The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-19
RELIGIOUS READING,
THE MYSTERY OF GODS LEADIIGs.


That God does lead His people is a truth
which is abundantly established by the Bible
and confirmed by the experience OF thousands
Of Gods people in all ages Of the world. But
there are mysteries connected. with God
lcadings OF His people, in many instances,
which IRE too profound for them to unraTel,
and especially so during the time that they
are being led. Sometimes the mystery has
reference to the path in, which the believers
led. Tho paths are so different from what
one would naturally choose. They are direct
ly contrary to what human sagacity and pru-
dcnce would elect to walk in. They appear to
be beset with difficulties that arc entirely
needless to encounter. They invite to dan
gers which might easily be avoided. Wo
utterly fail to see, ut the time, any good rea~
son why we should be led along such strange,
uninyiting unpromising and apparently de-
structive ways. They are so radically at va
rianco with our conceptions Of right, OF rea-
son, of prudence, OF safety, OF personal good
and even ofduty, that we are strongly tempted
ut times to rebel against proceeding. we are
tempted to question whether we are being
truly led of God in such ways.
We have found no difficulty in accept
ing the abstract truth that God
docs lead His people. AS a theory
we prefer to believe it. There is comfort in
the thought that the great God over all
selves moving along in a certain path which
is repugnant to our tastes, disappointing to
our hopes, bringing most bitter experiences
to our souls, We feel inclined to revise our
estimate of the theory that God actually
leads His people. We say that this is apt
to be our feeling, especially while we are
being led in ways which are contrary to
our Judgment Of what is best for us. And
vet, after passing through the most disagree
able parts Of the WAY and coming out into the
light again, We find that God Gid indeed lead
us. With all Of our short-sightedness we can
see that the path in which we were led was
tho best for US. Our experiences therein
were worth more to us and to others through
us than treasures OF gold. Then we thanked
God tor leading US in just such a path as He
did; and then too We felt condemned for our
murmurings and lack Of faith and want OF fl
ial submission to his dictates and directions,
and praynd Him to forgive us freely Again,
there is a mystery also oftentimes in the
means which God often uses to lead Es.
He employs the most unlikely means,-
means which men despise and which we
ourselves despise, to accomplish His pur-
pose. And sometimes tho means are very
small and quite Insignificant. He takes
these to turn us IN one direction and then
in another, as seemeth good to Him. We
wonder at the time why we are moved
about by such little things Some incident,
very slight In itself, has been the means OF
turning us out of the current Of our lives.
We would not have believed that We could
be affected thus; yot God had purpose in
it all, and if tho purpose have not been re-
vealod to us, the time may come, either in
this world or the next, that we shall know
the mystery, the meaning and the mercy OF
such leading..-Rel Herald.