Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-13

asked God TO do as He would regarding e
and the tree became thing OF beauty.
When YOU have crossed the ocean have
you not as yoa studied the captains chart
seen the little zig-Zag lines running north
and soatli. and have YOU not sometimes
wondered how Il was that we could reach
home in that fashion. but when the jour.
nev is ended we find that every &C;
marked the progress OF the homeward
jouraov. and when we reach heaven and
enter the graft room OF the sky we shall
find that every line led homeward and
things we cou.G not understand pointed
heavenly.
The wears OF man are the looms of God,
Let down from the place OF the sun,
Wherein we are weaving hearts,
Till the mystic web is done.
And when the task is ended.
And the web is turned and shown.
He snail hear the voice of the Master,
II shall say to him. We'll done
God has 4 way OF making lives over.
First, by outer circumstances. like the
potter's wheel, such as trials and disap
continents.
Second, by His own word. 1t is called
Inc light. and light reveals imperfections;
it is called the fire. and fire purges the
iross; it Is described as water, and water
:,eanses all displacements; it is said 10 be
hammer AID the hammer in the hands OF
he artist fashioned tine angel from the
block OF marble. DIR. Arthur I. Person
ellis of the potter who was seeking to make
porcelain for the kings palace. was greatly
discouraged in the work and in desperation
threw himself into the fire. and there was
something about the burning OF his own
body that gave an inestimable value TO the
porcelain which is still in existence, and
hat is the value OF this book; God threw
Himself into it in the person of His own
Son. and no man can read it without ieel.
ing His power.
".
There are some lives mentioned in the
Bible which have really been made over
again like the clay in the hands OF the pot.
ter.
First Jacob. By nature he YVES sup
planter and cheat; he stole his brothers
birth-isht and deceived his father. but by
the power of God he became Israel, the
prince. and all because he and God met at
jabhok's Ford, and God touched him and
he lmped away from weakness to power.
Michael Angelo was banished from
France, but afterward they wanted him to
return. They wished him to take n block
Of marble. which had been living ut the
gates OF the city. and fashion it into some
masterpiece, and Michael Angelo came
back to the city. and out of the piece OF
marble that had been lying for years in the
dirt of the city ne made his David. which
is his masterpiece in many respects. God
by the touch OF affiictioa sometimes and
the touch OF disappointment again has
made many lire over. May He make
yours?
Seccnd-Eliiah. He was a ran of like
passions with ourselves and came from
ragged country. but God made his passions
and his appetites to be like horses To his
chariot by means OF which he was trans
lated and he will make the weakness OF
Your lie TO be power ii you viii lie; Him.
Third-Paul. His was bitter nature
and his spirit THAI OF a prosecutor. He
hears OF few Christians in Dan. and hur-
ries away that he may cast them into PR
son. and from the man OF bitterness and
prejudice he Is changed into the little old
man a prisoner in Rome who cries out. Il
know whom J have believed and am per.
suaded that He is able to keep that which
] have committed unto Him against thas
iav.' and all because he had found Christ
When the children of Israel made their
way across the land they came 10 the
waters of Mara. which were very bitter.
They were all but dying OF thirst. but
Moses cast the wood OF 4 certain tree into
the waters ana they became sweet. Into
Pau,'s life had been pressed the principles
% the cross; not His viii. but Gods was
10 he done, and he was made happy
Fourth-Peter. He was man OF weak.
ness. bat TRANSPORTED into Il man o.
strength. He was ignorant. hut he writes
the Epistle that stands as his monument
in the purest Greek OF the New Tesla
ment. ard all because he added Christ to
his lie. So it is not question rs to who
we are or what we have been, but whether
we are united to Him.
1t is said that Ole Bull was making his
way at one time through one of the great
American forests. and he came upon a hut
in which dweit hermit. He had left his
city home because disappointed IN bust
ness. and had been living alone for years.
his Only companion being his old violin.
on which he could play a few homev
pieces OF music. Ole Bull stopped in the
hut over night. and in the shade OF the Ere
light. to entertain his guest, the old her.
nit took down his violin and played the
simple pieces wish which he had whicd
away his long hours of loneliness When
he had finished playing the great musician
asked him if he thought he could play The
reply was, Il hardly think it possible: il
took me years to learn. and yet" said he,
YOU might try" and so the great violin.
list took the instrument, drew his bow
across the strings and instantly the room
was filed with harmony. He played
America and Home. Sweet Home"
until the old hermit sobbed like a child.
and then putting the instrument back
again IN its place the old hermit was made
to understand that he was in the presence
OF the greatest violinist OF the day. But
what difference of the violin when in the
hands OF the hermit and in the hands Of
the master. The tones of one were any.
thing but complete: the music OF the mas
ter was perfect. and so it is not so much
nor what we are ourselves. but altogether
the question is as to whether we are CON
trolled absolutely by Christ. This is tine
surrendered life.