Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-12-04
ALL SHALL REJOICE
'4For the Good Things Are Abund-
ant Which Our Father Hath
Sent Unto U.s.

good thing which the Lord thy God
hath given unto thee. and unto thine
house. thou and the Levite. and the
stranger that is among you"-Deuter-
onomy 26. IL.
The duty of acknowledging Gods
care Of us is a sacred, sacramental
duty; an acknowledgment that he
who has promised to give US all things
needful. both for our souls and bodies,
hath fulfilled his promise. Note the
sacramento teaching OF this chapter
OF the scriptures-the ritual OF the
harvest thanksgiving-the basket OF
first fruits in recognition OF the fulfil
ment of the promise made to their IA
theirs in Egypt--which has had its part
in bringing about our recognition of
the fact that the head of our family,
the ruler OF our kingdom, has not for
gotten to provide for US, his children.
We exhibit the blessings of the field
as representing all the blessings given
to US. our country. our homes, our
selves. The returns to the farmer lie
at the foundation of so many of our
comforts. Necessary as the harvest
undoubtedly is, the Day of Thanks
giving recognizes all the temporal
blessings, the means of grace, the hope
of glory. and allows the fruits and
flowers TO typify all the blessings of
lie. Rejoice" and let us remember
the words are addressed to us of to-
day. have no patience with those
who loudly profess their love for the
Bible. and yet coolly declare that most
OF the Pentateuch does not refer to,
nor have any bearing upon our life
now. Jesus said: Il came not to
destroy. but to fulfill" the law Of
Moses. and what has not been full
hlled, never has been destroyed. II
God did not destroy 1t, the devil could
not. though the passover was fulfilled
by the events of Calvary and Easter:
Pentecost by the divine outpouring OF
the Holy Ghost-the Harvest festival
as Hebrew writer's declare, has had
no fuifilment yeti
Rejoice be happy and merry. God
Is not anxious to receive only your
fearful. penitential service. He bids
you rejoice. BE merry nowi' Re-
joice in every good thing which the
Lord thy God hath given unto thee.
Take them all as fresh proofs OF his
favor to you. You may wonder at
his providence. but you cannot ques-
ton his love. Covering under a
sense OF sin, you may acknowledge
your unworthiness to ask for good,
but now with barn filled by him,
home blessed by him, friends, your
country, yourself protected and pre-
served by him, you dare not doubt
his loving care for you, and his
willingness to give you anything you
ask him for. Every good thing" you
have to thank him for as you
rejoice before him. The talent he
gave. the place he gave you in the
quarter of the earth he get you in. the
strength-whether physical or mental
by means OF which you earn your
living. his church into which he ad-
mitted you-eyen your negative bless
ings-such, for example, as freedom
from temptation to fall into evil liv-
Ing. lying, drunkenness; as well as
the deliyerance Of your families and
friends from sickness and death.
Rejoice" take every one of these
good things as a new reason for re-
ioicing. Remember every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above.
:" Each is proof of his love
and of your right to ask for further
greater blessings.
think few OF US realize the beauty
and glory Of our life N this country
Where is people SO wonderfully pre-
served as we are? So uniformly-in
grandly even way progressing.
The land is diversified in its climate,
In its scenery. Talk of the gardens
OF other worlds Where was ever
garden bedecked on such a grand
scale as our countryside is now. The
whole creation as we see it cries:
Lift up your heart" Rejoice In the
Lord who hath SO blessed you and will
bless. Don't try to bear your burdens
on your own souls. Lay them down
for he will mercifully carry them and
cheer you on the way. Lay them
down with him. beside the cross; all
the anxiety about the future, the par
don you require, the money you need,
the help you want Leave all that
with him. Rejoice cast of your
care; be glad because of his merciful
care. 1t is his divine command. So
much has he given you already. what
can he refuse you after Bethlehem,
Calvary, and his gifts of your life.
your health. your food" and all your
means of grace and hopes of gloryf