The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-22
The HIDDEN GOD
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST pAaE)

possible. we say And yet a woman
might even do this incredible thing.
but the Lord never. And to prove to US
how impossible IL would be, He tells
us that He has craven US on the palms
Of His hands," place, where even
should he try, He could not help con
tinua!ly seeing US.
Aud yet in spite Of the many en-
pha.ic assertions, such as this with
which the Bible is filled, even Chris
tians sometimes allow themselves TO
think that God has forgotten or neg.
leeted them.
knew Christian once who had been
plunged into the depths Of darkness
and despair by the temptation to believe
that God had forssken and forgotten
him. A trouble had come upon him in
q distant land, through no agency CT
his own, in . mstter which he had espe-
cislly committed to the care of God,
and he did not see how it happened un.
less the Lord had forseken him. He
poured out his anguish and his doubts
to . friend, and asked in despair IL there
was any help. This friend WAS one who
knew God, and who was therefore as
sure Of His presence and loving care in
the times when He seemed to be hidden
from sight as In the times when He
III
said to his despairing friend, DO you
believe the Bible, my BROTHER" BE
lieve the Bible" replied the sufferer,
why. of course do, but what has thst
to do with it?" "Everything," replied
his friend, "for the Bible says the Lord
never leaves US nor forsakes US, and
that He Is always present everywhere
Now, do you believe He WAS present in
Australia when this even, took placer"
"He must have been, | suppose" said
the poor sufferer rather reluctantly, as
though unwilling to admit the FACT
"You say" continued the friend, that
you committed this matter to Him, and
you are obliged TO admit that He was
present In Australia az the time. Now,
| ask you, did the Lord attend to the
matter you bad committed 10 Him, or
did he neglect ii?" To this there was
no reply. After solemn pause the
friend spoke again, You say God was
present in Australia. and you say you
had committed this matter to him Now
l ask you again, as in His presence, did
He attend to it or did he neglect it?"
on" answered the sufferer, with .
sudden illumination Of faith, al see il
all. God WAS present there, and He did
attend to is, of course, and 1t must be
right, though l cannot see how. The
will OF God be done, l can trust Him
even about this, and can believe that in
spite OF all seemings to the contrary, He
will make it all work together for good
by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the
wrath OF the king: for he endurcd' as seeing him
who is invincible." (Heb Ii, ~.
This is the vital point, to see Him
who is invisible" Everything hinges
on this; and the difference between
triumphant Christian and Respondent
one generally arises from the facs that
the former has his eyes opened to dis
Germ In all things the hidden God, while
the latter Is full of doubts as to His
presence. But since He has Himself
said, II will never leave thee nor Tor
sake thee" surely every one Of US Is
bound to believe Him. and to assert
boldly" in spite OF every seeming to
the contrary, our unwavering confidence
in the fact OF His abiding presence and
His unfailing care.
"But now thus saith the Lord that created
thee, Jacob and He that formed thee 0 Israel;
fear not, for have redeemed thee l have called
thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou
passeet through the waters, will be with thee;
thee; when thou walkest through the fire. thou
shalt not be burned; neither ehAll the flame kin
die upon thee. Fer am the Lord thy God, tt e
Holy enc of Israel, thy Saviour; gave Egypt for
thy ransom. Ethiopia and Seba for thee" Elsa.
Xiii. l.3).
We may be perfectly sure OF this. that
the time OF our need is the time Of His
closest ard tenderest wa,chtulness.
What would We think of mother
who should run away from her children
the moment they got into trouble? And
yet this hateful thing, which we would
resent In any human mother, some of
Gods own children do not hesitate to
sscribe to him!
And l will bring the blind by way that they
knew not: | will lead them in paths that they
have not known will make darkness light be-
fore them, and crooked things straight. These
things Will do unto them. and not foreake them"
lisa. xiii. l6).
Even in cur blindness and our igno.
rance Of His presence He is watching
over US.
A story | heard once from q friend,
who was cognizant Of all the circum-
stances, concerning the Wa,chful and
overruling care OF hidden caretaker,
will illustrate what / mean. A very
feeble old lady was obliged 20 take q
long and difficult journey alone. She
was burdened with large amount Of
troublesome luggage, and WAS Supplied
with but little money to make travelling
easy. She was too reserved to permit
any one TO speak to her about the needs
and dangers OF the journey, which, how
ever, her friends could not but fo.esee,
and too proud to make Il poss bic for any
ono to offer help. Her friends were st
utter loss 10 know what to do, when a
noble young man, almost 4 stranger to
her, who had heard the circumstances.
solved the difficulty by announcing that
matters Of business required him 20 take
that Identical journey at that identical
a IN m nI1
OF the plan he had formed TO wait on and
care for her, as he knew IL no did, her
pride wonld take fright. He simply in
aecrat arrAnNed all bis nlAna IN a. In