Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-02-06
HAVE FAITH IN GOD.
SEEMING HiNDRANcEs IN THE
END ARE FREQUENTLY RE-
VEALEp AS HELPS.

"A subject OF Gods providences
must exclaim with st. Paul. 20.
the depth of the riches, both OF
the wisdom and knowledge OF God;
how unsearchable are his Judgments.
and his ways past finding out" Gods
ways are indeed often inscrutable to
us. Sometimes we misinterpret his
dealings; sometimes we allow our
selves to doubt whether Gods hand Is
concerned in this or that occurrence,
and We cannot see how things which
he allows to obtain are compatible
with his Justice
Let me say that we should be care
full not to interpret Gods providence
in fragments. This evil which to us
seems overwhelming, may be only
temporary, may be only link in a
chain of great and permanent
good. So the reverses and humilia-
ton of a nation are often the prelude
to the greater development and the
higher manhood OF its citizens. In
adversely the material of men and ma
tons Is made manifest Human char
acter must go through fire before 1t
becomes steel. Forty years ago our
land passed through great crisis.
Its consequences are not yet worked
out, but they are far greater than the
mere abolition of slavery. God works
not out his purposes in day, or
year. nor In 100 years. Four hundred
years Israel was In Egypt. and then
1t pleased God to raise up the enamel
ator. A thousand years the world
waited for the Lords salvation, and
then came the fullness of time. Let
us remember that in our lives. and
It would tighten many burden and
put silver lining to many cloud
that Gods providence is not to be In
terpreted by this or that occurrence,
but that these are only links In the
golden chain of his goodness.
And Paul a Prisoner.
Now we come to the story OF our
text. Paul is in prison In Rome,
That in itself is strange Paul the
ambassador OF Jesus Christ In prisonl
Can the work he has been doing be
Gods work? Would God allow 1t to
be thus hindered? Can Paul be &
true servant of Jesus Christ? Think
OF the effect II would have upon the
young. struggling churches when they
heard that Paul the great missionary
was in prison. Would they not be
tempted to give up the unequal strug-
gle and disband? These questions
and others might have presented
themselves to many men in those
days, and to-day many would think
the same.
What does Paul say about 1t ALT
With his missionary enthusiasm we
would expect to find him In despair
az being shut up in prison. But on
the contrary he writes to the Philip
plans, Il would ye should understand,
brethren, that the things which hap
pened unto me have fallen out rather
to the furtherance of the gospel"
How was that possible? MY bonds
in Christ are manifest in all the pal
ace, and In all other places" His
circumstances are conducting to the
spread of the gospel In Rome. His
very Imprisonment, which was intend
ed to put an end to This activity, is In
itself q mission It's connection, not
with political or social causes. but
with Christ, is well known through
out the imperial guard, and to the
Romans in general Moreover, the
Roman Christians have felt spiritual
impetus, and his captivity has nerved
them to bear holder witness In the
eyes Of their heather neighbors.
Lesson Worth Learning.
1t is a lesson worth learning which
St Paul learned In that prison; that
hindrances are often helps; that cir
cumstances most untoward may be
advancing the kingdom; that faith
placed In the goodness, purpose and
helpfulness of God is never misplaced.
oh, that we could learn that lesson
to accept Gods providences as they
come with quiet mind, firmly be-
lieving that all things shall work out
for good to them that love him.
Note here also that moral and spir-
'tual things are always higher than
what is individual and personal Paul
was in prison, but the gospel was not
bound Pauls liberty was restrained,
but the gospel had free course. Re
member that your spiritual nature is
above any physical circumstances,
that your mission to the world is
above any physical well-being Paul
lost his life in the struggle. but the
| gospel went on. SO 1t has ever been.
| The consecrated cobbler of England,
William Carey, gave his life to India,
and hosts of men and women have fol-
lowed In his steps Livingston died
in the African jungle, and 1t meant
the opening Of the Dark continent to
the gospel Blessed are the dead
which die In the Lord, and their works
| do follow them"
| We also gather from our text that
the spread OF the gospel depends on
no one man. That Is wonderful
comfort 1t does not depend on this
or that imperfect Christian, on you or
on me. 1t did not even depend on the