Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-17

m m
iuse
I the
will
ut all
lander
Joshua
ad been
portions
he city of
The strong
nd must be
ktion that he
hsah in mar
lie to take the
had been much
-givered the chill
ing OF Mesopota-
sr. After great
broken down, the
driven away. and
ut the feet OF the
victory was won
lis word, and his
marriage TO the sol
y gave as an inherit
ri of property, known
A." valuable for some
mountainous and sloDed
| the deserts of Arabia,
1 which again and again
Before Achsah left her
she besought him for his
south land was not enough
have springs of water, and
ded at once, and gave her
ne had asked, for we read in
De gave her the upper springs
ssher springs" From an exceed
ole territory the land was chosen.
lined no less than fourteen springs.
LEY was beautiful, for look which
IN would you could see them gushing
Il. Their presence in the field meant
only blessing for the field in which
y were found, but for all the country
sund them.
find in this beautiful story a good illus
alton of all that we receive from our
ither.
Atkat has been Bestowed upon us is as
lciated with victory, and that was Won by
lin whose name was called in the pro-
lhets the Conqueror. 1t was for Him a
fierce struggle. but He came off more than
eonqueror. Then, after that. He was called
the bridegroom OF the church, which is to
be His bride. aud with Him we have re-
ceived not only the gift of salvation, but in
Him we are also blessed with all spiritual
blessings. Paul gives us this when he
stes to the Ephesans. blessed be the
! and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ.
hath blessed us with all spiritual
'sings in heavenly places in Christ
MS"
God starts His children in this world
Caleb started his daughter. with an in
ritance. No one Is so poor but God has
ven him something.
Some have taken the inheritance and
reated it as the man with the five talents,
.hey have gained other five also; others
ike the man with one talent. have wrapped
it in napkin. and so they leave the world
as poor as when they entered it. God has
been very good TO us. He has given us this
world with all its beauty, its green pas
lures. its still waters. its rivers and its seas,
its starry canopy stretching out above
The world is filed with forces of all kinds.
but man has seemed to gain control over
them. until to-day he stands himself like
conquerer in the midst of them all.
But the inheritance is better than that
He has given rs all the faculties Of mind
and all the powers Of body. The mind. the
heart. the hands, the feet-no one is sent
sn----ffe-- world n pauper. God has thus
placed a fortune in the grasp of every
child of His. 1t is such a great thing 10
have mind. for with it man is able to
search the deep things of God and really
take hold OF the thought OF the Eternal.
The science of geometry was worked ont
from a few simple principles by Euclid
and Archimedes. by pure reasoning out of
their minds. and on the sands of the floor
of the room where they were studying
ATctiUltucs traced the curves III winch, nc.
cording to science. the heavenly bodies
must move. And long after, when the tele.
scope was invented. the Galileos and the
Newtons beheld with reverent wonder that
the heavenly bodies were sweeping along
in the same curves described so long ago by
the great Mathematician Ii is, indeed a
wonderful thing to have a mind.
But If these things which / have men,
toned as our natural inheritance are all
what we possess, then, with the success
that mav be gained by means of them we
may still be of all men the most miserable.
For they are like the south land of Ach-
sah. they stretch off toward the deserts OF
sorrow and care and darkness. and the hot
winds OF despair come sweeping past Us
again and again. The most miserable peo.
pie in the world. sooner or later. are those
who have Just the world and nothing else
Men are born unto trouble as the sparks
fly upward. and this south land OF the
world is poor portion. It is beautiful; it
Is the handiwork of God. But we must
have nore than that il the soul be salts.
fed. The stars are beautiful, but they
pour no light into the midnight OF
troubled soul. The flowers are sweet. hut
they nomr no balm into the wounded
heart" There are times when the hungry,
thirsty. fevcred soul must have what the
natural inheritance can not give, and God
has made provision for that
Man signs with grOanings which can not
be uttered for the infinite III YOU put
seashell to your ear you will find in il
"reminiscences of its original home. the roar
OF the sea. the wall OF the wind. the groan
the dying wave, all discernible therein,
has the witness in itself that it belongs
the mighty deep. And if you listen at.
ntively to your own heart you will find
instant proofs of its destined abode. The
CHS. the yearnings, the dreams. the tears
he sadness, the music, all testify that we
are made for God, and that only God can
satisfy our wants. And God knew this,
and so, as well as giving us the south land
He has also given us the springs of water
from which we may drink and be satisfied
God pity the man who has failed to accept
the proffered gift.
III. The springs of water were given ia
Achsah because of her marriage with 9th.
MEL, and they are perfect illustration Of
that which comes to us because of our
union with the Son Of God. The springs
were free gift, and so is the neither spring
lof the gospel, which has come to us. For
lby grace are We saved through faith, and
that not OF yourselves: it is the gift o.
-od."
And never a spring bursting from the
aims of Gerar, or from the mountains Of
non, or from the valleys of Canaan
rm such a mission as tn neither
q If the 90 mol which "a fha Gift al