The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-29

Paul here speaks Of himself as an
apostle. But the facts he expresses
with regard to his official destination
win amply to our experience as men
and as Christians And We r1ay derive
from them a r, Election peculiarly sea-
sonabie at the commencement OF
another annual period Of our time.
with regard to the future. he was both
ignorant and informed, unacquainted
VITA some things. but weli appraised OF
others.
Though Paul some times prophesied
he could not CONNIE nd tue Attributc or
foreknow3cdEp when he pleased. me
use OF IL was always a miracle and
limited to particular subject tie
was therefore ttit UIAtormcd OF Toe
ordinary course % ilie, and had 10
learn tue VIII % God by events, Hence
he SAYS TO The PAM yp1ans, Il hope
presently to end TilnoiAy. as soon as
] SEE now it viii SO vita me II ~
the same with us. and as he was now
going up to JtTUsAit IN. nor KNOW ing
the tninEs that you'd befal him there,
SO are ws entering into another year,
not knowing W. cat a day may hFing
forth. But Is shls 20 be lamented
"Even So Fathe., for SO 1t setmein "a
good in thy signt" The cQncealment IL
w5ss and kind Wc may Judge OF this
by our past feelings. Had We been
previously informed of the scenes
hearts would have failed at the
thought: yet when the dispenSations
came We were able 20 bear them, and
had heen really though uneonsciously
we're now informed ef some of the
changes we may be called to endure
tn the months before Us, We s3ouId
be seized perhaps with an oNerpo"er-
ing surprise and oppression rendering
us dead to all present entoYments, and
Incapable 81 every present engage
ment He therefore says, u VIII bring
the blind bs a way that they knew not;
/ will lead them in paths that they
have not known, viii make dark
ness Hight before them. and crooked
things straight; these th!nRs VIII 90
unto them. and not forsake them"
Lei US trust in him he claims tue
full confidence OF the heart not only
by hts goodness. bat by his wisdom.
Althugh we go out not knowing
whittier We &c, he knoweth the way
that We take. Nothing can deceive or
perplex our Guide Espe ctaliy let US
cheek the workings Of vain curiosity,
TO this we are naturally prone. All
pant to draw back the veil and pierce
Into futurity But none are entrusted
with it's secrets. Even our Lord 8 own
disciples were rsbuked for wishing to
know the times and the seasons when
the Father reserved In his own power
This advice VIII be found TO be not
only our duty. but our privilege--our
Strength here. is to sit still" We
NAV consider the year betore US az
desk containing three hundred and
sixty-flve letters addressed TO us, one
for every day, announcing Its trials
and prescribing it's employments, with
an order 10 open daily no letter but
the letter for the day. Now We may
be strongly tempted to unseal before
hand some of the remainder: but this
would only serve to embarrass us,
while we should violate thereby the
rule our owner and Master has laid
down for us: Take therefore no
thought for the morrow; for the NOR
row shall take thought for the things
of Itself Sufficient unto the day Is
the evil thereof"
But p ~ ignorance was not entire,
Though be knew not what IN particular
would hefail him at Jerusalem yet the
HOLY Ghost testified that In every place
bonds and afflictions awaited him. go
tfat be was sure OF one thing-sure Of