Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-25
"SECRETOF HIS PRESENCE
Sunday Discourse by Rev. DR.. J. Wilbur
Chapman.
Instructive Message Suggested by One OF the
Most Beautiful Expressions In the Bible.

NEW YORK CITY.--Ihe distinguished
evangelist, the Rev. DR.. j. Wilbur Chap.
man has never delivered more eloquent
and convincing message than is contained
in the following sermon, entitled, The
Secret of His Presence" 1t was preached
from the text: He that dwelleth in the
secret place OF the Most High shall! abide
under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm xai.: |.
10 me this is one of the most beautiful
expressions in all the Bible; beautiful be
cause it is poetic, but more than that toI
the reason that it holds up before us one
of the greatest privileges that can come
to the children of God.
There is difference of opinion as to
who the author of the Psalms. may be.
We get into the way of thinking that
David wrote everything in the ,Psaiterr,
but Moses is the author here. The Tai.
the nine preceding as well. The rule Is
that all the Psalms without name IN
the title are to be ascribed to the poet
whose name is given in the nearest preced:
ing title. but this rule will not always hold
good This is the Psalm quoted by the
devil when he was tempting Christ upon
the mountain, and it has ever been throb..
bling with comfort for every troubled
soul. Whoever wrote it. it is beautiful,
ana all VIII dSltS tndb VIC iSsSoh
is one touching our communion with God
and our fellowship with Jesus Christ.
1t is very true that all Christians do
net occupy the same position in this
world. All are saved, and it is by the
same "precous blood of Christ" But
there is so much more to the Christian
life than simply being saved. that Is
only the beginning. The blessings here
offered are given in very general way.
4 OF ND co
az if He had said any one who will fulfill
the conditions may have the blessing; and
as there is only the one condition. namely,
that we shall dwell in the "secrct place
OF the Most High" you would think that
all would accept, for the promise is that
we "shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty" The blessings here promised
are not for ell believers. but only for
those who live in close fellowship with
God. Every child of God looks toward
the inner sanctuary and the mercy seat,
but all do not dwell there. They run to
it at times and enjoy occasional glimpses
of the face of Him who is there to be
seen: but they do not continually abide
in the mysterious presence, and tins ls
possible for every one.
1t is with the desire that | might learn
the lesson myself as well as bring it to
you. and with the almost unutterable
longing that we nli9nt KNOW now TO aolu.
il, the "secret of His presence that
have brought You the subject. May the
Lord help us every one. have been on
the mountain tops of Christian expert
encr. when | have seemed to see the face
of Him who loved me and gave Himself
for me. and | am sure that Won can say
the same: but the text saws that we may
abide there in our thoughts while we may
be all the time in the very thickest OF the
fight for God.
I like the verse. Every word is sweeter
than honey in the honevcomb. 1t is so
restful to know that there j. any place
in the world where we may abide. There
is also something very winning to me in
the fact that il is secret place. for that
surely means that God has something that
is lust intended for me. and for me alone
When I am there. am awav from the
world 1t is the place Mrs. Brown dis
covered when she wrote the beautiful
hymn.