The Dolores star., 1909-10-08
The Reward of Faith.

The Reward of Faith.
God is always near. And God is al
ways ready aud willing to help and to
bless. We often forget that. Some
times he seems far of. But IL IL we
that are far off. The soul that IL IN
constant communion with God !. never
far from him; nor IL he ever far from
that soul.
Perhaps II we admitted God more
fully into the details of our daily life
we would come to have the assurance
that he is ever near. If you do not
talk with God how can you have any
assurance Of his presence; aud how can
you recognize his power or his love n.
they are manifested in your life? 1t is
the unusual, the sudden, the terrible,
the expressing experience that "drives
us nearer Cod" We are quick to cast
ourselves upon his mercy then. We
cry aloud for help, and are petulant II
help does not come at once. Then.
when relief has come and we have re-
covered somewhat from the strain Of
the severe experience, we say that Goo
stretched out his strong hand and help
ed us in our sore distress. Aud that is
true. He did just that thing. And II
is right and proper that we should
make due acknowledgement OF his
gracious mercy, his tender compassion,
and his great love. There IL such n
thing as especial providence" and
there are such providences rs are no,
special, but regular and constant; and
these are quite as precious and quite as
real in Christian experience Ms those
that we speak Of as special" God is
at work all the time endeavoring to
make all things work together for good
to them that love him. There is no
mistake about that. A right reading
and interpretation of your own rela-
tons With God will prove that to the
satisfaction of your heart aud mind.
But here il point. II your debt to
God for his providence is NO great, why
do you not make suitable acknowledge
ment of IL? Not by speech only; but,
rather, by life. You will remember
that short time ago Lieutenant
Shack kleton of the British navy return
ed from All expedition to the Antarctic.
He got nearer the South Pole than any
other adventurous spirit ever did. And
that was distinct achievement. To
do it he suffered many hartiships, en-
dured much stress, faced many perils,
encountered multiplied discourage
ments. But he kept at his task, and
won. In his account of the expedition
deliverance WAS due to the special in
terventiOns of God. 1t Is easy to i'm
agine some very wise person sneering
when they read snch statement as
that. But Shackleton never sneered
at God. His business in the Antarctic
regions was very real business, and the
things he encountered were very real
experiences. He soon found out that
the way of deliverance did not abide in
any device of man. If there was de-
liverance at all for Shackleton and his
men it must be by the direct act of God
interposing for their benefit. So this
devout and sane leader of the enterprise
said: TT was during these periods that
some Power beyond our own guided
our footsteps. If we acknowledged
this, as we did, down among the ice
tioes, it is only fitting that we should
remember II now when the same Power
has brought us safe home through all
these troubles and perils."
Verify the angel of the Lord encam-
peth round about them that fear him,
and deliyerelh them. Therefore, trust
in the Lord, and do good; SO shalt thou
dwell in the land, and verify thou shalt
be fed. Commit thy way unto the
Lord; trust also In him; and he shall
bring it to pass.-Epworth Herald
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