The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-02


assurance of the love of God. Where shall
W. look FOR ccrtaintv II not TO jesus
There il sn optimism IN A.-erican char
acter which tends toward contentment
with thls present world. l have re-
marked lt in my travels from east to west.
n readiness to take things as they como
and he satisfied with them.
In this assembly. "a large - VI is. hcli'
day assembly, too. there are undoubtedly
men who have some great sorrow. and
there are tTucs when many OF US have telt
some great sorrow. have found here and
there We come across silent men. who
have been beaten in the battle OF lie, and
who have no part in tins general optimism.
The world as God has made it ia one at
beauty. This morning. for example. tie
sun Is shining around IA everywhere: we
are .,ad To meet its beams: the very
brightness Affects our spirit. aud helps US
TO look forward with hope into the future.
But DO YOU realize that there is a tragedy
under every green leaf. Hear the waves
breaking upon the seashorel DO YOU real
ize that the smiling sea surrounding uS
Yesterday strangled some mothers SON.
Here are wc meeting IN brightness and
gladness. Do YOU realize that the same
sun shining upon us ~ taking the life OF
some one In some part OF this continent
to-day
Have YOU never felt. brethren. some
time that YOU could improve on life IL YOU
had the power that ls IN the hands OF
Gody
ooh, love. could you and | With Him con-
splrC.
To grasp this sorry scheme Of things en-
tire;
Would not we shattcr il to hits-and then
Re-mold Il nearer to the hearts desire"
1t is because of this mood that have
found IN America and England that people
have asked the question. How shall we he
sure OF God! Where Is spiritual certain
| tyy One man once said to me, IF you
were master of the community, | think !
could trust you. I don't think you could
wish me harm Can't YOU make me sure
! of the love OF God. oh. make me sure OF
| the victory OF Christi"
Now. brethren. listen tn me: first OF ALI.
| Gear the ground by this reelection. that
| the only real communion. the en,y spirit
| ual experience that IN worth having is not
! that which can be set forth IN terms OF
| mind: IL is not tnat which can he demon
strated by figures. and Won will have to
\ begin where tney did-in the upper room.
| A man must ind Christ for himself Your
| soul should be the reflection OF the mind
| OF the Master. The only real communion.
even here. is that which cannot be demon.
| strstcd.
for example. suppose the bishop. here.
| was called to his reward and while l am
Il
| is gone" Bat all that you can now see.
his venerable body. would still be here. and
| yet you would say. "He is gone" Yes. &C
would he his soul that had gone TO make
| perfect the union with Christ.
| Brethren. take the Christ out Of my
spiritual armament and the world would
| he dark and cold to me. There never was
a time when the worlds people were in
such demand of a Christ az today. No.
never, Ii YOU could take the Christ out
| Of history, if you could suppose the world
| 10 be as It is men would still be asking for
| some one TO save them. and the conquer
ing love would be- craved for by them.
even if they did not know il.
| Now, brethren. let us 60 back To the
Christ by all means. but let it I've the
Christ Of experience, not simply the Christ
| of history. Christ went away tn come
nearer. He went To His own and He never
left them.
II is by no means Gods purpose that any
man should remain in the house Of mourn
ing. On the throne Of the universe sits
one with the heart OF = child. No strsn.
GER cries but whose voice il heard by the
One whom Paul preached. whom John
loved the same. who in the far oH days oi
Galilee walked upon the hllsides doing
good. lie is en- the throne now
Mr.. Moody once told story IN England
| concerning the first evangelical mission
there. He was asked 70 call upon poor
man in Dundee who hnd been bedriddeu
for long time. Mr.. Moody went To take
blessing. but instead got one. The man
had been standing under me blessing ol
Calvary; IL was no shock to HIM 10 b. told
that the world seemed TO be upside down
and the man would have had poor time
OF IL if thrv had spoken to him Of his sui
rerings. When Mr.. Moody left the cham
her he said: "I guess when the angels pas
over Dundee. thew will stop at That hous,
for refreshments" DO you see. brethren
Do YOU seey
| Men like Peter and Joh' who hav,
been admitted TO the fellowship Of tn,
| cross do not doubt the love Of God. Pcac,
and pam. Joy and sorrow are not exclus
I'VE. The latter prepares the way for the
former.
| T onct heard "Cvpsy" Smith tell a stor,
| about his own little sons who had pIavet
truant. and IN trying 10 he stern he had
sent them 10 bed. and they were not e
have any auppor. If Won please. He passed
| the rest of the evening tiDtoeing about lis
tening and wondering what the effect o
| he punishment would bc. Finally. no
hearing any sound, lac made his way u
| the bed chamber Az he leaned over ~
bed one of She little fellows said. "gs tha
| vou father" 7 just went for him FnC
drew him ~ and The little fellow sohhco
out, Gather. viii YOU forgive me" eyes
my son: ves. yes. J WI forgive you, for
love YOU" "Thcn. father. take me dowr
20 supper" We know the great Fathc
hecause we have looked into the face o
| lbc Son