The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-20
ners with him In building the taber.


lations and amid what will otherwise
be the drudgery OF daily living. He
leaves us the same task. Merchant
and teacher. sailor and soldier. farm.
er and workman. author and editor.
housewife and clerk. mistress and
n aid, lawyer and preacher. however
humble and obscure our lives seem,
We are 10 be fellow workmen with
God in bringing things divine into
these seemingly common and un-
meaning activities and relations.
After the clouds and glory had with
drawn from Sinai, the humblest Is
raelite could point 10 the tabernacle
and say: THE glory OF God still fol-
lows us all through our wilderness
wanderings in that tabernacle yonder,
and without me IL would never have
been complete" Iour life. where it
-, ,s needed Ior the rearing OF some
thing greater and better than the
tabernacle In the world OF to-day, and
without IL the kingdom OF God will
never come in its fullness. Before
this al other needs OF our time sink
into insigniticance; for the truest
tabernacle for the showing forth OF
God 10 the world is not pattern
hidden in the majesty OF unapproaCh-
able heights, nor is it temple or
cathedral, helpful as these may be,
but life simple outwardly, though
with luXuriant and divine furnishings
within; a life spent on the lcvels
where our fellow men live tneirs,
filled not with such consecrated fur
nishings as adorned the tabernacle
Moses fashioned, but with the graces
and kindly deeds men need 10 see and
nal ut hn l. Il
as divinely appointed 10 us as il was
20 Moses. 1t is the greater building,
in which all our common tasks and
humblest efforts may have an hcpored
place as truly as did the altar and
laver in the ancient tabernacle.
But for this successful building OF
our lives into Gods purpose we, 100,
must seek our pattern in the mount.
God Himself builds according TO
plan. Even a casual glance at His
wonderful world this morning will
disclose that. Purpose and plan are
everywhere. Not one grain OF sand
Is law unto itself. Not one tower
blooms, or withers, uubidden. Not
one leaf drops before its time. Not a
bird note is unrelated: its music Is
born from present conditions and
wakes its own echo. All things fall
into their place and carry out the di-
vine purpose.
This is the method of the divine
building, whether in nature or in hui
man lives. And IL may be so in your
life and mine. We may know Gods
purpose for us and follow ii as truly
as the grain of sand, the flower, the
bird of the air. IF any man willeth
TO do His will" said the Master. "he
shall know" God does not withhold
His plan from any man. The mount
is ever ready for the revealing of the
pattern, but men must take the time
to learn, TO withdraw TO it's retreat.
The pattern came not to Moses till he
had twice spent forty days and forty
nights in the mount alone with God,
After many years tuition in the
wilderness came John the Baptist.
herald of Christ. The wilderness was
his mount of vision. Handel had a
spiritual ear. and gave the world the
oratorio OF the Messiah, and when We
hear it we must not forget the long
period OF preparation. Michael An
gelo had the spiritual eye ana hand
and painted the frescoes OF the Paul
inc CHAPEL with the representations
of the martyrdom OF st. Peter and
the conversion OF St. Paul. and carved
the statues OF David" and Moses"
II Paul spent three years in Arabia
TO mediate upon the vision he had
had OF the Christ, who had met him
on his way TO Damascus; If Christ
himself retired TO solitary places for
quiet and prayer, you and I need time
for such a disclosure Of Gods will for
us as He is waiting 10 give. Before
f,,h q fahn .a,lf,
OF our lives in the plain Of daily ser
vice we must seek the pattern in the
mount, not Sinai, but the heaven
pattern has cone near men in Jesus
Christ. We ha 2 not to seek IL amid
the perils. darkness and difficulties
OF Sinai; il is here with us, built I'm
all its divine perfection on the levels
OF our daily needs; supplying MS with
all desirable inspirations. helps ana
satisfying fellowship, opening the
very vail by which ~ enter into the
most holy place Itself IL is not a
mount distant and removed. but
presence near at hand. familiar with
our needs. to which we may with
draw In moments OF discOuragement
or temptation, full OF divine comfort
and ,sOlacc for the hours OF sorrow.
full OF divine strength and vitality iD
our days OF weakness when all other
help seems far away, full oi gracious
warning when We are careless and
waywald. We need ever 10 be with
drawing into this mount, Jesus
Christ. II we are 10 realize the pattern
in the pain of our eartnly living. Ee-
cause IL Is so accessible. SO complete |
in its ministry. sec. therefore, that
thou make all things according 90 tBs |
pattern that was sAGwCd tnce iu the |
mount