The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
I think the trouble is that there Is 80 large

think the trouble is that there Is 80 large
q difference between the divine and the hu-
man estimate as to what Is enough. ! have
heard of people striving for that which Is
enough, but never heard Of any one who
had enough. What God calls enough for
man man call too little. What man calls
enough God says is too much. The differ
only the difference In banks. The rich man
puts his money In the Washington bank, or
the Central bank, or the Metropolitan bank,
or some other bank of that character, while
the poor man comes up and makes his In
vestments in the bank Of Him who runs oil
the quarrtes, all the mines, all the gold. all
the earth, all heaven. Do you think man
can fail when he is backed uD like that2
You may have seen map on which Is
described, with red ink, the travels OF the
children Of Israel through the desert to the
promised land. You see how they took this
and that direction, crossed that river and
went through the sea. Do you know God
has made map Of your life with paths lead.
ing up to this river and across that sea2
But, blessed be God, the path always comes
out at the promised land. Mark that! Mark
that!
Iremark again that all those things that
seem to be but accidents In our life are under
the divine supervision. I've sometimes seem
say, "If had some other trade; II I had not
gone there this summer; If had lived in
some other house." You have no right to
say that, Every tear you wept, every step
you have taken, every burden you have
carried Is under divine Inspiration, and that
event which startled your whole household
with horror God met with perfect placidity.
because He knew 1t was for your good. 1t
was part Of a great plan projected long ago.
81 Sna1.1
your mercies, you will point to that afdiction
as one of your greatest blessings.
God has strange way with US. Joseph
found his way to the prime minister's chair
by being pushed into pit; and to many
Christian down is up. The wheat must be
Aailed the quarry must be blasted the eia-
mond must be ground: the Christian must
be afflicted; and that single event, which
you supposed stood entirely alone, was
connecting link between two great chains,
one chain reaching through all eternity past
and the other chain reaching through all
eternity future-so small an event fastening
two eternities together.
A missionary coming from India to the
United States stopped at St. Helena while
the vessel was taking water. BE had his
little child with him. They walked along by
an embankment, and rock at that moment
became loosened and, falling instantly,
killed the child. Was 1t an accident? Was
1t surprise to God? Had He allowed His
servant, after life Of conservation, to come
to such trial2 Not such Is my God. There
are no accidents in the divine mind,
though they may seem 80 to US. God Is
life. whether 1t be adverse or otherwise, be-
fore earth and heaven. God will demonstrate
His mercy.
hear man say: "rhat idea belittles
God. You bring Him down to such little
things" Oh, have O more thorough ap-
probation Of God In little things than
I have in great things The mother
does not wait until the child has crushed
its foo: or broken Its arm before che admin
listers sympathy. The child comes In with
the least bruise. and the mother kisses It.
God does not wait for some tremendous
crisis In our life, but comes down 10 US In
our most Insignificant trials and throws over
US the arms of His mercy.
Going up the White Mountains some years
ago I. thought of that pass age in the Bible
that speaks OF God as weighing mountains
in balance. As I looked at those great
mountains I thought, Can 1t be possible thaS
God can put these great mountains IN scales!
It was an idee too great for me to grasp; but
when saw bluebell down by the mules
foot, on my way up Mount Washington, tnen
I understood the Kindness and goodness OF
God. It Is not so much of God In great
things ! can understand, but OF God IN Little
thingsl
There Is man who says, 'Thst doctrine
cannot be true, because things do go 80 very
wrong" I reply 1t is no Inconsistency on
the part of God, but lnck OF understanding
on our part. I hear that men are making
very fine shawls in some factory. 90 IN
on the first floor and see only the raw ma,
terials, and ask. care these the shawls l
have heard about!" NO." says the manu-;
facturer. "Go up to the next floor" and l
80 up, and there begin to see the design.
But the man says: "Do not stop here. Go
up to the top floor Of the factory and you
will see the idea fully carried out DO so,
and having come to the top, see the COM
plete pattern Of m exquisite shawl. SO IN
our life, standing down on low level OF
Christian experience we do not understand
Gods dealings. He tells US to go up higher
and higher until we begin to understand
the divine meaning with respect to US, and
we advance until we stand at the very gate
OF heaven, and there see Gods i1ea OIL
wrought out-a perfect idea OF mercy, OF
true are all my WAYS" 1t is all right at the
top. Remember there is no Inconsistency
on the part Of God, but 1t Is only our mental
and spiritual incapacity.
Some of you may be disappointed this sum-
mer-vacations are apt TO be disappoint:.
ments-but whatever your perplexities and
wo-riu ents, know that Mans heart de-
yiseth his way. but the Lord directeth his
steps" Ask these aged men In this church
If 1t is not so. 1t has been so in my own lie.
One summer started for the Adirondacks,
but my plans were SO changed that landed
in Liverpool. studied law and got into
the ministry. Iresolved to go as mission
ary to China. and staid in the United states
thought would like to be In the east, and
went to the west. All the circumstances
OF life, all my work, different from that
which expected. "a mans heart deviseth
his way, but the Lord directeth his steps"
So, my dear friends, this day take homo
this subject. Be content with such things as
you have From every grass blade under
your feet learn the lesson Of divine care, and
never let the smallest bird fit across your
path without thinking of the truth that two
sparrows are sold for a farthing and one OF
them shall not fall on the ground without
your Father. Blessed be His glorious name
| forever. Amen. -.