Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-08
BENEFIT OF REFLECTION.

to be better leader ana man IN the
future than he had been in the past.
The arguments TO this end were the
past mercies and ever watchful care of
the God whom he worshiped. AS he
contemplated these, the fire of his soul
was kindled to noble resolve.
So we find him saying in the text,
"While was musing the fire burned"
If we may draw upon our resources
in mind to find what things were
coursing through the meditations of
the shepherd King, we shall come
face TO face with some very practical
and helpful suggestions. What, then,
can we reasonably conclude were some
of the things that caused the fire of
resolution to burn within David's soul?
| First. he must have considered his
childhood. How, in hrs tender youth,
he had been the recipient of tender
| parental cares How the powers of his
! life were schooled and developed under
the inspiration of singing brooks, sigh
ing trees and the perfume of sweet
| flowers while he kept his fathers
| sheep on Judean hllsides. We are not
surprised that these fond recollections
| created in him new determi alton to
| live the better man becaus' of the
| besiedictions of his early day
As with David so with us. No man
can contemplate the environments of
his tender youth and not have the fires
| of his soul blaze with new courage and
effort to defeat the enemy that would
/ ingulf him. Go back again to the
mothers knee and say over once more
the little prayer, Now l lay me
| down to sleep; walk through the
woods as then and gather the flowers
! by the way: go sit again in the old
swing and view the cottage home in
| your reverie; yea. listen to the sweet
| parental voice as it sounds the notes
of a familiar hymn, and then a 'ay TO
slumber, to be tucked in by the hands
! of mother dear, to dream of her ira
| vail of body and anxiety of soul that
| you might grow up to be a man after
| Gods own heart. of whom she will
not be ashamed.
The person who can think of such
| ing his substance in riotous living,
is unworthy such parentage and a
| renegade without heart. If there were
| no other reason for living pure, noble
and upright lives, the memory of the
benefactions of childhood should be
more than sufficient.
Secondly, David unused on the pro-
oF ie, Ga
To him had been given strength TO
| overcome the beasts of the field; to
meet the mighty giant in battle. when
| all the army of Israel stood trembling
before him; to successfully lead and
| govern his people when he was but a
| youth. 1t was such thought that made
the old Kings heart burn with new
resolution.
1t is also true of men to-day If
| we stop and think of the watchful
| care that has been about us all along
| the way we are moved with n burning
desire to present true manhood to
| him who has stood amid the shadows
| keeping constant watch.
The Christian remembers that his
feet have been lifted from the clay
| and set upon rock; that often. when
the pillows of misfortune swept over
him. there came a sweet voice saving:
| peace. be stir; that, when his very
! soul has been in agony over the de-
| parture of loved ones from the earth
! the same voice has said, with comfort,
| "'Let not your heart be troubled. You
7
comfortless. My peace I give unto
| you" And when we Christian be-
levers think on these things our hearts
burn within Us to present unto our
God a more acceptable Offering.
And, when sinners behold the good
ness and protection of their Creator.
how can they 90 on in sin? The most
! deEraved sinner marches forward in
his infamy, while God gives him
health, prosperity and Il sound mind.
| can think of no sadder picture than
a loving Heavenly Father, looking
down on one of his own creation.
whom he has endued with every bless
ing, and beholds him unmindful of
any obligation to him who gives him
BREATH | am not surprised that Jesus
wept bitter tears over unmindful Jer-
usalem that he was shaken with grief
when he beheld the unbelief and sinful
practice of the people who stood about
the grave of LsAarus.
Oh, how can sinful men lie. steal,
orofane and debauch themsc! yes in the
face of a pleading and loving Christ?
How can they make the body den of
vice and crime, when God appointed it
the temple of the Holy Ghost? How
can they revel in. filthy meditation.
when they can "think Gods thoughts
! after him? How can they profane
the holy name of their heavenly bene-
factor. and then fight when virtue of
mother is assailed?
say unto you. unsaved people that
YOU do not think upon God. You do
not call to mind what he gives you
from day to day. If you did. you
could not refuse him homage and be
man. / call upon you to-day to
think Run over your life, as David
did. and find the myriad blessings that
have attended you, l do not desire
| to call forth unpleasant memories
merely to make you weep. but some Of
you need TO spend much time in tears
Of anguish over your sinful and lost
condition.
/ Once y5u were very sick The ply
let. 10