St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-11-21

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~ AVA IL AIS AuuCIlOuA
49, with unerring
@ faithfulness, but
HINk/TN15SMN they are near
fVAiIYL7t//W sighted neverthe-
"HIHTsl less. They may
IL; be able to see the
siories OF mountain, of woodland, of
meadow, with waters shimmering and
splashing In the sunshine, and birds
sailing in the blue vault Of the l1eav-
ems. but Notwithstanding the keenness
OF the natural vision which enables
them to drink in the beauties of ma
ture. they may be woefully and dis
tressingly near-sighted. The spiritual
vision II defective. The eyes of the
soul are not trained to see beyond the
present moment, or circumstance, or
condition. or need. There is no look
ing on to the distant triumph and
blessing Of the Lord, for the eyes are
holden by the stress of present circum-i
stances. or the glitter ,of present gain.
ut Is as though the Christian used the
little end Of telescope when looking
ct the things Of God, and reversing it
and maenifying and bringing nearer
objects when looking at the world.
Jesus charged His disciples with hav-
Jng eyes and yet seeing not, and the
type of the near-sighted Christian is
not extinct. He Is met with on every
hand. ssYea, perhaps we will not have
to go very far ct the present moment
TO discover such an one. Almost all
Christians are aff1icted with spiritual
Observation-Disclosures at times, while with
others the condition is chronic. This
AZ 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
~ 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 sec 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 q great disadvantage he
labors under. He IL never quite sure
Of his footing, and everything Is con-
fused and misshapen before his imper-
feet vision. And 1t IL 30 with the
Christian who suffers from spiritual
near-sightedness He is not able to
look far enough ahead to walk with
my certainty or courage, and his en-
cheney In service is curtailed. or even
wholly destroyed. because of present
stress or difficulties or present pleas
ures and hope of gain. !
DUT what connection has the near
I'D sighted Christian to the words of our |
text? Much, because the Christian who
frets 1t 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 IL splendid eyesalve for this dis
ease Of near-sightedness. Our text is the
urgent admonition which introduces to
the rest OF the Psalm. The Psalmfst I'M
folds In great richness and fullness and
ciearness the reasons why the Christian
should not be near-sighted. Doubtless
In David's day there were good many
people amicted with this disease. In one
Of the Psalms ascribed to Asaph-the
troubled and per-
picked and near-sighted poet exclaims:
s.But 40 for me, my feet were almost gone:
NY steps had well-nigh slipped.
For was envious at the arrogant,
When 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 Is as a chain about their
Violence covereth them as garment
Their eyes stand out with fatness; I
They have more than heart could wish.
They scon, and in wickedness utter op-
preston; 4
They speak loftily.
They have set their mouth In the heavens. I
And their tongue walketh through the Ia
earth.
Therefore his people return thither:
And waters of full cup are wrung out {
n. 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 at ease. they increase in
rlCn68. =
Surely in vain have cleansed my heart.
And washed my hands in innocency;
For all the day long have been plagued. {
And chastened every morning.
II had said. will speak thus:
Behold, I had dealt treacherously with
the generation Of thy children.
When / thought how I might know this. s
t was too painful tor me-" q
And II he had looked nowhere else than 8
upon the picture which he has painted in 4
he preceding lines, surely his feet would r
have wholly slipped, but he goes on to 8
ell US: n
\ went into the sanctuary of God, 8
And considered their latter end r
surely thou settest them In slippery places. !.
Thou easiest them down to destruction
Asaph's near-sightedness was cured nv
glimpse OF God and His large purposes :.
md ultimate triumph, and so NAV the =
lear sightedness Of all Christians be so -
.ured. The thirty -seventh Psalm un- =
ODDS the part God plays in human A. :,
airs. and supplies the reason why the -
christian should not fret because of evil -
oers, or because Of their prosperity. "
lead It carefully and prayerfully. :;
THERE are two main types of the near
sighted Christian: One frets be-
ause Of the prosperity OF the wicked; the =
frets himself into wrong-doing.
he flrst is passive condition; the other IL
! active. Let us look at the first tyne tt
= .aerci0htod Christian uo ~ Il, q.