Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-06


such calm and hopeful words as those
of Bishop Graves. mThe bishop is on
the ground, and can comprehend and
understand as we cannot possibly do.
and his words will reassure many
questioning and doubling heart. The
history of more than one modern mis-
sion has demonstrated that the appar-
ent blackness Of desperation has been
the dark hour before the dawning of
a better and brighter day. and if the
men in the field, in the face OF this
bitter trial, can see signs of cheer and
hope, surely we at home can continue
steadfast in prayer and faith and gift.
and remain faithful In our effort to
help and cheer those upon whom fan
the burden and heat, not only of the
labor and self-denial, but of the bitter
disappointment and danger.
All, yesi You may be inclined to say
this may be true so far as a general
Providence is concerned, but does God
take note of the individual? Is He
mindful of the matters of the
individual life? And l answer most
assuredly: The dictrine of particular
Providence is as clearly and undoubted-
ly taught as that of a general Proyi-
dence. The hand of God is as plainly
visible In the life of Abraham as it has
been in the history Of his descendants.
God manifested himself in the individ-
ual life of Moses as we'll as in the
people of Israel. And did not the Di-
vine thought and action emerge from
the life of David individually as well
as from the historical epoch in which
he lived? And so in every nation
the never-failing providence of God is
seen in the lives of the individuals,
who shape the destiny of the people
as we'll as in the life of the nation itself.
The humblest as well as the greatest
are alike precious in His sight, and so
His hand guides the individual as we'll
as the nation and his thought descends
to even the joys and cares and perplex-
tiles of all alike, and he makes all
things work for good to those who love
him.
In Palestine there swarm, we are
told, countless sparrows somewhat like
those which infest our premises here.
They are tame, troublesome and imper-
tinent; they build in the windows and
under the beams of the roof; they are
shared in great multitudes because
they are SO plentiful, and sold for food
at the small price of two for farth-
ing. 1t was of such as these the
Master spoke when He siad mot one of
them shall fall to the ground without
your father. Fear ye not therefore We
are of much more value than many
sparrows." Let us then accept the
teaching and argument Of the Master
as laid down in these and many other
of his words and as laid down in the
history of Gods people everywhere.
Believe in a providence particular TO
you, who is of more value than many
sparrows, and you will learn to sing as
trustfully and as gladly as David did
when he said: My tunes are in Thy
hand"
/. This trust in a particular Provi-
dence is indeed great blessing and
comfort because it vanquishes fear in
the time of great danger. Such was
the experience of David when the jeal-
ousy of Saul was sharpened against
him. He had fed into the strong
holds of the Ziphites, who turned in
formers against David.
They say to Saul: Doth not David
hide himself in the strong-holds of the
wood? Now, therefore, o King, come
down according to all the desire of thy
Saul, and our part shall be to deliver
him into the Kings hands" Saul calls
the Ziphltes blessed of the Lord"
counsels stratagem, gathers his arm
les, follows in their lead 1t Is a hard
time for David and he fees. Saul
comes upon him. Saul is on this side
of the mountain, David environed and
threatened, is on that. 1t was during
this danger, it is thought, that the
notes of this 31st Psalm send forth it's
tfustful music: Thou art God! my
times are in thy hand" All fear was
vanquished in the thought of an over
ruling Providence; he felt perfectly
confident that God would accomplish
His righteous purposes, both for him
self as we'll as his enemy. And so
should it be with all who put their
trust in God as David did. If we have
committed our ways unto the Lord; If
our times are in His hand, why should
we fear falling friendship, blighted
hopes, thwarted purposes, peculiar
eaYes special temptations, weakening
health, or even death itself? These
are some of the Sauls that beset our
pathway and press hard upon us all at
times We flee before them and are