The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-03-06
THE DIVINE supERlNTENpENcE.
God Cnres for All That Influences
Human Character.


The Divine superintendent of the
workings Of the universe and OF the af-
fairs of men Is an important article OF
Christian belief. Nobody who believes
In prayer doubts IL. God, we say, is ian
the events OF history, in the work of
His church, and Is not unmindfui OF
the doings of the wicked. But IL In one
thing 10 have n general article of belief,
II Is another 10 realize the truth OF IL.
Practically. most men limit the Di-
vine superintendent TO certain fields
OF operation. They see Gods power
IN the universe and the evidence OF
His laws in nature; they believe He
gives close attention to things embraced
in the religious sphere, and they love
10 think that the conduct of every i'm
dividual is a matter OF concern TO Him.
But there are many things OF value
and interest to them with which they
in no wise associate Him. They arc
little things. too little for the Almighty
to care about. For example, there are
multitude OF personal acts assumed to
be morally colorless. The question of
right or wrong does not enter into
them. The infinite Father. absorbed
with greater concerns, makes no note
of them.
Is this really so? Not IL the words
of Christ mean anything. The hairs OF
your head are all numbered. There ls
nothing which concerns you which cs-
capes the Divine attention. He who
numbers the hairs OF the head knoweth
also the thoughts OF the heart. II moth
ing, even so insignificant thing ms
the hair OF the head or thought OF
the heart is unknown 10 Him, OF course
nothing is unobserved by Him. The
Divine superintendent Is not confined
TO great things, such MS flying worlds.
the fate of nations. the work OF the
church, the spread OF intelligence. tho
deepening of conscience, the improve
ment of a peoples morals. IL is all
comprehensive. III not even sparrow
falls without Divine observation. or n
sheep is lost without awakening Divine
concern, surely human thoughts and
actions. human joys and sufferings,
little though they may be, claim Di-
vine consideration: for man is OF
much more value than many sparrows
or many sheep.
The thought that One whose eye
never slumbers, whose hand never rests.
is in vigilant superintendent over
every individual life, may be pleasant or
distressful, according TO our relations
10 Him. While His mcrcies come To
oil. His promises are 20 them who love
and obey Him. II is TO those who have
been conformed to His likeness that
the reality Of His constant superintend-
ence is most precious. The Lord is
mindful OF His own. His own are
precious TO Him. He knows their down
sitting and their uprising. understands
their thoughts afar Off, and is acquaint-
ed with all their ways No act or
thought or experience is too little TO
escape Him.
1t follows that life is larger and more
comprehensive and more important
than many have supposed. My Father
cares about everything that | care
about The thoughts and acts which
seem too little 10 concern Him are not
unimportant TO me, and therefore not
unimportant 10 Him. They go 10 make
or mar character. and that Is OF supreme
concern. When those great lenses
which give modern telescopes such
wondrous power are nearly completed
all polishing tools are laid aside. and
they nre brought TO their delicate per-
lection by touches OF the thumb dipped
IN the finest of rouge. The Ines CT
n.nty glass are changed by SO light n
thing as the finger-tip. Character ~
perfected by little touches. And IL il
Il beautiful thing that tho Infinite Be
ing who made the worlds and holds
them in His mighty hand superinteuds
with wondrous patience and surpass-
ing gentleness every process In shaping
and perfecting the character.
Docs this truth make life seem greater
and more difficult and more respon-
sible? If SO IL also enlarges the COM
pass OF prayer and makes the Divine
more real and helpful
y. Y. Independent.