The Penn's Grove record., 1903-12-04

viii see that the expansion Of Christianity

il connected with the sheepcots.
IT was this fact and sense Of the Divine
Presence that brought to David inspiration
and strength. We take our inspiration
partly from ideatls bqt also from co-opsrss
ideals into life. God took David from
humble beginnings and led him away, kttIe
by little, from the ~sheepcote toward the
throne. The boy was to come into possess
sion a. thoughts, ideals and purposes that
would f0tsB him onward from point to
point; 30 MANY things are to be expected
from the company 4 man keeps, The
friends he chooses, the crest souls he per.
chose God, God chose biz and q fellowship
was formed that determined q careeI.
How much is to be expected from such an
association
This was real presence. It is a real
presence which God desires US to know and
realize. One says Of d great statesman:
He Rdbitualiy practices the presence cf
God and lives under Him to Chris" The
doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit is Z
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
puref, better and longer. You and I ever
more think we could have been, because
we have had those who loved us, and gave
to Us the ministry OF their love. How
with God BY His abiding presence! How
much more CONES out Of our lives because
Of this union! Mr.. Hurley is quoted AZ
saying of Mr.. Gladstone IN his remarkable
biography: life is a great and noble cali
ing; not a mean and groveiing thing that
W are to shuttle through as we can, but an
elevated and lofty destiny" The man bes
gins more fully to understand himself ana
the good he should strive to reach when he
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
II know, our indiscretions sofnetimes serve
that should teach us,
There's a divinity that shapes our end,
Rough hew them how we will"
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 required
David was only rich and sure OF the best,
as God was with him; this presence IN
volved a glory, blessedness and fruitlon be
yond the measure Of mans mind. The
shepherd boy, with all his limitations, is
SO reinforced by God that he I'M to
royal 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 a
IN Gods thought. The Heavenly Father
never left or forsook him. There were
great difficulties to face, sucA as belong
to every strenuous, religious life, and they
needed to be surmounfed. Many q INN
may stand before d mountain, but one
must climb the steep ascent and make use
of the means that are to be taken il he
reaches the height and the other side.
The difficulties which David must meet
and master are great. There were episodes
and experiences IN his life which to human
view seemed to saw: GIVE M expectation
and endeayor. for Won cannot Vi the
CROWN n il trre that he had been called
Of God and anointed by the prophet Sam.
uel when he was a lad, but he afterward
left the sheepcote. SO that he became q