The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-22

sweetness. samson cohun~t oni
and the circumstances in which II
was given, are remarkable as anord-
Ing a glimpse Of the life OF those
SAr-off days, and the interplay OF
human character.
The seven days feast, the riddle
and the wager. the guests dilemma
the terror-stricken aud weeping wife,
the strong mans surrender. his tow
ering rage, the return OF the native,
the woman's transferred affection,
the mixed motives and the strange
compound of strength and weakness
in sampson himself--these consti-
tute q drama palpitatinE with life.
II In, however, with the deeper
suggestion which the words OF the
conundrum convey that We are now
concerned.
The lion-"the eater"--1y strong
hands slain, yielded feast OF de-
light.
We have not far to seek for In
stances of good coming out OF eyll.
Great danger has yielded great ad-
vantage. and unpromising conditions
have disclosed most charming fea-
lures.
In r. l.. Stevenson's essay on The
Enjoyment of Unpleasant Places, ne
tells how once in a cold. bleak
northern district, he received some
singularly pleasurabie impressions
owing to the discipline of having to
hunt out What was good amid the
uncongenial surroundings And this
happended 10 me-" he SAYS, In the
place of all others where liked
least TO stay. When think OF 1t
grow ashamed OF my own ingrati-
tude-- Out of the strong came forlh
sweetness There, in the bleak ana
gusty north. received, perhaps, my
strongest impressions OF peace. l
saw the sea TO be great and calm;
and the earth, in that little corner,
was all alive and friendly TO me. so
vhereyer a man is, he will find some
thing to please and paeify hlm. -
let him only look for IL In the right
shirt, and he will surely and"
Instances Of gloomy and grim con-
disions Welding vondrous grace ana
truth might easily eeF III Hitipiiea- Ine
Lord in Gethsemane. Paul and Silas
in the inner prison, John In the penal
settlement OF Patmos: and nearer to
our own time, Milton in his blind
ness. Bunyan in Bedford gaoi. the
Bronte sisters at Haworth. General
Booth on Nile End Waste, Mark
Rutherford In his many joyiess wan
behring's
And II We think of the mortal dan
gers which have yielded immortal
triumph. there In the same emoar-
basement of riches.
Temptations. says Bunyan in
Grace Astounding, when We meet
them at first. are as the lion that
roared upon Samson. out II we over
come them, the next time we see
them. We shall ind nest OF honey
within them Are we not familiar
witt, the Red Indian tradition that
the strength OF the slain foe enters
into the vktor himself?
/, Is principle which finds au-
gust illustration in the life OF Christ,
Then the devil ieaveth Him: and,
behold. angels came and ministered
INTO Him" And there ap-
reared an angel unto Him from
heaven. strengthening Him"
The same vibrant victorious note
sounds through paul's epistles; We
glory In tribulation also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience;
and patience experience, and expert
euoe hope: and hope maketh not
ashamed" in other words. doth not
disappoint. because the love OF God
Is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Bring the extreme terms together:
",r,hula,ione 49,. 1.-The love Of
Cod" and what a. large light Is
thrown upon the sharp ordeais OF
the soul, Paul cries In another let
ter. Il am exceedingly Joyful In all
our tribu.ations' Exceedingly JOY
full, That Is what the love OF Goa
could do. ''0ut of the eater came
forth meat: and out of the strong
came forth sweetness"
Before Samson found his honey.
he slew the lion. THE spirit OF the
Lard came nightly upon him, ana
he rent the lion as he would nave
rent a kid, and he had nothing in bis
hand
Now lson-slaying involves AZ least
three things: 1t involves aiertness,
courage. and strength. In these IN
dispensable qualities OF soidieriy
character, the spirit OF the Lord
working through them, we get Just
that conseerated energy out OF which
the finer, fairer graces spring.
Be not afraid that you VIII lose
ia fineness as You gain in alertness'
courags, and strength.
There is. l know. that possibility,
hut living near to Christ. and receiv-
ing His Spirit, the danger will be
disarmed. The appeal 10 to that con-
eecration Of the will which gathers
up the whole life into great ear
nestness and purpose, and which. ~
soon Is any ordeal arises, takes II
for granted that, in some Divine way,
II is intended to yield strength and
blessing,
The value OF this Arm attitude
toward life is, that 1t prevents panic.
It arrests the deadly drift which
comes OF indifference, It gives tone
to the habit OF thought. 1t braces
and euriches the character on every
side. and In this way makes possible
4 renerous. gentle. and enduring
ministry wherever the lot may be
cast. 1.-THE people that do know
their God shall be strong and do
exploits"
As the years increase, and a. the
etrue values of life unfold, one thfng