The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-03-19
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H,SESSSTESG X x;5 ;S5z5ssssS 5ss
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Subject: The Nearness Of God.

the ineXplicable and unlVerSal eNter-
nal potency is Deity marks an ad-
vanced step in the spiritual intelli-
gence of humanity. The sense OF the
proximity of divinity is characteristic
of the most advanced explanations OF
the religious experiences of men. That
religion offers the most satisfactory
practicalities and theology which is
possessed of the clearest comprehen-
sion OF the reality and presence of
the God in whom We live, as Paul
says, and move and have our being
mighty reason for asserting the
supremacy of that religious system
that we call Christian lies in the fact
that in il we have the eiflorescence of
the thought that our God is not an
absentee but near. The God and
Father of us and of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ is not far from
any one OF us who knows Him and
endeavors TO keep His command
ments, neither do we postulate Him
as far from those who, out in the far
country of iniquity and folly and de-
ceitfulness, are feeding their souls
on food unfit for swine.
The God of Christ is as near as
ever. His Spirit is with us and with
a force, and may be If we will a con-
sciously accepted fact and power in
our lives.
In the consciousness OF the near
ness of God there is 10 be found the
power, the peace and the inspiration
beyond compare. And in the sense
OF the all presence of Jehovah there
lies the alone hope for the spiritual
regeneration and the moral reforma
tion of the race. For the sense Of
the nearness OF God, moulding force
in the moral life of man and intensi-
fer of spiritual vigor as it is, is pre-
requisite that We may have that re-
viyal OF religion for which we hope
and prav. II is impossible to teach
a man anything about the supernal
God or 10 make him understand his
holiest obligations 10 God and the
children of Cod until he has lively
consciousness OF the reality and near
ness of God.
The sense of the nearness OF God
makes for power. 1t strengthens the
arm of man and stoutens the heart
Of man for Chris ian service. 1t am
plfies the moral faculties Of men.
Just in proportion that man is con-
scious of the eirness of God is he
doughty In the service Of God and
careful of the moral integrity of his
life The man VINO has little sense
of the proximity OF Cod does little for
Him and lives little like Him. The
man who habi,ually practices the
presence of God, having an ever pres
ent measure Of and incentive TO right
eousness, endeavOrs constantly 10 be
well-pleasing 10 Cod and W thy Of
His approbation The man who
doesn't have thought Of the nearness
OF God never feels the need TO live
as God would desire him to live.
The sense OF the nearness OF God
makes for power not only in the or
dering OF the internal moral life OF
,, man, but il makes for valor in the
warfare agaius, sin. No careful stu
dent of history can be cheerful as he
Contemplates the morality Of the
world TO-DAY from the standpoint OF
one who would transform morals by
the power Of the will OF men. Not
more can we hope II transform the
world by the energies OF man than we
are able TO rid ourselves unaided OF
the grace and empowering Of God
from sin. But when a man under
stands that the God OF the world is
in the world, and that the God who
has commanded tnat We shall rebuke
sin stands with Us and abides within
us then the mass Of sin loses its in
surmountable asI ect and the on
slaught Of Satan D2cOm IS correspond
ingly less terrific.
The sense Of the no2rOass of God
makes for peace. II ministers not
the peace and com fort OF material
things, though We should never for
get that by seeking the kingdom OF
God first we snail soonest enjoy that
blessed life when ali men shall en-
Joy the material comforts OF the
world, but ii gives 10 US the spiritual
peace of God incorrIptible, undefiled
and fadeless, which is the gift OF
God TO those who in sincerity and
truth try TO do His viii II ministers
not the peace of satisfaction with
things as they are. But IL does give
us peace ineffa Bile In tlat IL assures
us that though we NAV be unable 20
rectify the evils of the day and age,
though we have ne her time nor
strength nor opport unity successfully
to overthrow many a mighty wrong,
God will labor where We may not,
He will be here when we are gone, He
will succeed where We must cease.
He will accomplish in His time what
we cannot achieve in ours.
The sense Of the uealgess OF God
makes for inspirat ION. the nearer
we conceive God 20 be. the n arer we
are sure He is, the more are we in
spired to do our work in our own
time under His direction, 20 sacrifice,
to suffer, to be patisu-. fOrbearing,
obedient There is nothing more
disheartening than TO attempt 70
carry on the fsAt against sin
unaided by the rclp Of the
ever-present Cod. Nor IS there
anything more inspiring than 20 un-
dertake the positive and progressive
program OF Righteousness that looks
toward the kingdom OF Cod as an
ultimate and ideal. Possessed NJ the
assurance that the God who was near
His people ia the past Is near 10 them
to-day The sense o. the Cea-nrss OF
God gave Abraham hope ard Jacob