Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-11-23

be her announcement AMI help
Give thanks always for all things -
How could shes Yes. she was thank
fillmore than she could telI-for her
Saviour. She was thankful that He
had led her out Of the darkness and
superstition and sin which surround
ed her into the light and love Of His
Gospel. Her heart was brave to 90
forward. What though II had cost her
persecution At home, the loss Of
friends. the sacrifice OF all that a
Young and beautiful girl just enter
ing upon womanhood would hold dear.
she would not turn back: she would
not give up her faith in Jesus But
to be thankful for all that had BE-
fallen her. to be thankful that the
doors Of her home which should have
sheltered and protected her we're shut
against her-for that very night her
mother "a she bowed before the shrine
Of the goddess Diana set up in their
home bad called down the wrath OF
the goddess upon her because she
would not rerOurce her new faith AMI
bow before the imace as she had been
taught 10 DO and then her Ecthsr had
told her that II she went azain to
the meeting Of the hated disciples OF
Jesus she need never return. that she
would be an outcast from that tine
forth Could she b thankful sor this7
Could she BE- thankful that PythO.sorus.
. AfTwa- Of
z Character. whom she still loved
with all the arior and devotion Of an
enduring affection, hal after argument.
End pleading. and even weeping.
pushed her from him and left her in
a1ser saying that she should see MS
fare TO more.
The reading has ended. and with the
7est she bowed while the simple.
earnest. direct prayer was offered and
TIE bencfictiOn vas pronounced over
their heads Then as the disciples
gathered IN groups and taIlei with
one another concerning Gods word
sent them By the Apostle Paul. Matilda
erept timidly 10 the side OF Tychicus.
AMI with quivsring voice asked:
Teacher. what meaneth the APOSTLE
when he urges Us to give thanks al
ways for all things unto God9~
What Is il. ny sister, What
troublsth thee he said. As he looked
into her perplexsf face \ deep. anx-
ious. questioning light burned in the
beautiful ewes. and tie fair brow
vas el0Gded With the mists OF
doubt which filed the heart within
How can one - thankful for all
things and as the tears welled in
her eyes she lifted the fold Of her
.oose-ftting robe to wipe them away.
and then bowling her head upon her
arm she broke down completely.
Tyekicus waited patiently until her
grief had subsidized, ami then said:
My sister. what profit is it il We
are thankful for only those things
which favor Us and which We well
come Ere We came 10 know Jesus We
thought that the gods were the be-
showers Of all that was good or ill
and when evil overlook US and mis-
OF the gods that their wrath might
be turned from Us, but now that we
have come 10 know Jesus and through
Him the true God. His Father and our
Father as we are in Him. we have
learned that all things are in His CON
troll. and naught Of good or i'll be-
falleth US save that which He wills
Yea. I know we cannot understand
but is it not enough to know that He
understands"
But teacher. can We be thankful
that evil prevails and seems triur,-
plant. Can I give thanks that moth
er and father believe not in nv God
that from heneeforth the doors OF nv
home are shut against ne: that-that
Pythodorus has turned from nv side
and still elings 10 Diana and her
BEAUTIFUL temple and AZ the mention
Of her lovers name. spoken softly. a
blush sufiused her face.
Nay. my sister. thy thought is in
error We are rot to give thanks for
the evil itself, for the unbelief Of moth
AAAr4Ic. D4t rather
that in spite of the evil. and the I'M
belief. God rules and overruIes that
His purposes may be wrought out, and
honor and glory brought to His blessed
name through Jesus Christ our Lord.
>eest thou not the truth which Paul
would have your heart possess, Be
thankful always for all things with
a thankfulness which reaches beyond
the condition or the thing that sur
rounds you and brings you into Gods
presence. where the sweet conscious
ness that He knows and understands,
and doeth all things well may give
birth TO the real and abiding thanks
giving that knows no end"
God then is the veIlspring of our
thanksgiving and not human condition
and circumstances" exclaimed the girl
looking up. while her face was trans
formed with the new light which had
broken forth within.
Yea" replied Tychicus. with feryor
lit is the God behind the all things
Of life which the eye of faith should
see. and where we realize His presence
and await the outworking Of His will