The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-01-15


and rivers through a wide domain and
! gives its varied service 20 the wealth and
welfare of an empire. we give the noble
river larger consideration. IT means much
more to us. The coming of the King OF
Italy to France and Paris is something
more than a personal visit The King
brings the good will of kingdom. He
represents the desire of rapprochment of
two nations into reconciliation and friend.
ship. The decoration Of a city, the splen-
dor of illumination, the march of soldiers.
the manifested good will Of people, are
the emphatic expression of TIE value of
fraternity between nations.
These and recent movements of similar
kind are the utterances OF that longing for
the federation of nations in spirit OF adj
justment which will make for the prosper
ity and progress of all people The move
ments in themselves may seem simple, but
they are not child's play, when we, recog-
nize what large designs and hopes they ex-
press.
This little life of ours takes on greatness
and grandeur when we recognize that God
enters into it, with His wisdom. His love,
His purpose and His power. David was
to carry all these with him through the
long and trying way that led from the
sheepcote to the throne of Israel. That
life was big with the plan and power of
God in it. 1t had all the meaning and dig
nifty which these factors could give it.
When we take a comprehensive look we
will see that the expansion of Christianity
IL connected with the sheepcot!.
1t was this fact and sense of the Divine
Presence that brought to David inspiration
and strength. We take our inspiration
partly from ideals, but also from co-opera.
tive agencies that help us to translate
ideals into life. God took David from
humble beginnings and led him away, little
by little, from the sheepcote toward the
throne. The boy was to come into posses
sion of thoughts, ideals and purposes that
would force him onward from point to
point; so many things are to be expected
from the company man keeps, the
friends he chooses, the great souls he per-
mits to influence and help him. David
chose God, God chose hi: and fellowship
was formed that determined a career.
How much is to be expected from such an
association!
This was real presence. Tt is a real
presence which God desires us to know and
realize. One says of great statesman:
"Re habitually PRACTICES the presence of
God and lives under Him to Christ" The
doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit is
teaching about the real presence of God
with man. The words of our Lord in the
parable of the vine and the branches rep
resents the relation between Him and His
followers. It is more than any earthly
love: fellowship or friendly relation. How
much these contribute to make our lives
purer, better and longer. You and ever
more think we could have been, because
we have had those who loved us, and gave
TO us the ministry of their love. How
much it means when the soul is related
with God by His abiding presencel How
much more comes out of our lives because
OF this union! =, Mr., Hurley is quoted as
saying of Mr.. Gladstone in his remarkable
biography: Life is a great and noble call.
ing; not mean and groveling thing that
W are to shuttle through as we can, but an
elevated and lofty destiny" The man be-
gins more fully to understand himself and
the good he should strive to reach when he
admits to his mind and heart stream of
new perceptions, feelings and influences
which must come. when he allows God to
take him out of the crude. the sinful and
lead him forward. This God shapes life
and destiny.
The great poet represents Hamlet as
taking in this thought and saving: "Let
IS know, our indiscretions sometimes serve
us well, when our deep plots do pail; and
that should teach us,
There's divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will"
Were it not for the intervention of the
divine wisdom and will how all of our plans
and purposes would fail, just for the lack
of the wisdom, goodness and power which
they require!
David was only rich and sure Of the best,
as God was with him; this presence in.
volved glory, blessedness and fruition be-
yond the measure Of mans mind. The
shepherd boy, with all his limitations, is
so reinforced by God that he comes to
royal position and power.
This divine. presence is not only with
David at the sheepcote, but continues
through the long way of his entire and
checkered career, toward the good which is
in Gods thought The Heavenly Father
never left or. forsook him. There were
great difficulties to face, sucl as belong
to every strenuous, religious life, and they
needed to be surmounted. Many imam
may stand before a mountain, but one
must climb the steep ascent and make use
of the means that are to be taken if he
reaches the height and the other side.
The difficulties which David must meet
and master are great. There were episodes
and experiences in his life which to human
and endeavor, for you cannot win the
crown 1t is true that he HAD been called
OF God and anointed by the rrophet Sam
uel when he was lad, but he afterward
left the sheepcote, so that he became a
tried and successful soldier; the plaudits
81 the multitude had rung IN his cars, but
his apparent success excited the anger and
envy Of Saul. David became an outlaw,
hunted fugitive, and his life was in direct
peril. How could he become king! Yet
God was with him; this was his assurance
OF success. God was with him in his dark
est night in his deepest distress, in his
most difficult and dangerous experiences,
when friends were hopeless and no words
of assurance and cheer came from any hui
man source, but amid all this he was MAX
ing. progress, amid the labryinth of a mys-
ferrous providence, toward the throne he
was to occupy.
This, then. is the word for us to-day.
The God Of David will be with every one
who consents and covenants with Him. In
His wisdom we shall be wise; in His |
strenoth we shall he strnnn In His love