The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
A SUNDAY TALK.

it is good Thing to give thanks unto the Lord
and to sing praises unto Thy name Most
Highest
To tell Of Thy loving kindness early in the morn
ing and Of Thy Truth IN the nlghtseaspn. faains
xchd, ?.
/ In this workaday world, where If seems
so often that a man has to fight for his
own hand where when depressed. we
are apt TO regard those with whom we
arc running the race OF life as COM
lpetltors with whom We must grapple
strongly, think that too seldom. we
go 90 the Psalms Of David for that in
sniration which surely we shall find
/ there
The beautiful songs of praise and
Thanksgiving in the Psalms should be an
uplift 20 any man. no matter what tenn
porary troubles assail him, or howsoever
/ deep he may fancy be is stuck in the
slough of despond out Of a full heart
| and a grateful soul We may always find
causeF 10 praise the Lord Of all, that He
| has carried us 50 far on the way-s0
far without utter failure. Had we the
attributes Of Cod, self-sufiicient, law
unto ourselves, then might we rest con-
tent with what We have been able TO
achieve, look backward at Our sins smil-
| ingly and say that We had left them
behind forever But We are men in a
world Of men weak. fallible, sinful and
had we our just deserts. who is there Of
us all would scape whipping
We do get our whiDpings once IN a
while but II q man be but honest with
himself, he cannot help but admit that
for the sins be has slnned he has es-
capped lightly Too often we are likely
20 attribute this immunity from the con-
sequences of our wrongdoing 10 our own
smartness and the deftness with which
we cover up our tracks. But be not
deceived. God is not mocked, and though
our regulations may be fairly clean and
decent, we know in our hearts how little
We deserve. and God in high heaven
Tie knows about it al he knows, He knows
1t is. therefore. only q stirring recall 10
duty, 10 the merest gratitude when we
run across the verses from the Psalms
quoted above. Surely at all times 1T
is a good thing % give thanks unto the
Lord, for such thanks imply at once
a recognition OF aur own lack OF de-
serving and Of the goodness of the Al
mighty Father without whose love and
kindness we. poor humans. were as moth
ing. II is only common gratitude that
we should praise God for His goodness
10 us. manifest every day and every
hour. and we are but ingrates il we re-
I fuse His due 10 Him who has given as
so freely and generously. What We need,
] think, Is something Of spirit Ia which
Mrs. Browning wrote De Pr0fundis:'
praise Thee while my days 20 on.
J loys Thee while ms dsys 50 on:
Through dark and dc8TJh through ire and froSt
With emptled arms and treasures lost.
! thank Thee while nav DAYS g1 on.
And having ia Thy life Depth thrown
Hsing and suffering (which are onel.
As child drops his pebble small
Down some deep vel, sEd hears i fall
Suiliug-so J. Thy days 60 on
Yes. Gods days go On, and hour by
hour the task is ours 20 live them. The
gutter yawns for us, and the flesh pulls
us insistently In that direction II We
keep our feet on the high road and our
faces valiant toward the sun, il is not
because OF any power inherent in our
selves. but by the grace Of God. And
II We can only come 70 realize this. we
should come, too, 10 recognize the pleas
ureable and helpful duty Of bearing pub
lic testimony TO His goodness and loving
kindness, so that our fellow-man may be
helped. even as we have been.
And as we help our friends thus. So
shall they help us They, too. will tell
OF the loving kindness Of God early in
the morning and Of His truth in the
night-season. and in the fine communion
OF gratitude We may turn to them and
say.
rfav th6u f5r me. The common sir
VII stronger puTgr seem On he.
And an the world wllI Er0a more fair.