The Washington times., 1895-01-07
GODS pRoMIssoRY NOTES.
Divine Teracity Pledged for Making the
C ooked Ways Straight

Divine Teracity Pledged for Making the
c ooked Ways Straight
Il Will 20 before thee ard make the crooked
places straight was DR.. I. C. Eas:ons text
for his New Years sermon at the Eastern
Presbyterian Church yesterday morning.
This is one OF Gods pronissory notes.
he said, ''signed and countersigned by varied
Endorsements and freely rendered rs New
Years message to all whose s,ock and capital
in life may be summed up in that wondFous
inventory of invisible wealth in an all
wise and sovereign or oyerruling Provi-
dence.
God has some definite task for each one
of those who would serve Him. and it is the
glory Of life to have accomplished it. Can
there se any thought SO full OF inspiration
to 4 young person as to know that We live in
the divine thought and are called to some
part in the everlasting plan OF Gods intelii-
GeDee2 This plan is complete and. cherished
in Gods heart, all rs love and power and
faithfulness forbid that we shall ever sink be-
low His care or drop cut of His eonsola.ory.
strengthening covenant OF grace. 1t is
tonic of no ordinary stimulation to weary
soul to know that the causes Of its WEAKNESS
are as much under divine watchfu!ness as
the soul itself that bears the burden God
guides me- and His veracitv is pledged TO go
God does moi compel men to love Him
and follow HIS leadership. TIE divine
method is one OF sweet persuasiveness that
enlsts affections, energ eS and powers in the
realization of His great gift of grace. Re-
hgion is not tyranny, bot henediction. 1t
first depietes and then eRriches; makes US
poor in self-sufficieney. aud then pours in a
wealth OF purity and strength and love.
'Bnt whether we travel with God or with
out Him, We shall find crooked places,
crooked people and crooked things that He
alone can straighten. We ourselves have 4
crook in our lot. and there is nothing in all
human experience of which we can say. this
is absolutely straight God knows all the
bends and what if. for reasons too deep for
Us. He should often es;range our lot and seek
by the very perplexities aud knotty places in
lie to work out In US a purer simplicity OF
faith and tendeier gentieness OF spirit.
Il would call upon all good men to bear
witness that in exact ratio as they have
trusted God, and made Him their shield and
defense, if He has not taken their enemies
out of their paths. one by one, caused great
Obstacles to vanish, sieneed tumultuous agi-
tatons to harmony with Gods quietude, and
if in their hearts they have not each said
Gods right arm hath gotten me the victory.
Is it not so. o veteran of Christ. is it not so?
Has not your leader Strengthened your paths
again and again. and given you songs in the
night?
There is wonderful pathos in story
told of Lincoln. It was evening. Mr.. Lin
coin sat silent on The deck of dispatch boat
No. as it was"&weading its way along the
river lie was apparently absorbed in the
war cloud. Some one asked Toinettc to sing.
She declined on account of the silent pres
ence. Mr.. Lincoln, though apparently un-
observed, seconded The request for song.
So Toinette, with thought OF the great care
worn, oyerburdened heart before her. looked
out upon the deepening gloom and sang:
''Oh, why should you fear when the tempest
comes down,
And storms lower DER you with pitiess frown2
The clouds that above you so thre seemingly
lower,
But echo the mandate of infinite power.
Hush, terrified soul, as in darkness you plod,
Be still, and remember that am your God.
Why deem that the burden of sorrow and care
Is moro than your faltering spirit can bear2
The grave yawns before in impervious gloom,
Yet the Infinite dwells in the shade OF the tomb
Be still, and remember, oh murmurng clod,
Thy future is only the present with God"
"The gloom faded out -f the face of the
President, as he came forward and said I
thank you. madam, for uttering in song the
thoughts that ought to live in my heart at
this tIme,' and he pressed her hand in graft
tude.
1.-The great revelation came to Lincoln's
heart again: i will so before thee and ma Ike
thy paths straight.