Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-07-10
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tian can find rest. but many Christians.
Gods children are going TO lind safety
anS protection under Gods wing be
cause they will work together and live
together and have heir hearts beating
together and. as IL were. snussle MP to
gether and keep each other spiritually
warm. They will be together as close
In fellowship as the chickens are close
together under their mothers wing. II
you lift up n hen wko Is covering her
little ones at night you will be sur
priSed bow many chickens her small
area is able 10 shelter. The reason
each chicken is pressing close against
the other chickens rs well as against
its mothers breast.
What today is the Christian fellow
ship of your daily life? Remember the
records are being kept in reference to
this matter which shall decide your
spiritual welfare for time and for eter-
nifty. A lady one day came TO the Rev.
John Newton and asked him how a
friend of hers who was member of
Mr.. Newton's congregation had died.
"Ah. my lady," answered the venerable
preacher. That is not the important
question you ought TO have asked. You
should have asked not how she died,
but how she lived" Are you living in
fellowship with Christ's children? Are
you living In close communion with the
members of your church? Arc you liv-
ing IN prayerful love with all men and
women who are trying TO bring the
name OF Jesus before n sinful race?
Are you living with Christ's followers
as closely as chickens gather under the
wings of n mother hen2
Gods wing often protects his children
best when they themselves are envel-
oped by total darkness. The little
chickens. running TO the warning call
Of the clueking hen. answer for the
most part to the blind obedience of
faith and love. When they crawl under
the overshadowing and enveloping COW
erlng of that wing they can see moth
ing. Under that wing IL total dark
ness. Once in awhile chickens curl
osity will impel her TO poke her little
head out OF the mothers feathers to
see what is going on. But when the
chickens are truly under that wing
they leave all and trust all to their
mothers care. 1t is because those
chickens stay in total darkness under
that wing that they often escape the
searching eye of an advancing foe.
IN Darkness ms In Light.
MY dear nearer, are you ready to
trust God I'm darkness rs well as In the
light? You came 10 me the other day
and said, II cannot understand why
this trouble was laid ut my door"
Neither can 1, L v brother / do not
understand why God should have
taken away from your side that young
man just Eve months after he was
graduated for the bar. He was a
bright fellow. He was a pure boy.
He was the child upon whom you set
your heart 10 take your own place.
You are I'm total darkness about this
matter. So am 1. But ! do know God
Is good. / do know that God loved
your boy. 1 do know that God loves
YOU. Though under Gods wing 1t may
be dark-dark at times as n dungeon
yet do know that above Gods wing
Is Gods all seeing eye. What God did
he did for good purpose. Trust him.
then, my brother. Trust him and have
faith as chicken under the darkness
Of thu hens wing trusts mothers
love.
/ do not know why In your old age
you should have lost your money. and
now In your physical weakness you
must work or be dependent upon
others. From my standpoint you al
ways seem 10 have been faithful
and conscientious Christina, ] do not
know why ira ID. Sankey. who has
sung thousands upon thousands into
the light OF the kingdom OF God. should
In the evening time or his life sit I'm
total darkness and as blind man
have to he led around, helpless as a lit
lie child. But | do know that call
things work together for good to them
that love God" do know his care
will give us peace that passeth all
understanding during the days OF our
affections. /. do know that some
day all inexplicables will be explained,
when God lifts his wing and the food
lights OF heaven roll In. ! do know
that under such conditions you and i.
my brother, my sister. can afford to
wait and trust Christ just little
while longer. We can trust him and
believe Ina him though we sit In the
darkness OF the shadows OF Gods en-
circling but loving wing
When the sky is black and lowering,
When thy path In life is drear.
Upward lift thy steadfast giances
Mid the maze OF sorrow here,
For the Lord will hear and answer
When I'm faith his people pray.
Whatsoever he hath appointed
Shall best work for thee Away
But though Gods wing is a spiritual
developing and protecting wing IL only
spiritually develops and protects his
own children. A hen knows her own
brood. She will do everything In her
power to care for and protect them.
II farmer takes some ducks eggs and
places them in the nest OF a sitting hen
she cares for those ducks after they
ire Matched. If there be a pond near
md the little ducks enter the water
he old hen upon the shore will be
She Will run round and round.
yA'e ~ van odt- Out ucli, as
rule-sometimes there are exceptions
will only care for her own brood.
The average hen Will not allow her
BROOD TO be mixed up with other
,roods. She will drive the strange
chickens away from her young. Shel
ries to keep the family intact.
Protection to All who Seek II,
The hens chickens know their moth. |
RS voice. At her call they leave
whatever they are doing and go to her. |
'Iy brother. have You heard Gods
'oice calling You? Have you respond |
ID or have you stayed In your sin, |
leediess OF his call? Remember, the
OF the divine wings is over
lone but those who seek It, Gcd's |
wing is big enough TO cover all who re. |
'ent or their sins and come to him In !
he name OF the Lord Jesus Christ. |
But though Gods wing IS big enough |
o shelter the Mary Magdalencs and |
he poor publicans and the Peters and |
he Johns. though they may come by |
ne millions. there are some who miss |
is protection. What is the reason?
Iesus tells us in this very passage: