The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-10-17

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T. q NH Do perfect ana PEI
form Its function
with unerrin
II faithfuiness, blu
MW[HI[E they are near
I//tnI1EYxzZW sighted neverthe
iitiUtt77iW less. They ma
iHt be able to see tn
glories of mountain. OF woodland. o
meadow. with waters shimmering an
splashing in the sunshine. and bird
sailing in the blue vault OF the heav
ems. but Notwithstanding the keennes
OF the natural vision which enables
them to drink in the beauties OF ma
ture. they may be woefully and dis
tressingly ncar-sishted. The spiritua
vision is defective The eyes OF thu
soul arc not trained to see beyond thu
present moment. or circumstance, Of
condition, or need. There is no look
ing OF to the distant triumph and
blessing OF the Lord. for the eyes are
holden by the stress of present circum-
stances, or the glitter Of present gain
II is as though the Christian used the
little end OF telescope when looking
at the things of God, and reversing 1t
and magnifying and bringing nearer
objects when looking at the world.
Jesus charged His disciples with hav-
ing eyes and yet seeing not. and the
type of the near-sighted Christian Is
not extinct. He Is met with on every
hand. Yea, perhaps We will not have
to go very far at the present moment
to discover such an one. Almost all
Christians are afiicted with spiritual
near-sightedness at times. while with
others the condition Is chronic. This
is disease which is distressing to the
Christian and limits his efficiency in the
service OF the Lord. The Christian
who permits this disease to fasten
itself upon him Is handicapped, both
as to his personal relationship to his
Lord and his relationship to the world.
There is confused uncertainty attend
ing his movements and he is unable
TO see far enough to appreciate his OPP
portunities and blessings. Take for
illustration the person who Is suffering
from near-sightedness Of the natural
eye. and whose defect has not been
cured or corrected by properly-fitted
lenses. What a great disadvantage he
labors under He Is never quite sure
Of his footing. and everything Is con-
fused and misshapen before his imper-
feet vision And II Is so with the
Christian who suffers from spiritual
Observation-Disclosures. He Is not able to
look far enough ahead to walk with
any certainty or courage. and his eff
cheney in service Is curtailed. or even
wholly destroyed. because of present
stress or dificulties or present pleas
urcs and hope Of gain.
DUT what connection has the near
ID sighted Christian to the words Of our
text? Much, because the Christian who
frets at the success or prosperity Of evil
doors, or who is tempted to meet evil
with evil, or trickery with trickery, or
questionable shrewdness with question
able shrewdness. is the near-sighted
Christian. The whole thirty-seventh
Psalm Is splendid eyesalve for this dis
ease OF near-sightedness. Our text Is the
urgent admonitiOn which introduces to
folds in great richness and fullness and
clearness the reasons why the Christian
should not be near-sighted. Doubtless
In David's day there were good many
people afflicted with this disease. In one
of the Psalms ascribed to Asaph-the
seventy -third-the troubled and per-
picked and near-sighted poet exclaims:
But as for me. my feet were Amos: gone
My steps had wel-nigh slipped.
For l was envious at the arrogant.
When 1 saw the prosperity OF the wicked.
For there are no bands In their death:
But their strength IS firm.
They are not In trouble as other men:
Neither are they plagued like other men
Therefore pride In as chain about their
neck:
Violence covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness;
They have more than heart could wish.
They scofr. and in wickedness utter op-
preston:
They speak loftiiy.
They have set their mouth in tie heavens.
And their tongue walkeih through the
earth.
Therefore his people return thither:
by them.
And they say, How doth God know?
And Is there knowledge In the Most High ?
Behold, these are the wicked;
And. being Away nj ease, they increase in
riches.
Surely in vain have cieansed my heart,
And washed my hands In innocency:
For all the day long have been plagued.
And chastened every morning.
II had said. I Will speak thus:
Behold, I had dealt treacherousiy with
the generation Of thy children.
When l thought how might know this.
IL was too painful Tor me-
And II he had looked nowhere eise thar
spon the picture which he has painted In
the preceding lines. surely ais feet woult
have wholly slipped. but he gves on t.
tell us:
81 went into the sanctuary OF God.
And considered their latter end.
Surely thou settest the m In slippery PAGES
Thou easiest them down 10 destruction
Asaphs near-sightedness was cured b.
a glimpse Of God and His large purpose.
and ultimate triumph. and go may tn,
near-sightedness of all Christians be Sc
cured. The thirty-seventh Psalm un
folds the part God plays In human AT
fairs. and supplies the reason why tn,
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