The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1905-04-14

ucsplSeS. Inc truly DeauuIul music
he once despised now lie loves. Ny
friends, If you do not love the society
of Christian people there Is something
wrong in your life. You have a dis
eased spiritual appetite. The sooner
you go with the truly consecrated PEG
pie the sooner you will learn to love
their society. DO not make the prayer
Of my text, "Restore unto me the JOY
Of thy salvation unless by constant
association with Christian people you
do all in your power to develop that
spiritual joy.
But In order to fully grasp the beau
ty Of the psalmist's prayer you must
remember that 1t Is given with the alb
solute knowledge that in his own
strength lie was nothing, but that In
Gods strength he could be everything.
David at this time was standing under
the shadows Of his past sins. God had
blessed him again and again, yet just
after these many manifestations Of the
divine love he had fallen back into sin
because he had depended upon his own
strength. Thus David says, Restore
unto me the joy Of thy salvation and
uphold me by thy free spirit" That
means In plain English, 20 God,
bring me back TO thy loving grace,
cleanse me from sin and then by thy
power do not let Inc again wallow In
the quagmlres and the boys and the
filth Of evil" After David had played
the fool In King Achish's court and
had murdered Urlah TO steal for him
self Urlah's wife. ought he not TO have
made this prayer with fear and trem-
bling? After you and / have sinncd
again and again when God had re-
stored upon us the Joy Of his salvation,
ought not we TO make this prayer in the
same spirit as David made ~
Trust In the Father.
II Is only by doubling and continuing
To distrust our own strength that we
are led TO rely entirely upon Gods pro-
tecting power. would have US feel
our dependence on God when we make
this prayer exactly as the little adopt
ed daughter OF dear friend OF mine
feels toward her father. lie is n noble
man, made noble through suffering.
lie started out Ia humble financial
circumstances, but he went on and on
In life until at last he won a position
OF wealth and influence. But after the
wealth came. then came the sorrow.
God came 10 his two little girls and
said: "Come. daughters; comet | want
you 10 play in the green field Of heav-
en-" And In n night the earthly nursery
was emptied for the celestial play
grounds. Broken hearted were my
friend and his dear wife. The cry OF
their agonizing hearts was, 20 God,
give us a little girlg And God gave
them a little daughter. not OF their
own flesh and blood. however. but a
little girl who came out Of a hovel OF
poverty and filth and sin.
Some months ago this little girl was
In a founding institute In one OF our
large eastern cities. by this lnstitu.
tlon she was sent west and put into q
low Mexlcan's home Of ignorance and
filth. There my friend found her and
said: "She shall not remain here. She
shall come aud be my daughter and
I've In my home" lie took her west
Then he and his wife washed the little
girl and put clean clothes upon heI
and put her Into a clean. white bed
They surrounded her with all that
wealth aud love could give. Yet
though that little girl Is now only
about two and one.half years old. sh,
lives Ia continual terror Of being taken
hack 90 her past surroundings. Every
night before she goes 90 bed she call.
her foster father 10 her side or crawl.
up into his lap and puts her It'll,
arms about his neck and says. Papa
you won't let them come and TAX,
baby away. will your Sometimes sh,
awakcs ut night and calls and ask,
the same question. you won't lei
them take baby away. will youy" Ant
the great, strong man, with tears IL
his eyes. says; "No. baby; no. daugh
ter! I viii not let them come ant
take you away from me and mamma
Go TO slcvp now; papa will Keep 70,
safely by his sidc-' So David. as /
hcartbrokcn sinner. Just reaches NJ
and puts his arms up IN plea TO Go,
aud says % Father. keen me. Don
let me GO back to sin as have don,
In the past Keep me, Lord. kccl
me In the power " thy love" llav,
you not. O man, sinncd after Go,
has restored 20 you again aud agail
the Joy ~ saivatlonl Can you not sa!
TO him now: Keep me. Lord. kccI
me. Father. Keep me"
Thus my friends. because you hav,
again aud again come 10 Christ an,
tasted Of the Joy Of salvation aud thel
fallen away do not let your brokcl
resolutions keep you away from th
Saviour today. First get a clean sheet
Say. % Col. forgive" Then make
prayer. an earnest prayer. which Wi
be- a continuous prayer Tor every morn
lnr. uoon and night Let this bc YOU
PRAYER. % God. kCCp me. kcrp my
o tlorl. kcCp me every stcp ro.
And God will keep you, brother. ~
will keep you under the shadow ~ hi
wings, lie viii keep YOU ~ David wa
kept WIN you make the prayer ~ m.
text now2 VIII YOU continue to max
the earnest prayer. Uphold me wild