The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-12-10

| kind are the utterdnceS OF tldC longing LIZ
! the federation of nations in spirit OF ad-
iustment which will make for the prosper
ity and progress of all people. The move
ments in themselves may seem simple, but
| they are not child's play, when we recog-
nize what large designs and hopes they ex-
press.
This little life of ours takes on greatness
and grandeur when we recognize that Goa
enters into it. with His wisdom. His love.
His purpose and His power. David was
to carry all these with him through the
| long and irving way that led from the
sheepcote to the throne of Israel. That
| life was big with the plan and power, OF
God in it. 1t had all the meaning and dig
nifty which these factors could give 1t.
When we take a comprehensive look we
| will see that the expansion of Christianity
is connected with the sheepcot::.
1t was this fact and sense Of the Divine
Presence that brought to David inspiration
and strength. We take our inspiration
tive agencies that help us to translate
ideals into life. God took David from
humble beginnings and led him away, little
| bv little. from the sheepcote toward the
| throne The boy was to come into posses
sion of thoughts. ideals and purposes that
| would force him onward from point to
| point; so many things are to be expected
| from the company man keeps, the
| friends he chooses, the great souls he per,
mits to influence and help him. David
chose God, God chose hil, and a fellowship
was formed that determined career.
How much is to be expected from such an
association!
This was a real presence. It Is real
presence which God desires lis to know and
realize. One says of a great statesman:
"He habitually practices the presence of
God and lives under Him to Christ" The
doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit is
teaching about the real presence of God
with man. The words of our Lord in the
parable of the vine and the branches rep
resents the relation between Him and His
followers. It is more than any earthly
love- fellowship or friendly relation. How
much these contribute to make our lives
purer, better and longer. You and I ever
| we have had those who loved us, and gave
to us the ministry of their love. How
much it means when the soul is related
with God by His abiding presence! How
much more comes out of our lives because
of this union! Mr. Hurley is quoted as
saying of Mr.. Gladstone in his remarkable
biography: 'Iife is great and noble call
ing; not mean and groveling thing that
W! are to shuttle through as we can, but an
elevated and lofty destiny" The man be.
gins more fully to understand himself and
TIE good he should strive, to reach when ne
admits to his mind and heart a stream OF
new perceptions. feelings and influences
which must come. when he allows God to
take him out of the crude. the sinful and
lead him forward. This God shapes life
and destiny.
The great poet represents Hamlet as
taking in this thought and saying: "Let
IS know. our indiscretions sometimes serve
us well. when our deep plots do pail; and
that should teach US.
There's divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we vii"
Were it not for the intervention of the
divine wisdom and will how all Of our plans
and purposes would fail, just for the lack
of the wisdom, goodness and power which
they require!
David was only rich and sure of the best,
as God was with him; this presence in
volved glory, blessedness and fruition be-
| yond the measure of mans mind. The
shepherd boy, with all his limitations, is
so reinforced by God that he comes to
roval position and power. -.
This divine presence is not only with
David at the sheepcote, but continues
through the long way of his entire and
checkered career, toward the good which is
in Gods thought. The Heavenly Father
never left or forsook him. There were
great difficulties to face, sucn as belong
to every strenuous, religious life, and they
needed to he surmounted. Many a rnan
may stand before mountain. but one
| must climb the steep ascent and make use
of the means that are to be taken If he
reaches the height and the other side:
The difficulties which David must meet
op1 ~ oroo{ There ryorh en1eodea
and experiences in his life which to human
view seemed to say: "Give up expectation
and endeavor, for you cannot win the
crown" It. is true that he had been called
OF God and anointed bv the nrophet Sam
mel when he was a lad. but he afterward
left the sheepcote. so that he became
tried and successful soldier; the plaudlts
Of the multitude had rung in his ears, but
his apparent success excited the anger and
hunted fugitive. and his life was in direct
peril. How could he become king! Yet
God was with him; this was his assurance
of success God was with him in his dark
est night. in his deepest distress. in his
most difficult and dangerous experiences,
when friends were hopeless and no words
of assurance and cheer came from any hu-
man source. but amid all this he was max
ing progress. amid the labryinth of mys-
terious providence, toward the throne he
was to occupy.
This. then. is the word for US to-day.
The God of David will be with every one
who consents and covenants with Him. In
His wisdom we shall be wise; in His
strength we shall be strong. In His love
we shall find our love will live and grow.
When He is our life we will know how
| much life means. In the outlook which
Jesus Christ presents to US we will know
that we are going forward to wisdom,
| love and life that are immortal.
God waits to make Himself known IN all
OF the relations of life where His presence
can be Of service. That of which He de-
sires of everv one of US is more unre.
stricted yielding to His presence and
| power.