Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-05-16
FATHER EVER NEAR
In All Ages 1t Has Been Demon
strated, but Many Still Are
Slow of Faith.

This is an age of marvels; we accept
without any debate the wonders OF
this age. The airship, wireless mes
sage and countless other new things,
and we are ready for the new and
even more wonreful. AS yet many
hesitate about the spiritual wireless
that communes with God.
We are ready for mental telepathy
Of wordless communication with one
another; but deny the possibility of
hearing the voice of the Good Shep-
herd, which is corroborated by the
voice within ourselves, the voice of
conscience. Christ said my sheey
hear my voice and they follow me-"
Paul said to King Agrippa: 81 was
not disobedient to the heavenly vision"
Paul refers to his experience while
on his errand down to Damascus, when
he heard the words Saul. Saul, why
persecuteth thou me?" and in response
replied: Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do?" The members Of his trav-
cling party testified they heard
voice, but saw no man. Undoubtedly
Paul was in a mental unrest from his
various experiences.
This same voice which stopped Paul
so abruptly on his journey again was
heard by him and 1t appeared In the
form of a man with call from Mace
donia to go over and help them, Jacob
wrestled with God in the form OF an
angel, one memorable night, and his
life was different ever afterward. Pr
late's wife was disturbed all night by
dream while Christ was on trial. The
Psalmist, while in the cave for safely,
sent wireless to God for heavenly re
Inducements. John Bunyan In Bed
ford Jail gave the world the immor-
tai story. Pilgrims Progress" Yes,
Gods voice has come to us from the
caves, from prison cells, the martyrs
ashes, from the time when Cain killed
Abel down to the Boxer uprising In
China.
1t was on the night Of a history-ma-
king crisis, the night of the worlds
greatest tragedy, when the cock
crowed, and his voice called Peter to
repentance. The voice Of that rooster
has been hearl echoing down through
the ages. Its message and lesson now
calls men to repentance.
God still speaks to men: His voice
is understood. This is the age when
the Holy Spirit approaches men.
Christ, after occupyi the center of
the stage, assembled To heaven and sat
down upon his throne. At the same
time the Holy Spirit, the promised
comforter, descended to the world and
sat down upon the throne here, and IL
is his dispensation now. He is in the
center of the stage. He is striving
with men, but men resist and wrestle
with him like Jacob wrestled with the
angel and Saul with the spirit.
The voice that comes from the ex-
perience OF the rich man who
awakened in torment comes to us from
the parable of Christ. The rich man,
! from his own experience in hell
which came as the result of spiritual
carelessness and ndifference-pleaded
! for an opportunity to go back and
speak a warning message TO his heed
less brothers. The experiences of men
l around us today speak loudest of all
about the awfulness of sin and the
c need of repentance.
Inc call OF the HOURS lS' Prepare
, to meet thy God" This is the voice
direct from Gods word and to the
spiritual instinct of self-preservation
Squirrels prepare for winter by laying
q in store of winter supplies. The
6 birds fly south to a warmer climate
J Humans have an innate instinct of self
c preservation that leads them to pro
!. tect themselves against fire, agains
g smallpox: they take life-preserveri
J. when they go to sea; they build life
II saving stations on the shore; the!
| build navles and support them anC
a train their gunners; they drill stand
s ing armies for time of need; and We
, they prepare not to meet their God
lie They sin against their highest sense
? and noblest desires. They resist TIN
kindllest opportunities of the tender
= est spirits; they heed not the voice o
Jesus, who says: Come unto me