Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-07-27
Of a Divine law. Spring follows unfsn.

OF Divine law. Spring follows unfail.
ingiy upon the retreating footsteps OF
stern winter. and unfolds the buds into
the fullblown blossoms of summer. and
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 will follow winter.
and summer spring and autumn sum-
mer. We know that she operates in
obedience TO a mighty law.
IT is but an easy ana orderly step
l from Nature and her laws TO man
and the laws which should govern
him. God is revealed as a God OF law
and order in His universe. Man recog-
nizes this relationship and this har-
mony, and why should il be deemed
strange and unnatural that God in His
relations to man should have laws.
which If obeyed issue in beauty ana
harmony. but which, il 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 IL only as he sang the
complete song or man and his rela-
tons To God, and yoA anE | 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 be found in
His Word Son W. avid
Gods Word; how he loved to view 1t
from all sides. 1t was law, perfect
aw. 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
beneficent 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 il was the bearer of rich gifts to
those who remembered it TO keep IL.
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 fo- 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 IL
may be our privilege to find Gods Word
meaning to us all that X meant to David
A ND without Gods Word. there is no
n recognition of the personal resa-
tiCnship which exists between God and
men. How vague is the thought of God
tD multitudes OF people Why is il so?
Why is II that people like to get lost in
the crowd and talk in a vague sort of
way of the fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood OF man? Why is il that
men like to think their own thoughts of
God, and not Gods thoughts for them
and about them? Is il not because there
is not the sense of the personal relation
ship which should and must exist be-
tween God and man? Is it 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. Is
1t not for the reason we have stated
above2 The contemplation OF Nature
gives convincing proof Of the existence
OF 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 Re
closes. He has beheld Nature and ex-
claimed how lovely; how the glory of
God is manifested He has bcheId Gods
perfect. pure law aud has exclaimed:
1t is better than gold and sweeter thar
honey. But what an X ray IL has been
to his soul, How it has revealed the
true condition. How it has brought 10
light the hidden sing!
HE greatest discovery. which man
ever makes is 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 il TO
him. David never knew what manner
Of man he was until he had looked into
the mirror OF Gods Word and there he
saw reflected and revealed his true like
ness. And as he realized what he had
thought he was and then what God had