The Washington times., 1914-11-26

| AZ be dincult matter
!es - for the majority OF
lHASElk- k-kO2SSllj people to determine
! correctly the nature
of the thanks they
would offer to God. Three hundred
and nifty millions Of humanity, our
blood relatives. are. at war. seeking &
to destroy each other. Ninety million
Americans, deeply interested in them,
are invited by our Honorable Pres
| ident and the Governors Of our sew
eral States to render thanks to the
Almighty. Truly, we have many
causes for Thanksgiving to our Gre
ator; life itself Is a blessing, a boon
our nation in many respects is the
most favored on the face of the earth,
| enriched by Gods bounty above all
Others not the least Of our blessings
being our civil and religious liber-
ties.
Surely no one of even average heart
and head has cause for other than great
thankfulness to our Creator. Our lines
have fallen to us In pleasant places"
Those who feel no gratitude are surely
soured by discomfort. the fruitase Of ig-
norance, selfshness and sin. How ap-
II propriate, then. that each and all bow
heart and head before the Giver OF every
n good and perfect gift! To whatever ex-
H tent this course be followed heartily,
ing will result. individually and nation
ally: The custom Is a beautiful one
There is difference between
thanksgiving and prayer. None have
ing the Throne Of Grace in prayer ex-
cept those who have come into coven-
ant relationship with God. The Jews
came into covenant relationship with
God through their Law Covenant by
Divine arrangement through Moses.
| TnllnwaYS nf
the Divine arrangement Of the Gospel
| Age, are privileged thus to come into
| relationship with the Creator through
Him. He is our Advocate. who has
way, through the sacrifice Of His flesh
| All whom tho Father has accepted
through Him-an whom the Father
has begotten by His Holy Spirit-are
| Scripturally termed sons Of God. chill
| dren Of God. heirs Of God, joint-heirs
with Jesus Christ their Lord John
! 81: Romans SIT.
These are invited to come to their
| Father and to address Him thus:
Our Father who art in Heaven." and
has provided for His children. accord
! ing to His Divine purposes and ar
| rangements. But none others are per-
| mitted TO come to this Throne of
Grace, because not in covenant rela-
| tionship with the Saviour. because in
| Gods arrangement There Is none
| other name given under Heaven or
amongst men. whereby we may be
! saved" from our sins. brought into re-
| lationship with our Father.
number may enjoy the privileges of
prayer or expect answers to their
| prayers. But, thank God. others may
worship and bow down. Come, let
us worship and bow down: let us
kneel before the Lord our Maker"
q
exercise Of 1t is sure to bring a bles-
sing. Whoever has a thankful heart,
| which takes delight in Offering wor-
ship to the Giver Of every good gift.
His love Of righteousness and truth.
holiness and goodness, mercy and
justice, will thereby be strengthened:
and SO also will be the probability
Of his some day reaching the point
where he will see the wisdom and the
desirability OF giving his heart-his
little ALTO the Lord in conservation
to be a faithful footstep follower
OF the Redeemer-a son Of God.
Giving Thanks for War.
Very evidently the majority Of man
kind have an insufficiency OF knowl-
edge OF God. Of the Bible, and of the
Divine Plan therein set forth. to
thank God for the present state Of
war. But TO the Church, whose eyes
to see the lengths and the breadths,
the heights and the depths OF Gods
love in the Message of the Bible, St
Paul writes: In everything give
thanks"
Ripe Christians have learned to
give thanks to God for the adversities
Of life in their own experiences. con-
Vinced that under Gods supervision,
the dlrest of calamities NAV be over
ruled for good TO His people and for
vanced. the developed Christian Is
able to give thanks under circum-
stances Of severe trials and testings.
Only those who have great faith.
built upon clear knowledge OF the
Divine promises, can realize thor
together for their good.
Similarly In respect to the great
European war now In progress. Its
casualties, desolations and wounds,
pie may understand the Divine plans
and arrangements 80 thoroughly as
10 be able to give thanks in respect
20 the war, and able to exercise conf
dent faith that the outcome OF 1t will
mean blessings Of instruction and
preparation for future blessings.
II the Scriptures did not foretell
this time Of world wide distress Of
nations" We might not know that
God had foreseen il and had made |
provision lOr lis results De1Ore per- /
mitting it. But the same Bible that !
foretells about the war tells OF its
results. saying: When the Jude- !
ments OF the Lord are abroad in the !
earth. the Inhabitants Of the world !!
will learn righteousness" Usaiah !
28:9) II. then, the war is teaching I
the world lessons along the lines Of
Righteousness and justice, it will be ,
doing permanent good. Moreover, the !
same Bible tells that the war Is
merely the outErowth of human sell .
nshness. Ignorance. superstition and |
false doctrine. and assures US that al
though II will lead on to revolution. :
anarchy and tho utter wreck Of the /
present order OF things-the present |
civilization--neverth God Is pre- {,
pared FOR the emergency. Mans eX-
tremity will be Gods opportunity"
The Solution Of Our PerpIex1ties. !;
The hour having come for Messiah ,
to take the reins OF government, He !