The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-30


 safy conditions. But the inner life we cannot suppiy. From God above 1t comes. Without Him the seed cannot spring rp. the blade cannot grow, the stalk cannot rise heavenward, the ear cannot gradually enlarge itself in phe sheath. and the grain cannot swell anu ripen fn the ear, from which comes bread, the stan of life. Yes. It is ooo Who give the increase and converts the outward things we do lnto N.sa e,sssa iugs. Without His will and 'proVioehcs all we do would go for naught
 Again. let us see to it lest we fan into the sin of thinking we are 70 pe thankful for material things only' How common 1t Is to hear people con, plain, I have nothing to pc thanktu, for. My business has not prospereu this year. have not made any money. What an inadequate. not to say un- christian conception of thankfulness ls this! It is pan essentially mean ana selfish Idea of gratitude It shows we put our grounds for thanksgiving to God solely on what we have gotten out of Him in the way of temporal tnlnes' that is, things which minister ohiS sp our physical needs. that portion oL 1uL being which we share in common Wltn all animal fife Or. we say we should not be thankful because death has ta- ken up our family circle and borne away from our sight some loved one Even here we can be thankful, if we have a truly Christian spirit, Tor now ever great our sorrow and prief, we can still look up to our Heavenly Fa- ther and thank Him for the years that loved one was spared to us, thank film for the joy and happiness which came therefrom
 Nay, on this day of all days. let us put aside such an unworthy spirit. Let us with grateful hearts and ador- ing souls recall and realize the many blessings for which we should pc thankful. For instance, let us thank God we have been spared to celebrate another Thanksgiving Day. thank Hiin that we can still see the glad sunlight and breathe the breath of life, thank Him that we have strength and heaitn for the discharge of our daily duties and also to give Him service and ? ajse. thank Him above all. for our spiritual privileges, thank Him that we still have opportunity and the means Of grace for working out our Salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord, thank Him for that Kingdom prepared for us before the foundation of the earth were laid, and which we shall surely pos- sess, if with grateful hearts and obedr tent wills, we faithfully strive unto the end.
 Yes, let us give high praise and thanks to God for all the blessings He has showered upon us. Let us rejoice and be glad in the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts in thanksgiving and magnify His holy Name. Let us pray for His Holy Spirit to help us make use of every means of grace. Thus shall we be preparing for the time when God shall send forth His angels to reap the harvest of souls and be found an acceptable people in His light. But, let us not Gin the words of anoth- er.) forget that thanksgiving should be accompanied with earnest prayers that we may have the greatest bless ings of all. which is not out ward, but inward, making the soul sweet and the mind clear and the will strong to serve God with holy fear and our fell low-men with justice. liberty and love" If we commemorate this day in such spirit of Thanksgiving; be as- sured men and brethren. that even as we rejoice in the earthly harvest we shall be inspired to make diligent prep aration for the Heavenly Harvest, Thus shall we. by Gods grace, be en- abled to beat the chaff out of our lives. and so, at last, be gathered as pure graininto the Heavenly Gamers where our thanksgiving shall be cou- tinuous and unceasIng, for then shall we render blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor unto our God for ever and ever"