Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17

to see how it is even in SO good condition
as 1t was during the last century. Some OF
the reforms that we have worked for most
earnestly. and indeed that our fathers died
working for, have almost died out and
their efforts seem to have been of no avail.
We often forget in the rush of reforms that
we hold weapon mightier than our enemy,
quiet In its workings but sure-the power
of prayer.
Great promises are these in our text II
we will but fulfill the conditions. The con-
dition of having the desire of your heart
granted is that you delight yourself in the
Lord. The condition of having your OWE
way is that you commit that way to Him.
We are not to work less that we pray
more We are to "do good" whatever our
hand findeth to do in helping to make the
world better, but we must not expect al
ways to have our plans succeed. God sees
farther than we, and plans for far wider
ends. 1t is the trusting, not the working,
that brings to pass His promise is sure.
For they shall soon be cut down. And
is it hard to trust, to see our precious plans
work out to other ends than we hoped when
He has promised that in a little while we
shall see the evildoers no more? 1t is not
relief to hear Gods voice hushing our
fretting, that "God-forgetting emotion" as
Alexander Maclaren calls it, and bidding
us just do right and leave the rest to Him.
1t is often difficult for those who feel
deeply to separate conviction from per-
sonal pride In ones own work, and from
personal eagerness for combat. We forget
that God is at the head of the universe, and
work Our plans may be running counter
to His. Alas! we undervalue what we may
DO by coming to Him in prayer. 1t is well
to turn aside from all the busy work for a
little while, and roll thy burden on Je-
hovah"
But there IS bright side and the world
is growing better in spite of our frequent
fears. 1t is well for to take account of
our mercies, and of the progress of the
world within the last century. that we may
weigh. count and measure the benefits God
has given us.
Take, for instance, the cause of mis-
slons. You remember from what small
things foreign missions started, and that
comparatively short time ago. Now see
how every land has been entered by the
Gospel, how even the daily secular papers
constantly mention Christian missions, and
the governments of the world recognize
them and give them protection. Look at
the statistics of missions and see how
many heather are being numbered among
those who love and serve Christ Read
or hear told by a missionary. what a diff
ference this will make in the heather
homes.
Take the cause of temperance. 1t seems
as II there We're just many drunkards
as there used to be, and the fight against
the saloon is doing no sort of good, hut
reflect for moment on the effect that
temperance instruction in the public schools
is gong to have on public sentiment a few
years hence. The foundation for different
things in that line is firmly laid now See,
TOO, how public sentiment has changed
with regard to social drinking, and now
legislation has been compelled to recog-
nlze temperance workers in many lines.
The canteen has gone from the army. That
full.
Take the question of Sabbath observance
A few years ago there would not have
Deen even an agitation concerning the OPEN
Ing of the doors of fairs and places of
amusement on that day. Now, by hard
work, the earnest ones are able even to
E9
gay. And many amusements that former
~ were held as matter Of course on
Sundays are not allowed now
There is much vice and impurity vet,
of course, but people are becoming thor
oughly awakened, and there is even a
mayor now and then who attempts to en-
force the law and suppress them.
Oh, we shall find enough if we look for
1t, to make us sure the world is growing
better and Christs kingdom is drawing
nearer. You cannot look around your own
neighborhood without being able to find
much to prove this.
Applied Truth.
Dr. James Hamilton says: among the
forms of insect life there is little creature
known to naturalists which can gather
round itself a sufficiency of atmospheric.
air, and SO clothed upon, it descends into
the bottom of the pool; and you may see
the little diver moving about dry, and at
his ease, protected by his crystal vesture
though the water all around be stagnant
and bitter. Prayer is such protector a
transparent vesture. So God tells US to go
enveloped among the prosperous evildoers
In the world, fretting not at their pros
perity. but encircled by our vesture of
prayer and dependence upon Him, move
easily about the task He gives u.s. knowing
that He is working out His purposes, and
that we may count the good we see all
good, and know that the bad will soon be
destroyed With this strength about us we
cannot doubt but that the world is grow
ing better.