The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-02
mThe UnavernaI God.v

EekHCLGQ 4DE &AV AA6F F0A NaoOAs
 Thus saith the Lord, because the syrians have saidy '-rhe Lord is God of the hilis, but He is not the God of the .valleys': therefore will deliver all this great multitude into thine hand and ye shall know that ain the Lord. 1" king xx:2s.
 This was the profound mistake which the Syrian soldiers made. But we fear the whole world ie making the same mistake.
 what, if on inquiry 1t should be proved that we have but partial re- iiGion, a religion useful here. but use- less there: an admirable contemplation for Sunday, but a grevious burden for Monday. What if we practically re- verse the Syrian conception and say that the Lord is God Of the valleys. but not the God of the hills. That we. want him in the dark and dang erous plaees, but we can light for our selves in the open and on the tops Of the breezy hilis7
 is ours a local or universal God ]? It is an error to suppose that most of ue have God who is called upon on special occasion? How many of us live move and have our ebing'' in God that enriches and protects and trains to nigh purposes the whole life, body, soul and spirit7 For us does our God occupy the hilis alone or the valleys, alone? Or does He i'll all things with the fulness and silence of light?
 Some connne in Him to the hills of speculation and exclude Him from the valleys Of daily life.
 They are the intellectual patrons and aatterers of God. He is too great to Thought the Infinite Conception. the Unconditional Absolute, and various magnificient phrases. According to their view, He can take no part in daily experiences or in the common progress of life He is grand. but nse- less. He is glorious, but unapproach- able. And there are some who recog- nize God in the valleys of trouble, but ignore Him on the hills of strength and joy. They call Him in profession ally. He is kept for the hour of dis tress only. They make q convenience
 But God has as much to do with our prosperity as with our adcersity. Our breath is in our nostriis and our life ia the daily gift of God.
 The glory of our religion IS that it eomprehsnds and biesses the whole life.
 If life were a straight, short life, beginning and ending at points which the eye could plainly see; If 1t were an easy game which every one could at once comprehend; if it were com position in business, or a race on an open road and upon equal terms, then perhaps we might say that religion was not needed.
 what is this life for which true religion must provide? It Is an easy riddle. What is the origin? What Is this life? It can curse and pray: it can descend to beasthood, it can Ill itself for heaveni 1t can write poems in ink; build them in stone, paint them i ncoIor. And it can drive away its genius and die In lunacy.
 What is the hereafter of this multi piled life? Does it go out like a spark Does 1t perish like a day? Does 1t burst like a bubble? Or does 1t go forward to new scenes, grow up into nobler power, study proof under unestions and culminate in the very holiness of God? These are some of the questions that life asks Itself.
 They come from the very centre of the soul, and are the very soul It. self, translated into anxious, but mock ing words.
 Here is the proof of all true re- ligin, the comfort stay of the soul. It encompasses with an infinite sutti- ciency the whole life;, it is equally strong at every point. It can run with the foeman; 1t can keep pace with the horse. and 1t can even sub due into peace the swellings of Jor- dan