The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-11-27
II Saturday
Serllottette:

4 Comfort We, comfort we, my PEG +
+ pie, saith your God" +
Il Isaiah 4O:1. 4
+ A little attention to the phras- +
+ ing of this text will repay US in +
+ very practical dividends of bless +
+ ing. =
i For example: The repetition of J.
+ the injunction with which the text =
j. opens indicates that the comfort :
+ ing of His people is thing about +
T. which God is immensely and ear =
T. estly concerned. This is iterated !
i. and intensified expression. 1t also +
i. is in point to note that this high +
+ function of comforting is conferr- :!
j. ed on us. God has His own direct +
j. method of confronting His peoples
i One aspect of the Holy Spirit J.
j. work. is to be "the Comofrter." +
!. That is one Of the specialties of +
+ the Third Person Of the adorable +
+ Trinity. But We, too, are to be +
+ comforters. Comfort Ye, Comfort +
|Ye," is what God says. +
+ Again taking the two phrases, J.
+ "My people," "your God" we get !
+ a subtle suggestion. Those whom =
i. He calls "My people" are those =
+ to whom He may be mentioned as +
j. your God" And the persons to !
i whom He is named as "your Gods
+ are the ones He would name "My i
+ people" And this involution of I
+ phrase really means that all Of I
+ Gods people are to comfort one t
j. another. This is reciprocal COM i
+ forting. Let no class stand off and !
/. wait to be comforted. Let them !
+ comfort; and comfort will come I
j. to them. This is the way the cool !
j. and warm currents of the sea I
+ share their qualities with each !
+ other. But what is the signifi- i
i. canoe of this repeated word Com !
+ fort?" 1t is a compound word of !
j. Latin lineage. Its two syllables !
l. are two words of that old tongue. !
i. Com is Latin proposition, "Con" !
+ meaning with" in English. Forts
i is the Latin "forte," an adjective :!
+ with noun force. 1t is the basis !
+ of our word "fortitude." And :.
+ that gives the key of its meaning !
+ here: Strong, brave, courageous.
+ Therefore, to comfort one is not !
+ to be weak with him, but to make !
i. him strong with your strength I
!. and fortitude. AS the field sur I
+ geon must get down to the weak !
+ ness of the wounded soldier with I
+ out being weak, so without weak !
+ ness we must get down to the dis !
i. consulate to courage him up, to !
+ fortify him.
+ What a blessed office is here
+ prescribed for our performance!
+ What a blessed thing it is to con- I
+ forte make somebody brave and I
+ hardy and courageous with US! I
+ Nothing is finer than this. To I
+ give courage, fortitude, to little I
+ child that is fearful and fearful, I
+ how beautiful it is! To hearten a
+ man who is ready to sink because, I
+ with all his toll and anguish, he 1
+ has not realized his ideals and I
+ hopes, how noble it is! To put fora
+titude into the heart of the invalid 1
+ trying to struggle back to health, l
+ how fine it is! o, there is nothing I
+ our poor old SHINING, Borrowing,
+ suffering world needs so much as !
+ comforting.
+ Here is a great chance for US.
+ Shall we not hear this Divine
+ voice that says, Comfort we, COM 1
I. fort ye?" And shall we not try to I
+ be comforters to our fellows?
+ J. M. B. 1
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