The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-07-20
RELIGIOUS READING.
rnK MYSTERY or oop's Lr.ptxos.

That God does lead His people IL a truth
which Il abundantly established by the Bible
and confirmed by the experience Of thousands
OF Gods people In all ages Of tho world. But
there are mysteries connected with God's
leadinss OF His people, in many instances,
which are too profound for them to unrayel,
and especially 50 during the time that they
are being led. Sometimes the mystery has
reference TO the path in, which tho believer n
led. The paths are So different from wha
one would naturally choose. They are direct
ly contrary to what human sagacity and pru
dence would elect tO walk in. They appear Il
be beset with difficulties that arc entirely
needless 20 encounter. They invite TO dan
gers which might easily be avoided. w
utterly fail TO see, at the time, any good rca
son why we should hc led along such strange
uninviting unpromisiny and apparently do
structive ways. They are 50 radically nj Va
tiahce with our conceptions OF right, Of rea
son, OF prudence, Il safety. OF personal goo'
and oven ofduty, that We are strongly temples
at times to rebel against proceeding We ar
tempted to question whether we are boin
truly led of God Ia such way,
We haze found no difficulty In accept
ing the abstract truth that Go
does lend His people. AZ thcor
we prefer To believe II. There IN comfort
the thought that tho great God over al
does lead US but then when We lind oui
selves moving along IN certain path whid
Is repugnant to our tastes, disappointing
our hopes, bringing most bittrr experience
to our souls, we feel Inclined 10 revise on
estimate Ot the theory that God actual
leads llls people We say that this IL az
to he our feeling, especially while we ~
being led In ways which nro contrary
our Judgment Of what IL best for us. An
yet, after passing through the most dislgrc,
gble parts OF the way amt coming out into th
light again, We find that God did indeed lea
us. With all of our short-sightednrs- we ca
SEQ that the path IN which We wore lod we
tho best for VS.. Our experiences thcrri
were worth moro to US and to others thfoug
i!s Than treasures ~ gold. Then W. thanko
God tor leading W. In just such path as II
lid AMI then too w." ieit condcmncd for on
inurmurings and luck ~ fni,h and want of IL
ial submission to his dictates and dircctiom
and praynd Him 90 forgive Va freely Agar
thetr II mystery also oitontimcs IN IN
means which G1i often uses To lead ui
lie employs tho most unlikely mems,
means which mon despi-c aud which W
. ourselves dcspisr, 20 accomplish His puI
pose. and sometimes the means urn yer
~rai and quito insignificant. H. take
these tu turn VA IN one direction and tho
. IN another, ~, ~r"m"th good 10 Him. W
| wonder at ih" time why we ara moyo
. hhNHt ~ -ucu li'tlr things. some incident
very slight IA il-'lf, has been the means O
turning us ont of the current Of our live,
/ We would rot have believed that we coul
v" Affected thus Yet God had purpose 1
1t all, aud II thu purpose have not been 7,
] N'aI'd % us, tlI' time may come. either /
thiN world pr the ncNt, that We shall kno'
thr my story, th" meaning and the mercy
such leading. Rel Herald.