The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-15

Pastor Of First Baptist Church. Clinton.
Missouri.
time OF the food the earth was corrupt
before God. and the earth was filled with
violence, and God said: Behold. I. even I.
do bring flood Of waters upon the earth.
It back: In the days Of Haggai. the people
of Israel neglected worship. and the Lord
eaid: called for a drought upon the land
corn: and upon the wine, and upon that
which the ground bringeth forth, and upon
The God Of the Bible Is the only God
and he controls the rain. Those who re-
1use God as he is revealed in his word
nave no Cod. He is personal. omnipresent
he runs the. world by dead laws. without
any personal supervision. Our Savior said
tn Una n, not sparrow falls to the ground with
ton and another toward a church: he is not
one way in politics and another In religion.
the altar and another in the commercial
world; man cannot walk with him in
business success and rejected him when he
the God Of Elijah. and of Paul Nothing
but unreserved and complete submission will
warrant our praying to him even for prom
I'm the text It is clear that Goa-shuts up
the heavens. and he promises his people
that II they Will humble themselves and
pray, and turn from their wicked ways he
viii relieve them, but he certainly means
that these conditions must be met Many
men now. seeing that God has the matter
IN his hands. instead Of humbling them
selves and turning from their wicked ways.
are more inclined to curse God. have no
doubt that the present distressing drought
Is sent Of God to call men to remember
him. If It, accomp!ishes this every honest
heart ought to thank him for 1t. God loves
and to ,e their souls He
their making monty. In the last years of
great prosperity and blessings men have not
selves more and more to wickedness and
Indulgence. Our nation is unnecessarily lax
in honesty. purity. in regard for law. in
Sabbath observance. in honoring God. It is
the nations that forget God This is the
this distress We must learn Of him, and
come to him just as he IS. The idea of men
praying for rain. whose only motive Is to
people. who are complaining. could not ask
for rain for Jesus's sake It would be for
the sake Of Mammon
rain. and for everything else we need, but
we must not put the trivial before the I'm
portant. firmly believe there is a much
filed religion and turning from sin: day
II this should come; I am confident God
prayer. but It is presumption for men to
trample Gods holy law under foot. desIH3e
his gospel; resist his spirit and reject his
from drought or pestilence when they call
upon him without genuine repentance. BE
not deceived; God is not Knocked Neither
can we deceive him with pretended peni-
fence.
sT hear OF suggestions to petition the
Governor to set day to fast and pray for
rain. This ] believe is right, II done In
spirit Of penitence and complete submission,
hut there leaps to my lips a more needed
petition: p Lord. turn our Governors and
f.sH$ nd CT AZ q a r.
items and men and boys from sin to right
eousness. Drive out of our land lying and
fraud and gambling and drunkenness and
bribery and unbelief. and lay men low at
the feet Of Jesus
governors and statesmen. to get the ear
Of the Lord, must come in the same spirit
as must the preacher, the Sunday school
teacher and the penitent sinner. Then he
will hear.
.sThe laws Of our State are good. but our
land 10 filled with sins permitted that must
he q stencil in the nostrils OF Jehovah.
There are ncentioueness, gambling, debauch-