The Penn's Grove record., 1910-02-25
A Divine Hand at the Helm.

land gained through that the minis
try of Thomas Chalmers.
A Divine Hand at the Helm.
1t is hardly possible for us to app
preciate the force of the original
verb, work together" The thought
is that there is a beneficent power
grasping, subordinating, overruling
and directing all things for the larg-
est measure for good. True, this
good may not always be apparent, but
it is none the less real. We cannot
measure the movements of Provi-
dence by the swift beating of our lit
tie timepieces. Gods clock strikes
once in a thousand years. 1t is not
a question of calendar, but of char
acter. The thought of the text in
wolves the largest good. This is the
goal of the divine intent. God is not
absorbed in gratifying our temporary
whims. He will not condescend to
our petty wants, as the indulgent pa
rent who pampers the spoiled child
by granting the sweetmeats for which
it cries. Gods medicine is not always
sweet. 1t is sometimes bitter-sweet,
but if it is necessary to our highest
good He will not withhold it. The
statement of the text employs a sin
gular verb with a plural noun, denot-
ing the harmonious workings or
Providence, and we may rest assured
that this power is working in our be-
half every moment. Though we deny
it and resist it, the process continues,
silently and savingly, subordinating all
things to our final good, yes, and ma
I3nn avian Thn c%71p hlinO hlnPkc OF
life steps toward the throne.
Oh, what a comfort there is in this
thought, There can be no wreck,
for Gods hand is at the helm; there
can be no calamity, for His wisdom
and power override for good all hat
comes to me. The promise is in the
present tense, not in some aeon or
eternity these things shall result in
good. but here and now, amid the
changing scenes of life, poised as we
are in a probation bounded by two
eternities, it is the believers privi-
Iege to look through and beyond all
secondary causes and agencies to
trace the footprints of God as upon
the pillows moving forward to the &C
co~mplishment of His benefcent pur-
poses. and to know that call things
work together for good to them that
love God"
"God Thinks of Me-"
It is this thought that gives to me
my position in the universe. II God
thinks of me, loves me, and watches
over me, it is because 1 am a part OF
His plan. l may be but a rough peb-
BILE, yet 1 have my place in the great
universal mosaic. I am essential to
the unity and perfection of the whole.
1 am here but for a day. l am not
a tenant, but a tourist. Eternity is
my race course, and the universe is
my home. All things are in league
with me; yea, they are my servants,
working together for good" There
fore I shall not be afraid for the ter
ror by night, nor for the arrow that
| fieth by day, nor for the pest1lenee
| that walketh in darkness, nor for the
destruction that wasteth at MONDAY.
A thousand shall fall at my side, and
ten thousand at my right hand; but
it shall not come nigh me-" Yea, L
| shall not tremble when death knocks
| at the door, for he mi as the mes
| senger OF God, bringing my passport
to yonder world out of sight, still
working for my eternal good.
Standing thus, strong and secure,
the future flames with light, clouds
roll back, the eternal day draws nigh.
and although dark questions around
me rise and the path is not always
plain before my eyes, faith brings the
distant near and enables me to sing
with John Burroughs:
Serene, 1 fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind or tide or sea;
[ rave no more 'gainst time and fate,
For 10! my own shall come to me.
The stars come nightly to the sky,
The tidal wave unto the sea-;
Nor time nor space nor deep nor high
Can keep my own away from me.