Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-11-12

drawn from Sinai, the humblest Is
raelite could point to the tabernacle
and say: "The glory Of God still fol-
lows us all through our wilderness
Yanderings in that tabernacle yonder,
and without me 1t would never have
been complete" Your life, where 1t
Ia, is needed for the rearing of some
thing greater and better than the
tabernacle In the world of to-day, and
without 1t the kingdom OF God Will
never come in its fullness. Before
this all other needs Of our tine sink
Into insignificance; for the truest
tabernacle for the showing forth OF
God to tho world Is not a pattern
hidden In the majesty OF unapproach-
able heights, nor Is 1t temple or
cathedral, helpful as these may be,
but life simple outwardly, though
with luxuriant and divine furnishings
within; life spent on the levels
where our fellow men live theirs,
filled not with such consecrated fur
nishings as adorned the tabernacle
Moses fashioned. but with the graces
and kindly deeds men need to see and
feel near at hand. This Is our work,
rs divinely appointed to us as 1t was
to Moses. 1t Is the greater building.
In which all our common tasks and
lumblest efforts may have an houored
place as truly as did the altar and
laver in the ancient tabernacle.
But for this successful building or
our lives into Gods purpose we, too,
must seek our pattern In the mount.
God Himself builds according to
plan. Even casual glance at His
wonderful world this morning will
disclose that. Purpose and plan are
everywhere. Not one grain of sand
Is a law unto itself. Not one flower
blooms, or withers, unbidden. Not
one leaf drops before its time. Not a
bird note Is unrelated; Its music Is
born from present conditions ana
wakes its own echo. All things fall
into their place and carry out the d.
vine purpose.
This is the method of the divine
building, whether in nature or In hui
man lives. And 1t may be so In your
life and mine. We may know Gods
purpose for us and follow 1t as truly
rs 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 tho
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
gclo had the spiritual eye and 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"
IL 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 need time
for such a disclosure Of Gods will for
us as He is waiting to give. Before
we can rightly rear the tabernacle
of our lives in the plain of daily SER
vice we must seek the pattern In the
mount, not Sinai. but the heaven
reaching life OF Christ. The divine