The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20

Der thee Psalm 436
Affections are often in the Scrip
lures called temptations and trials.
The reason is, because they serve to
prove and evince our principles, dis
positions and resources. 1t is natu-
raj and almost unavoidable for men
in difficulties and distresses to repair
to something that promises to afford
deliverance, or at least TO temper
the bitterness of sorrow. And as
every creature Is insufficient to sue
cor them, their applications are vari-
Gus and numerous, and none of them
are available. Therefore at last, dis
appointed and confounded. they class
the comforts with the crosses, and
the good with the evil, and acknowi-
edge that ''all is vanity and vexatioh
of spirit
The believer has only one resource;
but this is an adequate and an inf
mite relief. And therefore, instead
OF running up aud down the earth,
asking. Who will show me any
good?" he SAYS, Return unto thy
rest, D my soul, for the LORD hath
dealt bountifully with thee" 1t is
not improper. as a brother Is born
for adversely, to go TO dear and
valued connection, and pouring out
tears into his bosom. say, O my
friend. my soul is cast down within
ME. But IL is better for the eye TO
pour out tears uto God; far better to
look upward. and say with David.
20 my God, my soul is cast down
within me-"
David claims God as his God. And
how desirable is Il when We address
him, especially IN trouble. to be able
10 deal with him on the ground OF
assured interest in him. II is there,
fore promised. Il viii bring the third
part through the fire. and viii refine
them as silver is refined and will
try them as gold is tried they shall
cali on my name. and | will hear
them; | will say, II is my people.
and they shall say. The Lord Is my
God"
Yet hrs claim does not hinder his
complaint. Many are perplexed by
what. il properly viewed. might
rather encourage them, They ex-
claim. IF | am his. why am / thus?"
mt considering that they are thus
because they are his They are pruned
because they are vines they are put
into the furnace because they are
gold; they are chastened because
they are sons: for what son is he
whom the father chasteneth not?
They think their depressions are. pc
cnliar, But David was a man after
Gods own heart, and had more ex-
perimental religion than any indi-
Hldual before the coming of Christ;
yet he was not only afflicted, but his
distress broke through his mind, and
pressed BIN down TO the ground.
My soul is cast down within me"
While all is calm and vigor within,
the pressure of outward calamity is
easily borne The spirit OF a man
may sustain his infirmity; but a
wounded spirit who can bear and
who can cureg Only the God OF all
grace. and the God of all comfort
Let us therefore so 10 him. He alone
can alter the state and frame OF our
minds who has access to them and
dominion over them. When a watch
is disorderea to have ii examined
and rectihed We naturally take ii to
the maker. who knows all It's powers
and movements; so God is the former
of our spirits, and he can set them
right again. Therefore. says David,
II win remember thee"
Such a resolution is not natural to
Us, God deserves indeed our remem-
6rance, and is perpetually demand
Ing il. He addresses us by his word
he speaks 10 us by conscience: but
in vain. He enaeavors to awaken
our attention and regard by a pro-
fusion of benefits; but though the
OK knoweth his owner. and the ass
his masters crib, We do not know or
consider. He therefore tries diff
ferent expediency. II will go and
return TO my place till they acknowl-
edge their offense and seek my face:
in their affiiction they will seek ME
early" What We refused TO see and
hear we are made TO feel His cap
tiyity led Manasseh to pray to the
God of his father The famine made
the prodigal think of his fathers
house. What brought SO many TO
our Saviour in the days of his flesh
but personal and relative troubley
Ii is the same now. He breaks up
our earthly prospects. and then pre-
SCENTS a better country to our pursuit.
He removes the human arm on which
We leaned. and then offering his own,
says, There, take hold of my
strength" He hedges up our WY
with thorns. and makes a wall. that
we cannot find our paths while fol-
lowing after our lovers. SO that We
have only one passage open. and
this is to go back; and back we must
return, IL We would find him whom
we have forsaken: for he remains
where Nc was. and. instead OF reject
ing us. cries, Return, We backsliding
children, and will heal your back
slidings."
And thus the same method which
brings God to our remembrance at
first. is useful after In the whole of
our religious life for the same pur2
pose. For we are not already per-
feet Our affections are sometimes
chilled, and our minds are often
turned away from our portion by
other things, And, there ia peculiar
danger OF this evil in easy and pros
porous circumstances. II is when
our gourd fiourishes and We sit un-
der Its shadow with delight, that we
are ready to say, III is good for us
to be here; and so to forget our