The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-21
GODS CHOICE FOR ISRAEL
TOPIC OF SERMON DELIVERED
 LAST EVENING

At Epxyorth M. F.. Church by Rev. Henry F. HiIer~Man's Heart as a Spiritual AItruistic Force.
 At the Epworth M. E. church yesterday the pastor, Rev Henry E. IIier, preached morning and evening. The subject of his sermon in the evening was Gods Choice Tor Israel" and dealt with the selection of David for king as the successor of Saul. Among other things he said:
 It was an evil day when the children Of Israel rejected the counsel Of Samuel and shouted their demands into his ears: We will have king over Us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles That the people were honest in their desires for king no one can seri- ously doubt, for it seemed to them that the very glory of their existence and progress in the future depended upon their having some one who should wear the robes of roy alty. All would not have been so bad if their actions had not been in direct opposi- ton to the will of God. The great Jehovah Himself had in times past been the true and tried leader of the hosts of Israel. To seek a change in kingship was rebellion against God. But the Almighty proved patient with { Ills people even in their tranSgreSSlOn. Their request was reluctantly granted. EX- perience was to be their hard teacher. A king was crowned ill the person of Saul But, unfortunate for Israel and unfortunate
  was ruined. ,'
 Though loyal Israel might still bow in loving obedience before the Sceptre of Saul yet never again was he to direct the des- tinies of the chosen people. No longer was their hope In him, but i'll shepherd lad tending his fathers tocks on the plains of Bethlehem. Thither did the prophet Samuel turn at the command of God.
 All of the sons of Jesse were not equally fortunate. All were not made kings. All were not equally qualified for the responsi- bilities of that exalted office. There must be q selection. When God makes q choice He takes the best. Man may sometimes say in choosing a person for an office, He will do; he is good enough. God, never! He takes not what will do, but what is the best. And when we have learned to apply thls principle of the economy of God ill the af- fairs of life we have an element, perhaps the secret, of true success.
 thing that David was selected in preference to all his brethren. Take Eliab, for in- stance. He was large and fine looking specimen of physical manhood-just the and courage. But God passed Eliab by not because he possessed q fine physical manhood. That was all in his favor. Other things being. equal, his physical strength would have been at a premium. but as it was it had no virtue. God had another standard by which to measure His man. He placed a price on character instead of muscle, and had done so ever since. 1n the Judgment of God it is the tuner motive that counts more than the outward appearance. Better far to have the true royalty of a pure manhood or WOmanh0Od than only the glittering trappings of sovereignty.
 in some way, perhaps in many ways, ; David surpassed his brethren. His heart was right in the sight of God. Heart pow CT was the secret of his exaltation. It was the nobility of his inward life, so full or devotion to God that gave him the true in. signia of royalty. In the last analysis the heart is the magnet that attracts not only God but felloW-man.'