Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
Spiritual progress,
Comic Rome

accord with His There. In my soul. He
reigns, the mighty Master of the instru-
ment of whose dominion I am never so
keenly aware as when sin breaks that har-
mony which He alone can call forth Into
discord and confusion.
God in conscience! God, the author OF my
being. is enthroned there either for my
salvation or my ruin.
may try to forget that DIVING companion
and by a wicked, careless life darken that
image in my soul. Unlawful Indulgence
the repeated violation Of conscience, may
deaden my moral sense, and the allure
ments of a sensual and selfish life put into
the background that Benign Presence ana
turn 1t into a portent Of evil, but there II
remains, and. like Banquo's ghost, VIII
not down" 1t for the willful sinner De-
comes dreadful opposing force which he
cannot conquer-of him, yet immeasuraoiy
beyond his control-pouring Its bitterness
drop by drop into his cup of pleasure, dog
ging his footsteps by day and watching at
his pillow by night.
Remorse! All, yes, that is what he must
come to call 1t. He may mock at 1t ana
laugh it down for awhile, but sooner or
later it will take shape again in greater dis
tinctness of outline. with its warning up
lifted finger and It's solemn monitory words
spoken in the depths of my heart.
God in conscience, how wonderful HIS
operations there! Not as the God OF nature
simply. nor the God Of nations as history
shows Him forth, but something more than
these-unitng the concepts of universal,
immutable law and the awful majesty Of
omnipotence with the more intimate re!a-
ton of the Seacher of Hearts and the Sow
ereign VIII whom we must fear and obey.
Here again is the key TO the problem OF
our personal existence. The realization OF
a personal Creator. whose anger we fear,
whose love we hunger for and whose
fatherhood is our comfort and mainstay. Is
the only motive that can impe us day after
day to wage that unceasing warfare
against the lower self which the rejection
of evil and the choice Of good must neces-
sarily involve.
Certain 1t is that there is no other motive
distinct from this which can give us heart
to take up our burden and face our duties
and responsibilities day after day. 1t is
only the sense of Gods intimacy and COM
partnership with US that can render our I'M
dertaking possible. -.Isl
Moreover, we are far from enjoying unal-
Logged happiness in our lives and this Is In
expncable until we realize that in the very
nature of things our happiness can be COM
pleted only in God. MY soul was made
for Thee. O God. and therefore must it re-
main unquiet until 1t rest In Thee" This
need OF God the education of the mo1a al
sense will but tend to make more keenly
felt. Man is at best a lonely being, her
and his most intimate friends there lies an
impossible gulf. There is but one Friend
upon whom we can lean with entire trust
fulness, but one sympathizer to whom we
can bring the burden are no longer able
to bear alone. but one soul of our soul. the
refuge to which we may turn when eli else
has failed He will lead US on through
life's difficult way. and He will support our
faltering steps and gather His faithful ones
to Himself at last.
Be Thou unto us a God, a protector and
house of refuge to save US. For Thou
art our strength and our refuge; end for
Thy names sake Thou wilt lead US and
nourish US.
Lead US, then. to Thyself. God, take us
home.