The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-12-26


again. "He shall cover thee with His
feathers, and under His wings thou shalt
trust"
II.
II would be impossible for one 10 read
the verses Immediately following the text
without heing impressed with the fact
that the most remarkable results will
follow our abiding and dwelling IN the
"secret place
In order that the subject may be the
more practical and helpful desire 10 sug'
gest some things which will surely be ours
when we fulfill the conditions.
!. In the secret place" there Is peace;
"In the world We shall have tribulation,'"'
our Master said. but in Me We shall
have peace" | have read that a certain
insect has the mower TO surround itself
with film of air, encompassed IN which
IL drops into the midst Of muddy. stag.
nant pools. and remains unhurt. And the
believer may be thus surrounded bv the
atmosphere Of God. and while he is in the
midst Of the turmoils Of the world he may
be filed 10 overfowinc with the peace
OF God. because God is with him.
This is true whatever your occupation.
" Il is ever SO menial. The Rev. 4. II.
Never tells us Of Lawrence. the simple
minded cook. who said that for more than
sixty years he never lost the sense of the
presence Of God but was as conscious
OF II chile performing the duties Of his
humble office rs when partaking Of the
lords supper" What peace he must
have had
II Won are constantly enga ped so that
YOU have said II was impossible for YOU
10 enjoy your religion very much because
YOU were so busy. still YOU NAV have this
peace. because you are in the secret
place" | know that u is impossible for
one 20 keen two thoughts in the mind nc
Al l. Al
hut there is the heart as well as the
mind. and while the mind is busy the
heart may he rejoicing in all the fullness
Of God. The orator IL conscious Of the
presence Of ms audience. and his heart
IS touched by their appreciation while
his mind Is busy in presenting the
thoughts that move them. You may have
all your mind. taken IN with the book
YOU are reading or studying. but your
heart is conscious of the presence of the
one Won love and who sits by your side.
The mother NAV be very busy in one part
Of the house; her mind may be greatly
engaged. hut her heart is conscious Of the
fact that her little babe is in another part
of the house. and the least crv will draw
her 10 the child So the mind may he
occupied 10 the very fullest extent. and
even be disturbed by the things about ma.
while the heart NAV he abiding IN sweet
communion and fellowship with Him be.
cause we are dwelling in the secret
place"
Those were comforting words OF the
Masters when lie said. Peace / leave
with YOU, Nv peace ] give unto you, not
M the world civcth. give l unto YOU.
Let not your hearts he troubled, neither
let them he afraid" So that I NAV have
peace even when trial comes. David found
this 10 he true, for in that beautiful
Psalm. the 9th, he. says: I'm the time
Of trouble lie will hide me in His pavilion:
in the sacret Of He tabernacle will He
hide ~" The pavilion was n great tent
in the verv centre Of the camp. and when
he was there nothing could harm him;
he could he NJ peace even II he should
hear the sounds Of his enemies. But tho
expression is even stronger than that, for
David says that IL IL were necessary God
His tnbcrnacle;" that is the same ma the
Holy Of Holes: and who would not have
been safe there' Here is our secret
nlace' again. and this is Just where God
has given us the privilege Of going. Why
should we he disturbed II troubles are
about Ne and our enemies rise UP 10 do
us harm?
.. In the Secret place" there is purity.
II our surroundings were only better in
| this world our lives would be purer. IL
is very easy TO be good in the company ~
some people we know: they seem to draw
| out all the good in u.s. TO be surrounded
| by certain kinds of scenery is 10 he lifted
| near Heaven; 10 touch a little child pure
as the angels of God Is 20 receive n bcne.
diction. What could not the presence Of
God do for ua II only we were all the
time conscious of ty This is just what
may have. did | but dwell in the secret
place" One of the reasons which David
gives for desiring 10 dwell in the house of
the Lord was that che might behold the
beauty Of the Lord"
wish that it might be possible for me
derstand IL myself all the beauty that
waits ne in the Secret place" Think Of
the gorgeousness OF the Holy Of Holes
in the ancient tabernacle. which is
type Of thisl The wonderful curtains and
hanengs Of the place, its blue and purple,
It's fine twined linen and threads of
gold Think of the beautiful veil with the
cherubim. with the embroidery 90 fine
that angel fingers must have wrought
them, the table Of pure gold holding the
bread. and the .branohed candle
stick Who from the outside looking upon
the badger-sEin tent would have imagined
how glorious u was Within So | do not
think II would be possible 10 make plain
20 you al that awaits you in the Secret
place" He who has dwelt there with God
could not tell his Joy II he had nm angels
speech: but this ! know, that IL you will
but enter IN and dwell there, the very
beouty of the place will make you pure.
and you remember that IL IL only unto
'the pure in heart" that the vision OF
God IL promised.
III.
] have left 10 the very last the most
practical question Of oil. and that ~:
How may | enter into this Secret place"
Cannot something be said that will make
tine way plain? IL may all be summed up
in this answer. None can know the
Father but the Son. and be 10 whom
the Son will reveal Him" II il impos-
sble Ior anv one 10 enter into the secret
place" of the Most High except through
Jesus Christ. He ssid. II am the way, I
am the door. py Me, II any man win, he
shall enter in"
II is just what Paul meant when he said.
''But now in Christ Jesus We who some.
times were afar N are made nigh by the
blood of Christ"
There are some places in the Bible
whore the wav seems plain. "He that
eatot,i Ny 1csh and drinketh Nv blood
dwelleth IN Ne. and / in him" And
whatever else IL meant by this feeding
an Ibrfsf tbta ,ort.tpty 10 a,o