The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-04-12

Snuu Dc DOunu VIII GOu De the reIuBe
of his saints, but in all times and un.
der all circumstances the peace of
God which passeth all understanding"
will keep tie hearts and minds of his
faithful
Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the
mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea" Fear Is the great tor
ment of the majority of our race. 1t
is the lash which the Adversary fire.
quently uses to drive away from God
those who need his sympathy and love
and succor. 10 such the Lord speaks
tenderly saying, "Come unto me, all
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and
l will give you rest" And again, God
declares his name to be Love and says,
'Thelr fear toward me is taught by
the precepts of men"-not by his
Word isaiah xxx, 13). He would
have us trust him as "A great, loving,
generous Father, saying, Like as
father pltlcth his children, so the Lord
compassionate those who reverence
him" psalm ciil, 49,. As love, more
love, perfect love- comes into our
hearts It more and more casts out the
fear which the Adversary would in
culcate and which has burned into
mems minds and consciences the
doctrines of devils" to which the
Apostle refers q Timothy iv, u.
Fear not their fear, neither be
afraid" says the Lord to those who
are his people. Let the peace of God
which passeth all understanding rule
in your heartsp Be faithfull Be
trustful! Accept the assurance that
"All things shall work together for
good to those who love God-to the
called ones according to his purpose"
ROmans viii, 2S). This class will not
fear when the earth shall be removed
and when the mountains shall be car
rled into the midst of the sea. They
might indeed be astonished and In
trepidatlon If these were literal noun
tains; but they are symbollcal The
people of the Lord, under his instruc-
tlon, will not be In darkness that that
day shall overtake them as thief, al
though 1t will come as a thief and as
a snare upon the whole world duke
xxi, 35). In the symbOlogy of the BIZ
bic the term earth is used to represent
the social structure, as the mountains
which constitute the backbones of the
earth symbolic the kingdoms of the
world supported by the social order
AS the earth represents the 6xity CT
the social order, the sea represents
the restless. turbulent, dissatisfied
classes which lash against the earth
and continually seek to swallow it up.
The removal of the earth symbolzes
the disturbance of the social order
The swallowing up OF the mountains
In the seas represents the overwhelm-
Ing of some of the great kingdoms Of
the earth by the uprising of the people
In anarchistlc rebellion against social
order.
"Ths Powers That Be Ordained Of
God"
The fact that the Scriptures prophet
| lcally describe the overwhelming of
the social order and the great govern
ments OF the earth must not be under
stood to signify that the Bible coun-
sells revolution or anarchy. On the
contrary, all of Gods people through
out the Scriptures are counsclcd to
J live peacenbly with all men. so far rs
| possible They are counseled not TO
use cnrnal weapons, not to take to the
sword for the settlement of disputes,
but rather to suffer injury. They are
counseled that God IL the great Over
Lord, and that although he Is not now
| ruling directly amongst men he Is fully
the Master of the situation In that he
! could at any lime overthrow all OPP
! pOnents, lie does not acknowledge
that his viii Is now done In the earth,
but tells Ms that 1t will be done by and
by and encourages us To pray and to
hope and to wait for It. He tells us
that Satan Is now the prince of this
| world" by virtue of the fact that he
| decelves the minds ana hearts OF the
majority. God would have his peo-
! Pile understand something OF his great
| Program, but he would keep this hid
den from all others; hence the impos-
sibility Of explaining spiritual things
| to II carnal mind Il Corinthians ii, ll).
None of the wicked shall understand"
| Daniel xii, l0l.
The great Creator has coutentcd him
self with such II supervision of human
| affairs as leaves much responsibility
| In human hands. He merely inter
feres To raise up or to cast down on
occasions when the interest of his
Cause and Program may demand, For
Instance, the case of the Pharaoh,
raised 10 the throne of Egypt, in
Moses day God there raised 10 the
Throne Il man of great determination,
and hudcrcd from reaching the throne
other men not so favorable 10 the car
rymg out OF the Divine Purposes.
Thus without interfering with the
free moral agency of the king God
used the wrath of man to praise him
and the remainder he restrained Sim
Harry. God previously raised Joseph
to the Governorship OF Egypt for his
own purposes.
The proDhpf dngcrIbas the Iumult nf