The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-03


in many an out-ofthe-Way passage. In
some historical incident, Or some neg
lected verse of prophecy, Or some dry
chapter about Jewish rites and cere-
monies we find whole sheaf or di-
vine teaching. God never put one
page in His Book without a purpose
There is more than a bushel of bar
ley in the Book Of Leviticus. Many
persons pass by this portion of the
Word as a mere upholstery shop OF
priestly robes and Jewish ritualities
But to him who can discern the things
of the Spirit the book is full OF most
rich and rare instructiveness. IT typ
ifies the christian life most wonder
fully. Even that long catalogue of
names in the fourth chapter of the
First Book of Chronicles furnishes a
text for capital sermon in that sim
gle name Of 'Jabez," the child of sor-
row, who turned out to be a man OF
many virtues. I once heard Mr..
Moody talk for half an hour to a mis-
sion school, and the children were de-
lighted. But he picked up his handful
of fresh truth in the fence corners OF
a chapter in the "Proverbs." It was
talk about the ant, the spider, the
coney, and the locust. Happy is the
Sunday school class and happy is that
congregation whose teacher under
stands where to find the handfuls of
fresh truth in Gods great field. He
always lets fall such handfuls to the
patient, prayerful CLEANER
In every field which Providence
opens up to us there is precious
grain to reward Our cleaning. Some
of my readers may even now be tread
ing a field over which the sharp sickle
of adversely has passed with keen and
cutting Affections. Your hopes have
been laid low. Has that stubble-field
nothing left for you but the thorns Of
discomfort and the brambles of un-
belief? Will you be so blind and
foolish as to prick your fingers with
Satan's briers? My afflicted friend,
the God of love will let fall some pre-
cious handfuls of comfort, if you will
only search for them with the eye Of
humility. In fact, there are scores of
golden passages in Gods Word that
were only intended for such as thee.
They are as truly designed for thee as
is the letter left by the postman with
thy own name on the envelope. These
passages of comfort are Christ's love
letters to thee. Never wouldst thou
have received them if thou hadst not
gone through the mown field Of Bit
ter disappointment or bereavment.
Here is one handful of consolation
let fall for thy cleaning. my grace
is sufficient for thee" GAS thy day, so
shall thy strength be-" Il will be
with thee in trouble and will deliver
thee" call things work together for
good to them who. love God" "They
that sow in tears shall reap in Joy"
"'Weeping may endure for night, but
Joy cometh in the morning" Here are
but specimens of the treasures of
strength and comfort which God
droppeth in the path of his chastise-
ments, for his own to gather up. In
the closing verses Of the ninety-first
Psalm is whole handful Of divine
promises, as sweet as honey and the
honeycomb.
What graces, too, are to be gather
ed in those stubble fields of affliction!
Abraham found there the noble COM
merdation that he was "the friend of
God" Daniel won his crown there.
Job came out Of that field, Wtlicn the
scythe mad apparently swept clean,
with whole armful of spiritual bless
ings. Paul never would have been the
man that he was if the first crop of
his selfish aims and ambitions had not
been cut away. Then he turned CLEAN
er for the Lord, and went home to
heaven more richly laden than Ruth
c,roe home from the barlev field. To