Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-10-29

amos S:11) He
spoke in part as follows:
Today this prophecy is fulfilled in
our midst! Notwithstanding the fact
that during tho past century Bibles
have been printed and circulated
amongst the people by the million, and
Notwithstanding the fact that educa
ton has become so general that ricl
and poor, old and young, have the abil-
ity to read the Word Of God. never
theless we are in the midst of the very
famine which the Prophet specifies. It
seems almost incredible that we should
be furnishing now with Bibles in our
homes, when our sanity forefathers
did not famish, although their educa-
ton was limited. The secret lies In
the fact that increasing intelligence on
every hand has awakened our reason
ing faculties along religious lines. and
the result is the gnawing Of hunger in
our hearts. Both heart and flesh cry
out for living and true Coda God
greater than ourseives-more Just,
more powerful. more loving. Realizing
our own tmpotency. we feel more and
more our need Of the Friend whose
love is closer than brothers..
Consequently we cannot find in the
Scriptures the rest, the refreshment
and the comfort which our forefathers
derived therefrom. Consequently the
young men and the purest of heart in
the world are repealed by the religion
Of the past. They are hungry for the
Truth, thirsty for the refreshment
which they need. Intellectually, many
are looking, wandering, from sea to
sea, desiring the Bread of Life
Scanning the creeds Of all denomina-
tons. they find these practically alike
as respects theories of eternal reproba-
ton and damnation for all except the
Elect, the sanity few. They grow
faint for want of spiritual food and
drink. They even look to the heather
world, and examine the Theosophy Of
India. the Buddhism of Japan and the
Confucianism of China. seeking for
some satisfying portion Of Truth.
In some respects these are like the
prodigaa son--far from home. They
perceive the swinish content with the
husks of business. money, pleasure and
politics; but their spiritual longings
cannot be satisfied with the husks
which the swine eat. Because Of
their interest In spiritual things they,
are thought peculiar They are mis-
understood by their best earthly
friends. In their wanderings along the
highways of science and world-religion
they must surely learn that they will
get 10 satisfaction from those sources.
Tho Table Of Divine Provision.
Ho. all We that hunger for Truth.
come We! There is an abundance for
us all In our Heavenly Fathers won
derful provision-in the Bible. De-
! sorting all the creeds and traditions of
men. let us gather at our Heavenly
| Fathers Board as His family. as His
children. Let us prove the truthful
a father pitieth his children. so the
Lord pitieth them that reverence Him. -
Let us seek and find the satisfying
portion. Let us satisfy our longings at
the table Of Divine provision. Mark
the words Of the Lord and consider
how truthful they are-"Blessed are
they that hunger and thirst after right
eousness; for they shall be filed"
1t is this Truth hungry class whom
/ we address We know their heart.
longings; for we have had the same
experience. We know the satisfaction
! which they crave; for we have receiv.
ed it and are therefore doubly glad tc
hand forth the Bread and the Water
of Life to those who desire it. There
are many who are ready to serve the
appetites OF those who long for pleas
ure-ball games. society fetes. chess
travel. etc. Against these We have
not one word to say. 1t is not Oul
thought that they are en- route to eter
nal torment: hence we do not franti
cally Eeset them or annoy them. Lee
them have their pleasure. Let then
wait for the time to come when some
thing may occur in their experiences
which will put them into the class o.
the broken-hearted and contrite o.
spirit. something which will cause
them to feel after God. if haply the,
might find Him as satisfying por
ton.
In harmony with the Masters direc
lions, it is our aim to "bind up tn,
broken-hearted and to comfort thoS,