Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-07-31
The NEARNESS OF GOD
Sunday Discourse By DR.. Chapman, the
Noted Electromagnetic.
Alphabet Of Divine Love-Not Enough OF God
In Nature to Satisfy our Souls.

greatest interest ana u EiEe VIZ s'f
satisfaction to that large body OF American
their weekly reading. The distinguished
nnstor-evangelist has prepared the follow;
ina sermon for the press. It is entitled
"The Nearness of God" and is preach,e,di
from the text, "Thou art near, o Lord
Psalm ll9: 15l.
This text is taler from one of the long
est Psalms in the Bible. but it is remarka.
bic not only on account Of its length, put
because Of its teaching. Like the celestial
CITY it leth four square; the heighth ana ,,,
the depth and the length and the breaoth
of il are the same. There is but one tneme
in all the Psalm and that is the woro OF
God, and reminds one O. nothing SO mum
as diamond which as you hold IL as tre'
lrpht touches it from every side 1t SENDS
ont to all beholders the evidences OF It's
beauty and of its worth. and this ll9lh
Psalm is the makeup of the word OF God,'
for every verse except two, namely, tne
I22d and the 132d refer in some way 10
Gods word, and it is mentioned either UNI
dor the figure ot law, or testimonies, or
word, or prccepts.
The writer of this Psalm must have been,
inspired with the word of God ms he KNEW
it. 7 have heard of an old Christian who
meditatcd his way through the Bible three
happv lie. In 1889 at the time of great
political excitement William Wilberforce
made this note in his diary 81 have waiked
this morning from HYDE Park corner re.
pcating the 10th Psalm. and having great
comfort" Martin Luther said on COM
menting on this Psalm. "David must have
shaken every fruit tree in Gods garden
and gathered fruit therefrom.' lake other
portions of the Scripture this Psalm has
been generally named. 1t has been called
the alphabet of divine love, perhaps be-
cause Of its division. because it is !separ'
ated into groups of eight verses. and each
phahet until the alphabet is exhausted. 1t
is really the Alpha and Omega of the word
of God. In the New Testament the incar-
rate word or Saviour is represented as tho
Alpha and Omega. May it rct he because
the alphabet has been exhausted in display
ing to us His graces. and also because IN
the Old Testament the alnhahct has been
exhausted in speaking of His glorious word?
It has also been called tine paradise OF all
doctrines. and ] have been amazed to zee
how many are here presented. Pardon;
Justification. sarctitication, they are oil
here. It also has been represented ns the
storehonse of the Holy Shirt. for really i'll
no part of the Bible is He more wonder.
fully presented. and it has been spoken of
rs the school of truth, for really nothing ,s
omitted. We might lose all the rest of tho
Bible, but if we had this we would know
God and might find our wNy up to HIM
Through $50 verses David has been speak
ing Of all these things and has been talk
ing of God. when suddenly az If he were
impressed with the fact that He of whom
he had been speaking was near he bursts
ont in the cry, OF our text. Thou art near,
O Lord 1t IS possible thing Tor one to
nroach so profoundly that he loses sight OF
Him of whom he speaks; or Sunday
school teacher TO teach her lesson and oil.
most to be unconscious Of the presence Of Of
Christ of whom she has been teaching. 1t
is good thing for us all to stop again and
again and say. Thou art near, - LORD.
for lie Is indeed nearer to us than any
earthly friend.
l.
Kindred texts. There are certain texts
in the Scripture which are akin to the one
I have chosen. ms. for example, Psalm I2l:
&. "Jhe Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is
thy shade upon thy right hand" If the
lord is our keeper why need we 80 astray,
for He neither slumbers or SLEEPS Psalm
81: Is. is another text. "Thc Lord is nigh
unto them that are of broken heart; and
saveth such rs he of a contrite spirit" |
am s,,rc'I am spcakipg for YOU all when I
say there never has been heartache if we
have accepted our discipline as He intend
ed, that lie has not been graciously near to
MS, philppians the fourth chonter and the
fifth verse. the last clause. ia another illus.
1ration. and is very much like tho text,
"Lct ycur moderation be known unto all
men The Lord is at hand" Paul has
been speaking of peace and the low of
christian fellowship, when suddenly he
speaks ont like David of old. "Thc Lord is
nj hand" and immediotolv ha borins with
This snntoncn ere car"fu for II, no pIr ' OF
course we need he careful for NOTHING il
The lord is at hand. for He will bear every
burden with ua and helm us to overcome
every trial, The Odd Psalm is another
beautiful illustration, II has been INV
privilege within the past few davs to sit by
ahe death he'd Of n vonnr man who NAV
even now be passinr ort into thc eternity
end when I told him TINT tho end had
somo for him he said. "Jt is a lonp Journey
10 make alone, is il not" NV oniv answer
WAS this 2Sd Psalm. "Ypa. tLouch 7 wall,
ahrough tho valley Of the shadow of death,
i will fear no evil Cor Thou ,rt With mo
md he brushed the tears out Of b;s eves
md said "Thcn I am not afraid y nor
need we he at any time ior IIa Is always
with us We lcarp hv contr,st rs o 49,
,nanv things Those wbo boro strd; "i. ,ho
paintings Of Sir Noel Patton must bavc oh, oh.
,crved that Part of their necuI;or beautv
lies. by trick Of art in their nnrtiaI '" 'a.
ness. There are flowers p and i" h nEIs
lniGhts and ladies. possamer WINGED fo;r;es
end children Of sernnh;c heautr , Iut WIN, tha
corner of tie convos nr ;ust ~ tbe;r fo .mo
some uncouth and joathsoma f %, unea, , 10y
IA lizard, slimv enaiI"tn lond hn 'o oon
irqst with IFS rennls;vonos ,,Au, ~ ,o oGar
beauty to the rcst' So in ancient sculn.
tnre the Griffin anJ tho ara n "n,,n ; sen,p
ibe ANGEL faccs -, Tho oothoiSnai ofi,"ns
helghtening the surrounding beauty OF
Their detormty; Many of the literary sit
uatlons of the New Testament powerfully
exhibit this species Of contrast The twelve
dlscpies-one os them is devil. Jesus
upon the cross, pure and regal-on either
IN this fifteenth cbontcr of nLn ~ 10Y,
exquisite painting in the Bible il touched