The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-07

some one always in the room, hearing
every word.
This is the secret of his Presence;
realizing that he is right beside us, in
the very same room, walking the street
with us, hearing every word we utter
and seeing everything we do, know
ing every thought. It is a most blessed
life, this resting right beside him al
ways, guarding thoughts because
he does not like idle words, pleasing
him by speaking much of him to whom
we owe life eternal. He loves, as he
stands there, to her the sweet, sweet
talk of him, when two who love him
meet; and he loves, too, to hear the
message we deliver in his name to the
heart which is very far off from him.
He blesses that word although it may
be very timid, giving the increase as
he stretches out his hand to bless us
for speaking it. He takes that word
and uses it with a strength and power
utterly unknown to us. After
awhile, when our works do fol
low u.s." and we meet that message
again, we will wonder at it, and that
we could speak such forcible words,
so TRANSPORTED will they be, and
changed from our weakness to his
power.
Resting right in his Presence, how
the angry word is kept back; because
we know that he does not like to hear
it, and because he has taught us to
love much aud to be long suffering.
The fretful word is hushed because he
does not like it, and because he has
told us to rejoice evermore," Offering
us a rest in himself when we are bur
dened, and to take the cares from US.
Fretfulnes So is a sure indication Of not
trusting him, and of turning away
from him. 1t is having the secret OF
his Presence which fills the heart al,
ways with a quiet calm and love.
We can give DO deeper wound than
speaking unkindly Of some one else.
He hears it all, and as he lis wounded
in the house of his friends" he whis,
pers, Il love him of whom you are
speaking, aud died for him. No mat
ter what faults he has they are nothing
to you. That is between him and me.
Never speak Of them except to him"
How bitterly harsh and unkind must
all criticism sound upon His pure ears.
Don't you remember how you cannot
endure to have your own child, for
whom you would die, spoken against,
although he may be a naughty child7
Well, our dear Master feels in the same
way, only a thousand times more in
tenseIy, about all for whom he has
died. H does not like to hear it,"
He is listening to all u conversation;
a real third Person in the room, when
we think ourselves as alone with some
friend.
He does not like to hear an idle con-
~versation, which is given to dress fash
isOn, amusements, ourselves, our all
ments and ambitions. He does not
like untruth and deceit. He is our
Example, and when did an untruth
fall from his lips2
Kept in the secret of his Presence
our words must be truthful, impelIed
by love, and joyful.
We are living our whole life right
in the same room with our dear Lord,
and he, watching, commends lovingly
or condemns pityingly. We are living
right in his Presence, and are contin-
ually pleasing Of painiDg him, 1t is a
sweet, living Presence, and the more
we real:z9 it the nearer we will draw
to him, guarding every thought and
word, praying the Holy Spirit to live
and move and act in US till, not we,
but the Holy Spirit through us thinks
and acts and speaks Then WE know
we will please him il thought and
word and deed.
We can attain this secret of his
Presence only by a continual prayer
fer it. Pray without ceasing, knowing
that it is a prayer he will not refuse to
hear; for he love to make himself man
ifest to those who love his appearing"
w drift right away from him when
we forget his Presence. And what a
dear Presence is his! How can we for
get that we are continually with the
One who loves us and whom we love
above all others7 It is a Presence
which breathes of love and peace; for
he brings us all we need or want. "All
things" Dwelling right by our Mas