The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-09
"DOEo GOO CARE7"
lselected for The Ti,nes.)

HDCES GOD 5CRHEl
(Seected for The Times
Master. carest Thou not IND. PC
ish? ST. Math.. iv: IS
The Master had been speaking 70 the
crowd from one OF the lll'e ooa
,noored on the shore Of the Lake OF e'iii'-
lee. All day long lie had been teachi''s
them: as evening was now come t1e sou
10 HIS Usher friends: Let us pass oVei
to the other side" they took Hin. and
at once made sail for the wilder region
on the Eastern coast.
Worn out. He sank down In the stern
OF the boat and fell asleep. The sky
darkened, and. through one OF those deep
ravines which extended TO the othef
shore. lhundergust swept down upon
the frail craft. while the Threatening
sea rolled up.
Amid II all He calmly sleeps. master.
cry the frightened disciples. "carest Ihou
not that we perish?''
Does God care? That is the question
which the incident brings wildly before
Qs.shl itSl Z is llO GIStAtSi A'SSo1
one of US in this clluigeab'e, stof1n swept 4
world than to feeI-to know-that# Coo
does care.
The young or the prosperous may not
feel the need OF. this sollce. But5to the
struggling, sorroW-tossed multitude. the
q 9 estion OF an Invisible Father. CARING
and working. though all seeming evil. is
vital in the extreme.
II is not .tticult to perceive in the
progress Of the world in general as in
nature, ar ordering purpose. which does
evolve some ultimate good out OF the
seeming chaos. But TITS not OF this
general development, that I speak.
Does Cod care for me? That is the
question. which. in the deep silence OF
MY soul makes itself heard and is
Taught with tremendous Importance In
It's beaF ing on#rny5 character. my happi-
ness and destiny.
We we've made to have sympathy, just
as we are made dependent upon the at
nlosphere The limits Of our physical being
are very narrow a few miles above the
earth. and We cease to be: and there isA
only grave for US beneath its surface.
Men may scorn to ask for sympathy
as weak aud b. TOO proud 70 admit their
need of 1t; bat the fact remains that IN.
ii we live. and move and have our be-
ing. No punishment can be$nflicted up-
on a man more terrible than solitary
confinement.
But#human sympathy does not teach
or satisfy our deepest needs. There are
times in our life in which We must
either get breath from God or stlfle In.
our loneliness.
Into such an experience our best
friends cannot enter-we cannot put our
trouble into words. and if we could.
they would no, be considered.
We stand alone with our grief that
cannot be tod. 1t may bea disappoint-6
!. ed love or cherished ambition: it may
be a sense of cruel msudgment. Or an.
agony of remorse for past. beyond re-
]. cali; or a secret sin that clings and tears
at The conscience; or the sitting anguish
OF bereavement when the !ightof the
! eyes is taken away. and no balsam on
earth can sooth or heal: or the gathering
/ gloom and Isolation at the knowledge
that .old age is fast settling into the
i chill night Of death. with doubt. per-
/ haps, and fears towards God and eterni-
1 IL; all these-and more-press down up
| on the heart with a sense Of desolat1on
/ and woe.
1t is no evidence that He does not care
Il because He permits US to suffer. There
love in the suffering. Trials must be.
we are to learn obedience. as Christ
/ did. "by the things which we suffer.
/ The worst trial of all--death. which
| seems to US to be pershing. Is really
| lin the light of Gods truth) but pass
| ing into eternal life. He has mercifullS
f sent Christ to teach US this. There is
I Infinite love therefore. in the terrible be
| reavement which breaks up our earthly.
! ties and home circle.
Gods care is not to stay the course Of
u
make US know tina, there is a life be-
4 yond and by faith. hope patience, ex-
| perlence. purity. truth and love. 10 edu-
/ cate us for it.
/ Does God care2 Aye-that He does.
/ He cares so much that He viii not make
this present transient period easy for.
US. He cares so much that He forces us
to realize that this is not-cannot be-
our rest. He cares 50 much that He
! would not stu the NEE outside tenn
pest. but enables US to quell the tenn
/ pest of sin in our own hearts SO that
1 In His strength We can defy death. and
/ through all of the discipline OF life de-
! vesop that character which alone shall.
survive the wreck of time.
| No need of any N. racle to prove this.
t The great miracle has been wrought.
1 when by the mercy and love Of God.
/ Z ti,- STONED