The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-26


Many lives have we seen who In part
lat least, fulnl this picture.
Notice that word prosper" Tile
word is used ~ no common or narrow
senac. but It refers 10 a prosperity
THAT is real, ultimate and s,lnnhange.
able. II we say that d good man does
not always prosper, we may sny tile
same thing IN effect about God Him.
Isq)f. God complains that Ills law IL
lslighted and His word lisobeyed. Yet
| Ito proclaitns with authority that In
the end 11lsilaw shall be set up In the
earth. and Ills word shall not return
to Him void.
Some Universities arc but temporary
they may, indeed, ho n mart Of pro-
cess; but as truly rs God prospers Will
the good man prosper. Their purpose
Is Identical. II a good mans prosper
ity appear uncertain 1t may be like
the Hills ana valleys, Which suggest to
not be globe. But we know that the
earth Is round, and that oil tho hills
and valleys fail under higher law.
an Infinite astronomy.
Where God is. there can be no fam
Inc. You may take these words In
their widest, fullest sense, as relating
to the intellect. the imagination and
every other faculty which belongs to
manhood. When there is no food in
tho field. there yet may be great
feast in the heart. When the fig tree
ceases to bear, the hunger OF the soul
is satisfied with the fruit from the tree
of life.
Our Lord laid down one Of His most
far-reaching 1naxims when He said:
MAN shall not live by bread alone"
God has thousand ways OF Sustaining
life. Every word OF His life is liv-
ing word and a way Of life to those
who receive It. For we live and move
and have our being in God. Not a
limited or stunted being. but being
as enduring as God Himself, and made
secure by all the resources OF His
throne and Godhead.
A very practical lesson arises from
the words: "Bringeth forth his fruit
IN his season." We must not look for
fruit" all the year round. Upon this
point many Christians disdulet them
selves unnecessarily. There is time
for rest and for recruiting; thus, time
spent In legitimate sleep Is time made
for larger and harder work.
4 Let the tree be the symbol and image
of our life. IT has its seasons OF fruit
lessness. but not from any wrongdoing
So 1t is with the Christian heart. There
are times of abundant labor, Of almost
excessive JOY. OF hope above the bright
ness OF the sun, which transform our
earth into heaven. We work without
WEAKNESS. We suffer without COM
plant, confident Of victory AT other
WEAKNESS. GOODNESS and
deafness, and we cry out against our
selves with vehemence.
A tree may be by the rivers OF wa
SSiSs sAiu ihdS Oe PldlISu Wy SAo IduA
of God, and yet there will be portions
of the year when not a leaf can be
seen, and when no fruit is found. Do
not judge by this or that day. but by
tho whole scope and circumstance OF
life.
As to the promise, whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper" we come upon an
unwritten but Inevitable condition.
The character is the guarantee Of the
action. Ia whose delight is the law
OF the Lord" cannot do anything VIII
fully wrong; he will not tempt the
providences OF God nor slight His
word.
Being thus, we shall Of necessity be
blessed. TO walk with God Is to move
constantly in an upward and heavenly
direction. We may be blessed in many
ways. but must be blessed in all II We
follow the way pointed out and trod-
den by the Master.