The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01

the Almighty IS In hi. own greatest "ean-
noes. ana has All it's virtue and effective
less in the infinite tenderness anu nv ~
of the Heavenly Father; In the hi"uIs
love OF God: whose everlasting arms are
forever beneath and above the hlshest
OF His creatures man. All ms ms
ness centres with His love. IL was w"
old Jacob could not call MS soui ms w.
that his earnest entreaties brought MN
deliverance from the devour1ng anger OK
Esau. II was in the midst of Baa. wor-
SINNERS and i'm the face OF all human
and earthly agencies that fire was sent
to consume water and stone on hnJdh
petition: and later on the WORDS thde
touched irresistibly the saviour hedi'
were: Truth. Lord. let the dogs eat OF inc
crurnbs that fall from the masters ia
BILE. The answer was: q, woman. great Is
thy faith: BE IL unto thee even as thou
wilt Before all other offerings the WIZ
ow's wife took the King or Heaven py
violence. A marvellous paradox, that %
the apostle, when l am weak theh am
l strong 1t is the power OF the
Most High. that is perfected in our
weakness. II is orr tears, and not or
mower that prevail with God. And so IL
should be when the helpless faces the III
finite. II Is wonderful how easily IT Is for
a sweet 10 turn into sour, truth INTO
a falsehood a virtue into vice, grace
into an uglness, and a medicine INTO
&c son. And IL is not easy 10 marx ths
stages Of transition. little lerihen,d-
ton does the business In chehis.is
Things sweet to taste prove IN dlses1ion
sour" A change of a word or a HilsdP
pication Of a precept makes perFersi.l''
And virtue itself turns vice, Dcihs Hii7
applied" And piety and DEVOTION tauit'u
with vanity and selfishnesS. at once ps
come OF a contrary kind. The hypocrite
locks fer all the world Ike martyr anu
a devotee. THE cowl does not make
monk"
The prayer of the Psalmist Is: Keep
back thy servant from prcsumptuous
sins. II is a common thing for the chili
to abuse the tenderuess OF the parent
IL is an easy thing for religious man 10
attribute his blessings not 10 the INFINITE
mercy Of God, but 10 the power OF MS
own prayer The wisest prayer that we
can offer should be the most earnest.
Thy will. not mine, be done! what
world it would be II man. in his blind
ness and folly, had power with God' with
as many divers minds as divers praycis'
And all TO have power with the supreme
Ruler How many opposing plans ana IN
terestsl
with God In this world We are httle gods
after divine image; and all the oe-
sign Of our being is TO unfold, to expand
TO increase our faculties. our ACTIVITIES
our suscepubilities. our aspirations, 70
bring into life the wonderful germs that
make us up. our earliest, our common
est wants are supplied by effort and
guided by judgment. Everything i'm Ire
dcvelopes and exercises Us. And in ordi-
nary living. every man IS rewarded ac-
cording to his works-as he oXercises
himself according TO law-controllod anu
nerved by love and loyalty to the SUI
premc Law-Giver. Idleness means vice.
end turns blessings Into curses. Mere
words are not prayers. We honor God in
the fullest use Of all cur powers, In work
ing, opportunity. talent. that He puts IN
icins girded and our lights burning by
making the best use Of every power, feel
ing. opportunity. talent. hiatt He puts in
our way. We mock Him by :dleness, by
cowardice. by sloth, by neglect.
our power with God is In the exercise OF
all orr beiag to do His will And no et-
fcrt Of faith and love and lowiness can
fail. All such have power with God. san
tho Panzas words are wise:
Pray 10 God devoutly
And hammer away stoutly.