The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06
The Providence of God.

1t has been said that an nOneSG atnelSC
does not exist. We might go farther and
say that it is impossible for one to be ser1-
GUS student of human life and not recognize
the sustaining, guiding governing hand OF
the God of providence, as well as the hand OF
the Creator. We see the providence OF God
in its direct application to men and their
affairs However confused the currents OF
human affairs may seem in their present
state, however tangled the web Of life may
appear from our standpoint, yet IN the re-
view of a long period of human history,
equally confused and opposing currents ap--
pear blended and rected in one channel and
for one purpose and the providence OF God
is distinctly seen shaping and guiding the
varied streams thr ugh all their course.
So, too, of individual life it IS true that
"Mans goings are Of the Lord. He does
not start in life alone; it is not OF his own
design that he starts at all. He Is placed In
this world and let through it by an unseen
hand. His early training, his education, his
whole course of life from the cradle 10 the
grave is passed under the providential care
and guidance Of his Creator. This becomes
more evident when We see how few men car
ry out that plan of life which had been
marked out for them by their parents or
by themselves
How different. too, are the results OF effort
from that which was contemplated at the
oatset of Il career! A hL;nbie. unknown.
frirndiess orphan is n sed to the highest
puint of distinction and prosperity: AnotneF
man, with every advantage which wealtn
and position ami friends could afford, sinks
into obscurity and neglect. Much is doubt
less due to individual character, but yet how
GREAT the diversity in The success OF persons
who are similar in their characters, attain
ments, and advantages! SINE men are porn
great, some achieve greatness, and s. me nave
Greatness thrust upon them. The race is not
ALWAYS to the swift nor TIE battle TO the
stro,r, nor riches to men of understanding.
So universally is it acknowledged to be true,
even by those who are irreligious and even
nrofane that sit is not in man that walk
eth to direct his steps," that it has become
proverb that man is the creature OF crcum'
stances"
We need not 20 beyond personal expert
ence to find abundant illustration or TINS
providential care of God. There are 1e"
who have not been led in n way that they
knew not; few who, if piously inclined, can
not, In looking back over their past lives, see
that the finger of God plainly pointed out the
path in which they were to walk; who have
not fet the strong grasp cf Gods hand hold
ing them back from evil, his words OF love
drawing them to himself and his light shin
ing into their hearts, and OH that road which
he rad made straight and pla for thelr @
weak and stumbling feet, or thorny or difh-
cult to test their self-confidence, and bring
them to humble and patient reliance upon
the on y true rength.
How often we those plans that seemed
the best, been frustrated; prospects Whch
were bright with the rainbow Of hope been
darkened by clouds Of misfortune, purposes
formed for life been blown away Like ch II
before the tempest, ways CT sorrow opened
before us wherein our feet were forced t.
tread, and avenues closed forever, in which
we had deemed that we might walk joyful
withr ut interruption! So, to, the blessings
which have frightened our lives have come
from the INST unexpected quarter ana
often through our greatest and screst trials.
Our success has been the most complete when
we d. SPARED of accomplishing anything, and
an enterprise which we were almost ready to
abandon has been productive f sudden profit
and advantage Every one who reviews
his life with religious refecti N is
surprised to see how little influence his own
plans have exerted upon that life, and how
evident it is that "there's divinity that
shapes our ends" In spite of our con-
scious freedom our frmest decisions have
been overruled, we have done thu very
things that we pledged ourselves rot to do,
and have neglected or forgotten those
things which were once foremost in our
thoughts God has directed all our efforts,
marked out our course, and introduced us
to new and unthought-of scenes. lntidels
call this directing power chance, thu ir-
religious call it 'fate' or ''accident, but the
Christian humbly agr'es with the wise King
of Israel. "a man. heart deviseth his way,
but the Lord directeth his steps,"
Faith spans the space between the real
world of sense and the more real world OF
hidden life; so that man, standing on the
solid ground. may close his eyes to sense,
and fall at the feet of the Unseen, and wor-
ship in the felt presence of the invisible
Rel. j. c.. Gillian.
Wine or Water.
A lady once asked mnste to take wine
1 tba rYr0uD6