Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-25


divine message would receive. afraid oil
the consequences 10 himself The trans
formed rod revealed the secret of his hesi'
fancy: he fled from before Il: fear was
within his heart God gave him mastery
over that weakness. He reached forth his
hand and grasped the menaciHc serpent
and it became a rod again. Moses was
taught and. rs his after life revealed.
learned the lesson 81 foaresSness for God
and His truth. III God be fer us who can
be against u:
The relation OF fear to all life anil truth
is an interesting study one on which more
light is now shed than At any other time
in the words history. Fear is altogether
detrimental to the health aud growth OF
the physical body. Professor Sui,v tells
rs Of children dwarfcd and ruined in body
and mind through the shock and power
Of Simp'e fear. Psychologists tell uS and
we know from experience that fear binders
digestion. that ii brings mental collapse
The changing of the cn'or OF the hair in
one night through the paralysis oi lear j. Il
well established fact. That which can 50
radically change the color OF pigmcnt must
have an awful effect unon the more vita!
and direct parts Of The body. Fear de-
Stroys mental and spiritual dcrelorment.
Every hool, on pedagogy and t'c spiritual
training OF children now recognizes and
emphasizes this truth Dicl.,n> powerfully
Illustrated this truth 10 al Enr,and III his
y y
havoc in the religious life: it has distorted
the vision Of God and frozen The gcna!
md natural eYnro ;>ionS OF worship. 1t has
naralyzed and hamperea the church in her
triumphant march. 1t has transformed
maHv OF the rcSscn"ers OF God INTO roor
whining and ineffective ano.ori-t~. 1t is
his fear in reli"inn and for religion that
s,nr God would haze u overcome cvca A.
He had Moses overcome. n right conccp-
.ion OF God is assurance that He must
lriumnh n the work OF His hands. that
His kingdom must come and His love and
ruth prevail everywhere. God would have
His children confident in the lrescncc OF
difficulties. assured in tie presence ot
neri,s. calm in the mighty storms OF preju-
lice and d0aht. certain in the midst OF nv
,ertainfies lie you'd have us o3cv Him
IS INN icit.v ard Lovingly rs the Gentle
,hid ohevs tie loving parent, In ali this
He would have us open eyed to danger.
direct in the meeting OF it aad sure in the
naStcrv OF it.
To-day the church. as a whe,c. is more
possessed Of fear than we like 10 acknow.-
edge. \ dominant mate ia'ism and world
iness freeze the faith ard hone OF great
numher-evange'ica zeal ard enthusiasm
are at 'ow chh in these trembling chill!
dren of the Most High. Critical scholar
ship. with all the presupnositions of the
higher criticism. stands before the church.
1t must he met. Some fe5- that dire and
dreadful result; to the cause of God must
ensue. The sciel nc spirit stalks abroad
in the land and has seized the people with
mighty grin. Many a child of God.
knowing that his most precious possessions
have not and cannot. from their nature.
come through or he established by such n
spirit. but that they are the gifts OF faith
is fleeing with fear from before the mag
ined terror. 10 all surn fearful believers
God says-even as to Moses in the miracle
of the rod-"meet the difficulties seize
them in their vitals and fear not"
There can be but one result TO the child
of God The Apostle Paul knew this when
he wrote: ''All things work together for
GOOD 10 them that love God" There can
he but one result to the Kingdom of God
His kingdom is al everlasting kingdom"
All things shall be put under His feet.
In the PREPARATION of His church our
Saviour gave great attention TO the cradica-
tion OF the clements Of religions fear. His
addresses 10 the seventy and the twelve
were supreme emphasis upon confidence
in God and fcar,essncs> toward man and all
things that were or n'irhf appea" in op-
position to the work Divine. "Beno,d
give unto vou power 10 tread on seTpents
and scorpions and over all the power OF
the enemy and nothing shall by any means
hurt vou"
In His relation 10 them on sea and land.
a'one or with the multituGcs. before and
after death. thore constantly appears di-
rectly or bv infcre~oc the injunction: he
not afraid" TIE Master would have Ills
children ioyfully eXDcctant OF His presence
in every Race and unier all conditions
and to realize that that Presence was the
ultimate solution Of every problem. the
resolution OF every Difficulty aud the full
hliwent OF evc"v promise; that the fear 'eSs
challenge of the church should ever he:
IF God be for Us, who can be against
uSS''