The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-06-13
Sermon at MeSOpOfaInia.

The following is synopsis of SER
mon preached by Rev. Sam Il. Creech,
at Mesopotamia last Sunday, as report
ed for TIE TINES by "Nox":
Text "Whose hope shall be cut off
and whose trust shall be SPIDERS wed,
Job S: a."
God uses all things for the purpose of
instructing man; in fact, He has con-
verted the world into a school room.
There are the books of nature-Astron.
omy, Geology, Physiology, etc. Books
of Providence, histories of notions and
individuals. These, with everything
named, above and beneath man, Should
be recognized as direct lessons from
the Lord. For instance; The tree,
| when clothed with natures beauty, de-
clares the glory of God; the flower, in
sending forth its sweet fragrance, to
gladden. the heart of humanity, speaks
of His! !love, while, no doubt, the de-
strucuve storms, olcanoes, waterspouts,
| earthquakes; etc, that have become so
common, are gentle reminders, and if
| not needed. with the many different
| plaques that are each year DESTROYING
| a portion of the farmers crops, continue
| to grow worse until there will be no
place for repentance.
Christ, in teaching humility to his
disciples took little child and placed
| 1t in their midst. OF course this would
hardly work with the majority of peo-
pie today, but it was sufficient for his
| disciples. They recognized in him a
teacher, therefore they were willing to
| accept the truth.
Sluggards arc placed under the tuition
| of the ant, while it becomes necessary
for the ungrateful to take lessons from
the OK and the ass
The heavens declare the glory of
God, and the armament showeth His
handlwork. Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night showeth
| knowledge. Psalm xix: and 2.
| But let Us look ut some of the text, and
in SO doing accept this great truth, that
all things, though ever so small are IN
strumcnts in Gods hands for the better
ment of humanity.
In the first place, by watching the
spider when at work in erecting his
home we find it to be one Of the most
| rapidly made fabrics in nature. In
| short while he has completed his tent.
Just so with some men-they are hasty
| in forming foolish hopes and without
any thought whatever, jump to conclu-
sions that are favorable to themselves.
as if they were the best judges as to
| their souls requirements, and the best
| and safest place to secure the gift of
| God and they would even be greatly
surprised if God would approve their
plans and accept their work as his own.
| In the second place the web is deli
cate and beautiful. The delicacy of its
structure adds to its beauty. We find
some people who have a beautiful relig-
| ion, ank one that is very much refined.
| The vulgar ideas of less cultured people
| they despise and in worshipping, they,
like the hypocrite, thank God that they
are not as other people are. Poor, de-
| luded wretchcs, they are who think
they can circumscribe Gods omnipres-
ence with their own dwarfed concep-
tions of His greatness and majesty.
| The SPIDERS web is useful only for
the purpose of its builder and we have
no right to expect it to sustain our
weight, for it was not made for that
purpose. 1t is an excellent larder for
its builder and a perfect trap for it's
| victims. Some people have such fool
ish ideas Of religion; the ground of
hope On which they trust cannot be
called utterly false and useless: For
example: People who claim to live
without temptation, in many things
may, be good people but they claim too
much.
Morality taken for religion is a spi-
der's web; yet it il indispensable. 1t
| IL uSelul Whcn woven into the fabric
and without it the web is incomplete.
Educated heads without consccrai ed
hearts is another web. For while the
thinker may spin the threads Of thought
he does but little if anything for the up
lifting and betterment of humanity. IN
Bldad rightfully compares the hope
of the impious to the spiders web. we
would be mocking the drowning man to
ollcr help that wouldn't or couldn't save
him. The web answers its purpsse but
can't bear any undue strain. Just so
with the religion Of our Lord and Saw
i"ur. He saves from sin and not in sin
the strai in would be too great.
Therefore seeing we are also com
passed about with 80 great a cloud of
witnesses let us lay aside every thought
and the sin that doth so easily beset us.
and let US run with patience the race
that is set before us, looking unto Jesus
the author and fnisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame
and is set down at the right hand of
the throne Of God" Hebrews 12:l-2,
NoX.