Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-08-06
MEN SHOULD GO TO CHURCH.
BY Rev. Andrew Haqeman


tuary.-Psalms Xcvi., 6.
We love the places, the persons, the
things possessing these great qualities
strength and beauty.
The best strength and choicest beau
ty in the world-the strength of con-
secrated Christian purpose, the beauty
of Christlike characterize found in
the sanctuary and service of God. The
responsibilities of living in this world
of sin are so great, the obligations
resting upon those whose chief end Of
existence is to glorify God are so vi
tai, that men who are true to them
selves and their better natures can
not, dare not attempt to get along
without God nor without the inspira-
tons promised in his appointed
places
What are the results to be expected
in our lives if we are faithful to God
In the use of his appointed places and
means of grace negatively? 1t will
always be great trial and disappoint-
ment when hindered in any way from
attendance. This was David's ex-
eth, yea even fainteth for the courts
of the Lord" But positively we are
to expect as a result of our being in
touch with the strength and beauty
of Gods house, and of our obtaining
somewhat of these gifts and graces
in our own character, that sin will
lose much of its charm and hold upon
us.
When the love of Christ increases
in our lives every fascination of evil
grows less. Christ stated the undeni-
able in nature as well as in grace
when he declared no man can serve
two masters. No heart can vow and
hold its allegiance to two Kingdoms in
deadly opposition. BY grasping in
thought and desire the strength and
beauty to be found in his sanctuary.
men by law which is as immutable
as God himself lose their hold and
fondness for everything which is sin
full. The keener' and the truer this
conception of God Is, the deeper will
be the sense of sin and the more thor
ough the work of grace in purifying
our hearts and lives.
Again. we are relieved from all the
embarrassment in which we may find
ourselves in the providences of God
by setting our hearts desires on the
strength and beauty to be found in
his house.
David declares, when baffied and
taunted by the fact of the apparent
prosperity of the wicked and the con-
tinued sufferings of the righteous
when | went into the sanctuary of
God then understood l their end"
He learned there "who stand in Slip
perry places" and also the awful fact
that their steps in due time shall
slide"
He discovered as a fact of faithful
ness that God holds the righteous by
the right hand" guides them with his
counsel and afterward receives them
into his glory" There is no other
explanation to the inequality of re-
wards and punishments in this life:
to the apparent unequal distribution
of this worlds goods; to the suffer- |
ings, and trials, and burdens, and loss
es, and crosses which some have to |
bear while others go free, than that |
which is to be found in the revela-
tons of God to us in his sanctuary.
There and there only comes to us an
explanation which is both strong and |
beautiful-delightfully satisfying to
the soul of the renewed man.
A final result of discovering and ap-
propriating this strength and beauty
of the sanctuary Is that it puts a song
of gratitude in our mouths which will
last through an eternity, and which has
In it the sweetest notes of praise that
can ever be sung on earth or In heav-
en- John in his description of heaven
declares how we who are redeemed
by Christ shall stand nearest the
throne, closer than the angels who
never sinned and therefore cannot
know by experience the power of re-
deeming grace
Only from such creatures as you
and l are, only from sin stained and
grace redeemed men and women. can
come this sweetest, deepest, personal
cry of praise, Thou, o Christ hast re-
deemed us by Thy blood"
What strength and beauty, there
fore, there are in these days and with
In our reach to be discovered and ap-
in the Sabbath services and
of Godl
How definite, how distinct should be
our errandl To discover and to re
ceive the strength and beauty of God