The Banner-Democrat., 1892-12-17

| -SSPHoASiO AoA. DO uCt Oldme us i
being in our manner cold as an iceber
or nervous as cat amid a pack
Fourth OF July fre-craclSers. If VI
are determined to blame somebod
blame our great grandfathers or gre,
grandmothers, who died before Il
revolutionary war, and who may ha,
had habits depressing and ruinou
There are wrong things about us al
which make me think that one hundre
and fifty years ago there was some te,
rlbie crank in our ancestral line. Rea
ize that, and it will be relief semi-ir
finite. Let lis take ourselves as we ar
this moment, and then ask s'whic
way?' Get all the direction you ca
from careful and constant study of tn
Bible, and look up and look out an
look around. and see if you can find tn
finger of God.
1t is remarkable thing that some
times no one can see that finger bu
yourself. A year before Abraham Lin
coin signed the Proclamation of Eman
cipation, the White House was thronget
with committees and associations, min
isters and laymen, advising the presi
dent to make that proclamation. Blu,
he waited and waited, amid scoff anG
anathenia, because he did not himsel1
see the finger of God. After awhile
and at just the right time he saw the
Divine pointing and signed the procla-
nation. The distinguished confeder.
ates. Mason and Slidell, were taken of
an English vessel by the United States
government. Don't give them up. "
shouted all the northern states. .sLet us
have war with England rather than sur
der Them" was the almost unanimous
cry of the north. But William Fl.
Seward saw the finger of God leading
in just the opposite direction, and the
confederates were given up. and we
avoided war with England, which at
that time would have been the demoli-
ton OF the United States government.
In other words, the finger of God. as it
directs you. may be invisible to eyery-
body. Follow the Divine pointing, as
you see it, although the world may call
you a fool There has never been a
man or a woman who amounted to any
thing that has not sometimes been
called a fool. Nearly all the mistakes
that you and have made have come
from our following the pointing of
some other finger instead of the finger
IF God
But now, suppose all forms of disease
;iose In upon a man. Suppose his bus
ness coliapses Suppose he buys
roods and can not sell them. Suppose.
~ a new invention. others can fur
lish the same goods at less price. Sun
lose cold spring or a late autumn or |
he coming of an epidemic corners a
nan, and his notes come due and he
an not meet them, and his rent must |
e paid, and there is nothing with |
vhich to pay it, and the wages of the
Inployes are due and there is nothing
nth which to meet that obliga ton.
nd the bank will not discount. and |
ne business friends to whom he
oes for accommodation are in the same
redicament, and he bears up and strug-
les on, until, after awhile, crash goes
he whole concern. He stands wonder
lg and saying: II do not see the mean
lg OF all this. have done.the best I
'uld. God knows I would paw nv
ebts It | could. but here am hedged
and stopped" What should the man
, in that case? Go to the Scriptures
I'd read the promise about all things
orking together for good and kindred
lssages? That is well. But he needs
something beside reading the Scrip
res. He needs to look for the finger
God that is pointing toward better
easures, that is pointing toward eter-
u release, that is urging him to high
realms. No human finger ever poin t.
to the east or west or north SO GER
inly as the finger of God is pointing /
at troubled man to higher and bet
r spiritual resources that He has ever !
Joyed. There are men of vast wealth
no are as rich for Heaven as they are {
this world, but they are exccp- )
ms. Ii man grows in grace. it is t
neraily before he gets one hundred q
ousand dollars or after he loses il, !
a man have plenty of railroad securi- !
$ and has applied to his banker for :
,re; If the lots he bought have gone :
fifty per cent. in value; if he had :
rd work to get the door of his fire. =
oof safe shut because of new roll of 4
'urities he put in there just before i;
king up at night; If he be speculat- q
In falling market or rising mar +,
+ and things take for him a right :,
N, he does not grow in grace very n
ch that week. Do you know what O.
de the great revival of 1857, when I,
re people were converted to God. h
'bably, than in any year since Christ N
s bon? Itwas the defalcation and n,
'kruptcv that swept American pros s.
ity so fat that it could fall no flat ~
am speaking of whole-souled men. .,
n men arc so broken by calamity 70
t they are humbled and fly to God ~
relief Men who have no spirit and &c
'er expect anything are not much n
'cted by financial changes. They m
as apt to go into the kingdom under r.
set of circumstances as another. Il,
; only way to get rid of them is to H
them a dollar and you will never III
them again. have tried that plan A.
it works well. But l am speaking If
he effect of misfortu on high sh
tied men. Nothing but trial will 81
a such from earth to Heaven. 1t is X,
' through clouds and darkness and co
rlwind of disaster such man can A.
the finger Of God r.,
most interesting, as well as most III
'ul, study is to watch the no;nf;nor -,