The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-15

1 FNN~HNS-N~
sermon prior to his summer vacation.
It was listened to with the closest at
tention by a large congregation, in
spite OF the heat of the day. He took
for his text Psalm 8i.i' "He that
dwelleth in the secret place Of the Most
High shall abide under the shadow OF
the Almighty"
This, he said, was sometimes called
"The Travellers Psllm," and was there'
fore appropriate when SO many are 90.
ing and coming
There are many passages OF scripture
the appreciation OF which depends on
the weather. A shadow often means
grief; to tho Psalmist 1t was the psrfec-
ton Of luxury. This text eau only be
appreciated in July OF August
and thon at disadvantage,
for the weather here spoken OF
as very hot, would to the writer Of this
Palm have been delciously cool. To
have Travelled in the eastla not enough, for
travellers are apt very wisely OF course,
TO choose the coolest time OF all the
year. One would need to be, foE time,
at least, al inhabitant OF hot country,
and stay at homo all summer in order
to fully understand what ia the luxury
OF shade.
The sams OF course applies TO water,
which Is the greatest positive luxury,
as shade ia the greatest negative one to
those who are suffering seriously from
the heat WO may, indeed, think Of
somo Of our summer experi-
ences when, after long trudEinG
on the dusty road, under a burn
ing July sun, parched with thlrst
aud overcome with fatigue We reach the
welcome shade ot thick clump Of
trees, and sit down TO rest beside the
clear running brook. But We need to
multiply any little dIcomtorts We have
had ten or twenty fold, before We are in
u position TO understand at all what Is
meant by those numerous passages in
the Bible which speak OF God giving
| IIia people rest under His shadow aud
supplying them with living water in
gufailing abundance,
AN ourpoVMNG OF FAITH.
As, then, we mediate on this psalm
to-day, we must take our July heat only
as something to start from. Or We
must 70 to u country like India, Where
the heat prevails for months at time,
and there think, not Of tho Well.to-do
residents with all the modern Rppli.
ances to mitigate the severity Of the
heat, with the option, perhaps, OF going
must think what il would be to live
| III Nutk
any OF these appliances, the peStilenco
raging around, the tiger aud the cobra
within striking distancei We must think
Of circumstances like these in order to
understand this exquisite meditation OF
one Of the old Hebrew saints, which
lies before US to-day.
At such time OF EoorchinE heat, and
wasting pestilsnce, and multi iplied dan.
gers, this man goes off alone, at the
evening time most probably, to
cit for an hour and commune with
himself and with his God under the
shade OF his fg.troe uatil the
deeper shadow OF night ShRll give all
tho land a rest from the fiery arrows Of
the day. That fig tree shade iS his ora.
tory, and this Psalm before uI Is his
orison. 1t is not 80 much PRAYER,
however, for thore 10 not single peti.
tion in 1t, but the breathing Of devout
and trustful soul, a noble specimen Of
tho souls devotion under special trial.
When one Ia driven to God by trial the
only form devotion can take, is that Of
q cry. But whom trouble comes to one
who walks with God, who has learned
the blessed secret OF lie Of prayer, in.
stead Of cry thore may be just such
an outpouring OF the soul as we find In
this Psalm. An altogether remarkable
outpouring It is, especially In those
hard times when itI author lived.
The Psalmist then declares the reIo-
luton to which the thought OF 1t leads
him. No doubt he has often done It DO.
fore. but he is to do it again and again.
~ will say OF tho Lord, lie ismy refuge
and my fortress, my God in Him will
trust" ThOn hO iortillos his resolution
BY tho expression Of those convictions
which have been growing upon him
evnr since first no know tho Lord. Some
readers OF the Palm are apt to get con.
fused at this point by not sufficiently
noticing tho force Of tho ptonouns, 1t
is only necessary 10 remember that he
c,mmunps with himself as we'll as with
God, lie hNs just beOn lifting up his
hoart TO God, aud now hO Ia speaking to
himself iar tho purpose oil strengthening
himself Ia tho Lord his God. | need not
romind YOU TINT again and agalp
thoughtout the psalms wo lnd this yolt'
comInuning. 20 my soul, thou hast
said unto tho Lord, Thou rtt my Lord"
A man spcaking to his own soul is, as
it il somntimuS pitt, nh exercise iar too
much neglected in these busy times
This portion extends from tho third to
tho thirteenth verse, and ono can In.
npinO how tho thoughts came to his
mind, IL would soon, pcrhars, Rs II
hn had soon q bird.anarO before him,
giving suggestion Ot an idea, and then
ho looks up aud thinks ot tho plnlons
OF tho ovorshadowing lg tree: "llo
shall cover thcs with Ills pInions.
Aud then hO looks out beyond aud
thInks Of tho wings Of tho night, aud
from That hu palsOs to think Of the
ne,lioncc that Wnlkclh In dArknoss aud
ihun, anticipating tho coming day Of
tho SUMS arrows, and with al this II
his mind hc strengthens his faith In
God aud pours out Ills heart 10 aH eK'
ultlng address to his soul.
RAsY TO uNpERsrANp.
mood not polnl out that II va rcad
Palm like this intOllIronlly those diI.
AculliO, which hnvO often boon raised
about II by tho unlnlClIncn. reader At
nnrc disnpnNar. You prNhRhv aCo Mt