The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-07-30

stern winter, and unfoi0e the puos into
the fullblown blossoms Of summer, aud
autumn brings her gifts of fruits and
grains. and paints the Landscape In
crimson and gold. We have learned
Natures unfailing manifestations and
know that spring win follow winter
and summer spring and autumn sum-
mer. We know that she operates In
obedience to q mighty law.
1T IS but an easy ana orderly step
! from Nature and her laws TO man
and the laws which should govern
him. God is revealed as q God Of law
and order in His universe. Man recog-
nizes thia Relationship and this har-
mony, and why should 1t be deemed
strange and unnatural that God In His
relations to man should have laws.
which II 'obeyed issue in beauty and
harmony, but which, II disregarded.
bring discord and violence? The
Psalmist, sensitive to the Divine reve-
lation. passes from Nature and her
laws, to man and his laws. He could
sit out on the Judean hillside amid all
the beauties of that marvellous land
scape and enjoy 1t only as he sang the
complete song OF man and his rela-
tons TO God. and you anu must do
the same thing. We must not be con-
tent with the revelation Of God in Ma
ture, but we must seek the fuller reve-
lation OF God which is to lie found in
His Word. See what David thought Of
Gods Word; how he loved to view It
from all sides. It was law, perfect
law. converting and restoring the soul.
1t was testimony. sure testimony.
bringing wisdom to the simple-heart-
ed. 1t was statutes, right statutes,
making the life to rejoice under their
benefcent rules. 1t was command
ment, pure commandment, making the
eyes quick to see the good and to put
aside the evil. 1t was holy, Cody
fear, cleansing in its power, and endur-
Ing forever. 1t was judgments, true and
righteous, bringing deliverance to the
obedient heart and punishment to the
unrepentant and ungodly. To him this
Word was better than the riches Of the
world, and more satisfying than all
the sweets and dainties OF the world.
1t was the danger signal, the guide
post, which would keep the feet
from slipping into the bypaths Of sin.
and it was the bearer of rich gifts to
those who remembered 1t to keep 1t.
How much David saw in Gods Word!
How he loved to look off upon the face
of Nature and discover some new revela-
ton of God there, and then how eagerly
he would scan his bit of scroll Contain
ing Gods Word and there find some new
thought, some new secret, Of God In His
relations to him and mankind. But how
little We enjoy Gods Word. AS we go
off for our vacation rest, let us learn Of
God not only in Nature but In His Word;
let us seek that harmony with God which
prevails between God and Nature, and
gives to her such irresistible charm. 1t
may be our privilege to find Gods Word
meaning to us all that 1t meant to David.
A ND without Gods Word. there Is no
n recognition Of the personal rela-
tionship which exists between God and
men. How vague is the thought Of God
to multitudes of people. Why Is 1t SO !
Why Is 1t that people like to get lost In
the crowd and talk in vague sort OF
way Of the fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood of man? Why is 1t that
men like to think their own thoughts Of
God, and not Gods thoughts for them
and about them? Is 1t not because there
Is not the sense of the personal relation.
ship which should and must exist be-
tween God and man? Is Il not because
| man does not know and does not care To
know God? fear II is. Study your own
heart and seek to discover the reason
you do not want to know God better. Ii
1t not for the reason we have stated
aboveg The contemplation OF Nature
Gives convincing proof of the existence
OF a God. The contemplation of His
Word brings revelation of that God
which we have discovered in Nature.
And that revelation brings sense OF OBJ
legation to God. Hear the Psalmist as he
closes. He has beheld Nature and ex-
claimed how. lovely; how the glory of
God is manifested. He has beheld Gods
perfect, pure law and has exclaimed:
1t is better than gold and sweeter than
honey. But what an x ray II has been
to his soul! How 1t has revealed the
true condition! How 1t has brought to
light the hidden sins!
IT HE greatest discovery which man
i ever makes Ii the discovery of him
self; that Is the discovery OF his true
condition and need before God. Man
never does this of and within himself
| 1t takes the Word OF God to reveal 1t to
him. Dayid never knew what manner
of man he was until he had looked into
the mirror OF Gods Word and there hs
saw reflected and revealed his true like
ness. And as he realized what he had
thought he was and then what God had
revealed him to be he exclaimed: "whc
can understand his errors?" And the
answer throughout the ages has been
No man! No man can know himself ex.
| cept as God reveals that self to him
through His Word. And with the rev.
| citation comes the consciousness Of hope.
less and helpless state Of sin, and thu
prayer: Cleanse thou me from secre,
| faults" David a. he uttered this prayer