The Tupelo journal., 1904-08-12
THE JOY OF BELIEF.
What Faith in Jesus Christ Brings
Capacity for True Happiness
Increased.

When we become regenerate our pa-
ture as a whole is left as it was, EXCEPT
the evil influence of self; the pivot
around which it used to revolve is ex-
| changed for one of devotion to God.
You must not think that regeneration
| alters the nature to such an extent that
we are no longer able to laugh. to frolic
with children, to romp with boys and
| girls, to take an interest in music, or
this lovely world of Gods. All our ma
! ture is left as quick and susceptible as
| ever, but the self-principle is crucified,
and the Christ-principle is enthroned.
writes Rev. F. B. Meyer, M. A. The
| whole being has come under new and
blessed influence Of the love of God.
The first question we have to ask about
everything is: Has God created this
this love. this friendship, this employ
ment. this method of recreation? Is
this music of God? Is this check
stamped with His impress? Are these
things, to which u soul is attracted,
bearing. like coins DO, the image n
| superscription Of the King?
Here stands the cup before me. 1t is
CudStu With eAqhloIlC ohllA, II 40 II
ming. and it's color attracts and fascin-
ates me; I put my hand out to receive
it; but as | lift it to my lips, can | look
into the face of God and thank Him?
Is there that in my friendship which
enables me to soar? Is there that in this
| delight which startles my heart TO join
with the anthem Of the cherubim? For,
if so. I may take this thing with JOY ana
THANKSGIVING. counting it as innocent.
1T is sanctified by the word OF God
and prayer" There are some friend
ships. felIowships and engagements
which incapacitate US for prayer. You
| cannot turn from that hour which you
have spent, and at the close OF it say:
Let US pray" Ycu cannot come out
of chat recreation and take your Bible
and read your evening passage, This is
the third great test. If, then. you realize
that God. Who knew your nature and
made it. gave you. C,eated for you, that
joy, and fitted it to you with infinite
ingenuity: If you realize that. so far
, from being hindered, you may turn 10
| the most holy exercises of the closet and
read your Bible. End with
your God, you may look up into the face
of God and say: Thou art the blessed
God, the happy God, the God Whose life
is music, Who art light and in Whom ia
no darkness at all; and Thou hast put
this beautiful thing into my expert
ence; | cannot thank Thee enough, bur
| will rejoice and be GLAD; my heart shall
sing for JOY. and Thou wilt be glad be-
cause | an glad"
There is nothing more exquisite in
this world than the joy of littie chill
dren: to see them CULVER with delight,
the little faces flush with joy and the
eyes sparkle, and to have the child throw
itself upon your bosom, crying: Il an
so happy" And sometimes it seems
as though God comes into our life and
says: Little child. 20 rot think | am
always using the rod and administering
the bitter cup; l must do so sometimes.
not because | like it; but now, come and
have a good time and enjoy yourself
to your hearts content"
You s~orrowing people. take ioy-open
your heart to the slinting light. IoH
lonely people. let God put in some gift
of His tender thoughtfulness TO ailevi-
ate the monotony of life. You who have
passed through a great bereavement.
do not shut yourself up with it. but &C
cept the joys that God creates.
Everything which God has made is
beautiful. o sorrow. God hath made
thee: art thou beautiful. o black, sable
night, without star or Don God hath
r,alo +baa- q rt Thnr hoautiF1lf n ter
rible ache and pain. that snaws at the
heart and never leaves it for an hour:
| art thou beautiful, When we look at
, these things apart from God. they GER
tainly %startle. scare m Tighten us.
But perhaps we are not chil6like
| enough. l like that story in kingsley's
! life. One summer morning he was sit
ting with a friend in his study. and his
| little girl came in withsa long worm,
! exclaiming: 20 father, look what a
lovely worm | have got!" If we could
see worms with a child's eye, we should
think them beautiful. Goo is sc beauti-
full in Himself that Re cannot make
ANYTHING which is not beautiful. and il
we 90 not see beauty in things, it is only
because our eyes are not opeled yet;
but some DAY. when We stand with Him
and see things in His light, all the hor-
ror and darkness will pass away. and
everything which bears His signature
will seem beautiful. We may not feel
it to be beautiful. we may not see it
to be beautiful. but We dare to believe
that it is; and finally, in the very pres
ence of God. the scales will fall from
our eyes. and We shall see that He hath
made everything beautiful in its time.
Do you love GOD? Do you live back in
the heart of Christ? Do you know God?
oh, embosom yourself in Him! Let
your life be hidden with Christ in God,
and from that standpoint look out upon
everything. and you will find that para
disc has come back. and you will hear
God say of everything that He has made:
Behold. it is very good"
A Young Man.
A young man is like 4 bow; you may
bend it until the bowstring sings al
the touch. loosen it and it straightens
again. A young man is like a Spanish
blade; press your weight upon it until
it is bent double. lift your weight, and
it forms a straight line. Mental strength