The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-06

But in this age Of doubt mary a da1s
are SO frightened out of sanity that they
are afraid to say even of the deepest ex-
periences of the soul, II know" Not 50
Paul, facing death: II know whom ] have
believed" Not so John, the be'oved dis
cip,e. declaring, "We know that we have
passed from death unto life. We know
that when He shall appear we shall be like
Him." 1t is not modesty, but Jack OF fa'th
which prompts Christians to say, Il hope
| am a Christian When we have life we
know it ard should not he ashamed to say
so. II we have not the life then by all the
importa,ce of eternity make sure OF OBJ
tanning it. 1t is possible to have a living
experience of Jesus Christ. To have such
an exncrience that we may say: y live,
vet not ], but Christ, liveth in me" Be.
lief NAV be glorifed into this experience If
we We'd ourselves completely and unre-
served,y to Him who is able to keep that
which we have committed to Him against
that day."
The effect of this certainty is in every
way most precious and he.nfu'. Consider
for moment what this certitrde means IN
the presence of the awful ca'amity winch
last summer sent a thrill OF horror
around the globe: Trne,. indeed; rs the
Scripture declaration ''if in this life only
rost miserable" If death were the end OF
all then we might well believe that cruelty
sat in the throne of the universe: But,
staggered as all are by the uuutterab'e sor,
row, vet God rnles and overru es. ana
though we cannot see it now, yet in eter-
nity we shal! know that the carelessness-
or worse-of ran has been overruled TO
eternal good. Because We know that Coz
is love, and because we know Jesus still
lives snd is the same to-day as when DE
shed tears at the grave of Lazarus, we dare
to 20 into bereaved homes and speak OF
the reunion at the right na' of the throne
of God. I went over to the pier: where lay
hundreds of the unclaimed hodies. aud l
wor'd not have dared to do it, but that
might comfort some heartbroken one with
the assurance that God cared. God loved
and in eternity God would make this un:
speakable sadness a source OF perpetual
ioy. Can I explain it? No! But could
not preach. could not ho.d ND nv head
as a Christian if did not believe; yea, II 1
did not know, that somehow, some time,
the curse shall be changed into Blessing.
This is the privilege OF Christians to say
even now: 1--WE know that all tninrs work
together for good to them that love God
Whv is it that all do moi know these
things? Partly because Of their condition
There are to-day those who "having eyes
see not, ard having ears hear not" The
influence OF training is not easiy overcome.
Trained on,v to consider as real chat which
can he ana,yzed by scientific implements,
men refuse Co admit the realty OF things
which they cannot weigh in their scales o.
measure by their rules. They are honest.
So is the bind man honest who saws color
does not exist. So is the desi. man
honest whose soul cannot he moved BY the
concord of sweet sounds. 1t is not dpes'
ton Of honesty. but of fact. God is, even
though the uubelieving eve rlay sweep the
heavens VIII the telescope and assert l
cannot see God. But trusting hearts VIII
say with ever increasing certitude: L
know whor, believe" This gives rs COM
fort in such time as this. IT is the only
thing which can give comfort, So. breth,,
rem. let us pace ourselves in the hands OF
a loving God. Let us lean on the DIVINE
mower. Let us trust the divine wisdom.
let ms assure ourselves of the divine home
in those mansions which divine love has
nrenared for us. and let US be confident
that
sTr'al works for ends
Too high for some to trace,
That oft in dark attire He sends
Ea Some embassy Of grace"