Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-09


three Of the company were complo., Sc
broken down and were led to
shelter under Gods wing. That II
creation, that new spiritual birth. w
not mans work, bat Gods alone.
Oh. the creative and the crcatur
spiritual power Of Gods wing. va
cannot afford to be one moment with.
out 1t. SIR Henry Havelock, the MOS.
famous Christian soldier, at the time
Of his death. In the British army. 50
felt his spiritual dependence upon God
that he dare not and would not let any
day pass without at least two hours
spent in closest contact with Gods
wing. II the army was to march Mt g
In the morning then Havclock arose ut
4 and spent the interv entng time in
prayer and Bible reading, in talking
with God and in having God talk 20
him. Il can afford TO neglect cy, ry
pulpit preparation once wrote 'Ge
great Robert Hall, rather than neglect
my private devotions and sacred soil
tary communion with Christ" Oh, nv
brother and sister, are we trying to get
divine life by merely coming into touch
with man? Are we trying TO be gospel
evongelists, known and read Of all
men. without having our penitent
hearts beating against the great par
doning, spiritual life giving heart Of
God? Come under Gods wing today.
Come. that we may have life and have
it more abundantIy. Ihsten to the d.
vine call, and come to the divine shell
ter, and as the chickens find under the
hens wing comfort and safety and
peace, SO shall you find rest and peace
for your souls.
symbol of True Love.
Gods wing is a protecting wing.
There are two kinds Of hens. The one
Is n chickenless fowl, which is an ar
rant coward. She will run at every
strange sight and known danger. II
she could fly she would. When the
little boy throws stone at her she
will run to the opposite side of the
yard just as fast as she can 60, keep
Ing her wings Tapping to help along in
the retreat. But how different Is the
behavior Of one who is clucking to her
brood. Then there Is no towards heart
beating within the mothers breast.
Then there ia no danger she will not
face for her young.
The protecting care of a hens wing
Is one of the sweetest symbols of all
true love. What Is the matter with
that old hem" says the farmers wife
to her husband. For the last five min
utes she has been frantlc-cucking
and calling to her chickens She has
now gathered them all together under
her wing She is hiding behind the
wheelbarrow." Tho husband says
nothing until he goes out upon the
porch. He uses his hand for shade
and casts his eyes over the heavens
Yes, Wife" he answers, Il thought as
much. Do you see that black speck
in the heavens? Well, ] think that Is
the old hawk who stole so many Of
our chickens last summer, and that old
hen remembers him. I guess | will
help Biddy alt and try TO kill Mr..
Hawk and help save her chickens.
However, now those chickens are all
safe. They are under the hens wings"
The hens wings in times OF danger
are always protecting wings. The
other day was walking about a farm
and examining the horses in the stalls
and the cattle in the fields. while a pet
dog was running at my heels. During
my explorations I heard an excited
clucking. but thought nothing of H. As
| stepped into the barnyard pr.uer
| saw hen lying under a board ]
called to her, but she moved not. /
called again and again, and then tried
TO shoe her off what | thought to
be stolen nest. Then took a stick
and gave her poke. Instead of a
frightened hen flying away for her
life found vindictive and outraged
mother flying at me and my dog. The
dog ran in one direction in the other
Then the hen called again to her young
and gathered her chickens under her
wing, while she still eyed my four
legged companion as she would eye the
would be murderer Of her children
Oh, my friends, IN the beautiful sym
Dol OF my text. did you ever stop to
think that Gods care could be a pro-
tecting wing?
Gods Physical Protection.
God protects us In physical sense.
Some time ago a gentleman, with his
family, wished to make journey to
Boston. He hurried through his work
that his vacation might be one of com
plete rest; but. try as hard as he could,
be lost the desired train. A short time
after the gentleman read tho telegraph
ic reports that the train upon which he
hoped TO travel was wrecked in n col
lision and scores and scores of people
were killed. He Immediately gathered
his family together and returned
thanks to God because he and his loved
ones had been saved from this ca lami-
ty. But why ought that man especially
10 have thanked God that day? Ought
he not rather to be grateful to his Heav-
only Father for caring for him and
his loved ones every day? ] never
take trip in my life, and ! have trav-
eled thousands and tens of thousa nds
of miles, but realize the innumerable
dangers which everywhere beset me.
One intoxicated engineer, one drunken
switchmap. one failure of the signal
lights to work. and Death Is ready to
reach ont her Dony arms ana mig th~
breath out of me. II you DO not believe
what say. some night when travelling
lie awake in your berth. Then listen
to the rumbling in the distance coming
nearer and nearer until, with one wild
shrek, the limited shoots past, and
then realize the prevalent dangers