closer than a brother. salon
! with God" The thought is not no,
q a signal for fear and trembling.
" brings to the soul peace ths
u passeth understanding. What
II Guest is this, who knows the inmo;
:. desire and purpose of the heart, VIII
l. is well acquainted with all our way
. who knows the frailty of our fran
il and remembereth that we are dus
who forgiveth iniquity, transgre
IL sion, and sin, whose Spirit fortifit
70 against the power of temptation, an
:, who is able to supply every need
II the creature he has created, boi
body and soul His nature is trut
70 70 itself therefore poor shifting huma
y nature, beset with intirmity and sill
- can trust him completely. And WI
70 that hath God indwelling in his sol
= shall be afraid of death ? For he
~ from everlasting to everlasting, ar
10 because he lives we shall live all
and be for ever with the Lord.