Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-19

Exodus 1921. "And the Lord went
before them by day in pillar OF
cloud, to lead them the way; and by
night in pillar of fire, to give them
light; to go by day and night"
One of the best principles of human
life is respect for authority. One OF
the best results of this respect is good
guidance and control. Absolute self
assertion is always dangerous. 1t is
confusing. 1t is misleading. To take
and to have our own way is not often
best for us. To follow the way OF
legitimate authority is always best.
There is no person of common sense
in this world who is not willing to
acknowledge that whatever he mas
done that is worth while, and more
especially whatever successes he mas
achieved, have been by following
good leadership of persons or prin-
ciples. Contrariwise it is safe to say
that the majority of failures of life or
enterprise are due to self-assert1on
which def1es authority, and simply
has its own way.
Remember Gods ancient people, Is
rael. Rebellion against God caused
their captivity. Having their own
way entangled them with the land
and people of Egypt. Waywardness
kept them forty years in the wilder
ness. With many of them God was
not we'll pleased, for their stubborn
self-assertion. For their wilfulness
many never saw their home land
again. o the mercy and patience OF
God with His people! Although they
rebelled against Him continually, He
brought them as a nation back to
their inheritance. Although even IN
the course of their deliverance they
were wayward STILL He led them and
protected them. Think of all the
meaning and power of their divineiy
appointed guides: the cloud by day.
the pillar of fire by night. They
meant that whether by day or
by night Gods protection never
ceased and never failed. Whether
they journeyed through the day or
halted for the night, God watched over
them. Spiritually, whatever daylight
stood for, of prosperity and progress,
God was with them. Whatever dark
ness symbolized of danger or trial
God was with them still. He was, in
the light, guiding cloud; in the dark
ness, a guiding light; and it is need
less to say that the safety, honour and
welfare of every soul of His people
depended upon their remaining indl-
viduality and relatively within the
area of that guidance, night and day.
Moreover, when their enemies pur-
sued them, the pillar of fire stood be-
tween the two hosts: giving light to
Israel while it was but cloud and
darkness to the Egyptians. So indeed
does the revelation of God mean every
thing to those who serve Him; and
nothing to those who refuse to serve
Him. The very thing that is guide
to Gods followers, is "a stone OF
stumbling and rock of offence" to His
enemies. Then supremely the cloud
was the proof of Gods especial Pres
ence, the very arbiter and guide OF the
devotional life of Gods people. When
the cloud was seen upon the Taber-
nacle in the wilderness, they rested
from their journey, and worshiped.
When the cloud was taken up, they
went forward. They halted or they
progressed; they worshiped or they
wrought in active service by this sign:
knowing that God could not deceive
them, and would not mislead them.
Those forty years in the wilderness,
with all their tragedy and all their
glory, made long time for Gods peo-
pie: and stood for all the ages, be-
fore and since, of Gods revelation to
men. They illustrated, all those ages
ago. what we declare boldly is true to-
day: that one of the best principles of
human life is respect for authority.
One of the best results of this respect
is good guidance and control. Abso-
lutte self-assertion is always danger
GUS. 1t is confusing. 1t is mislead-
ing. To take and to have our own
way is not often best for us.To follow
the way of legitimate authority is al
ways best for us. Common sense ac-
knowledges that whatever is done
that is worth doing, and more es-
pecially, whatever successes are
achieved, are by following good lead
ership. And contrariwise, the ma
jority of failures of life or enterprises
are due to self-assertion which de-
fies authority, and simply has it's own
way.
Here and now, as we draw near to
the observance of our dedication in
honour of great Evangelist, it be-
hooves us, as a parish, to thank God
for local blessings; to ask God for To-
cal guidance; and absolutely to place
our future in Gods hands. Surely the
inspiration for doing this may be
found in the story of the past. 1t is
a short story yet: the record OF less
than ten years. But short as it is,
there is in it abundant evidence of
Divine leadership. Great principles
are never new and never old in the
necessity and power of their applica-
ton. If there be any difference,
early days need this application, IT
later days are to have it. If the
Children of Israel had not followed
Gods guidance through the Red Sea
they would never have come to the
following of it across the River Jor-
dan at the end of their long, long way.
And surely the little flock that had
the faith and courage to grow SO