The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-15

dear book comes at once as love letter
from that fat.oft eesntry, signed with
tho Fathers hand and per'f'umet'td5 4 WI with
HIS love. II we grow In grace or II we
bockslide this holy book still talks WITT, with
us. R5 .Si klR t5&8ii
Whatever our condition before the etef-
nal aod, the Bible seems to be written
on purpose for us. 1t talks TO you as
YOU are, not Only hs YOU should Ht'l! PEI or
as others have been, but With you--you
personally about your present condition
and habit,
How very faithful It always ist YOU
never find TIE Word OF God Keeping BACK
that which IL profitable for yot,. It never
allows one g Sins to 60 unrepuKeo, nor
ones baekslidinEs to escape NOTICE. II
gives us timely warnings, It cries to 's
as soon as We turn aside. Awake t le''
that sleepest," g'''watch and pray" Keep se'elp
thy heart With all diligence" Keep thy
self pure. and thousand other words
OF warning does It address personally to
zach OF us. b.
The Holy Scripture is very familiar ar
I It does not say In the text ut shall preach
to thee, 1T. shalt lecture thee" IT shall
scold thee Oh, no, none OF thesc1 II
shall talk to thee" we sit at tho feet
OF JESUS. the living Word, and He comes
down to us and to our understanding as
man talketh to his friends 1t Is not
written In the, celestial tongue, but in
tho pat tots OF this owland country, con-
descending to men OF low estate.
How simple arc the gospels! How dell
ciously olear are those parallels about
the lost money, the lost sheep, the lost lost
son! wherever the Word touches on q
vital point It is as clear as MONDAY
Nothing is too little FOR the Word Of
God to notice., or too bitter or sinful to
be pardoned. 1t touches humanity at
all points Everywhere It seems to say:
"shall I hide this thing from Abraham,
my friend 2. a53
How often has It answered enquiriesl
IN times Of diflculty how plain the oracle
Is! You have asked friends and they
could not advise you, but YOU have gone
to your knees and God has directed you
on your way,
When the Word Of God talks to US It
influences US. All talk influences more
Or less. It soothes our sorrows and on
courages u.s. Many warrior has been
ready to steal away from the battle but
for the Word. .''Be of good cheer. l Will
help thee" Brave saints there are who
would have been arrant towards but for
the message, which sent them back
stronger than lions and swfter than ca
giles.
It puts fresh life blood in you. Read
OF the glories Of heaven, and you will
feel that you can run with zeal the race
set before you. It elevates, as we'll as
cheers.
You cannot expect to grow in grace
H. you do not read the Holy Scriptures.
II you are not familiar with the Word
you cannot become like Him who spoke
It. Dwell on It and It will confirm and
settle you. 3,st.e
ASK yourselfSidoes the Word OF God
after this fashion speak to my soul? How
sayest thou, ,apat .s,reader7 Dost thou read
the book for4 thyselfs and does It speak
to thee? ., Has Itslover condemned thee?
Has itnever pointed thee to Christ? Art
thou In the habit Of going to this book
to know thy duty and SO to rule Thy life
IS It thy family medicine? IS It thy test
to let thee know the whole truth?
And, further, L would press this point.
DO you talk to God? Does God talk to
you? Does your heart 60 up to heaven
and does His Word come fresh from heaven
to your soul7 II not, you do not know the
experience Of the loving child Of God.
May you this day be brought to see
Christ Jesus In IIis Word and to receive
Him as your oruciaed Saviour, putting
your whole trust IN Him. Then from this
day forward the Word will echo In your
heart and sanctify,your life, until you
"see Him as He Is In the courts Of
heaven
r IN