The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-07-17

AiOul HIS own tA-
perience. Here we have three figures
OF speech, three classes OF needs, and
three promises TO meet these diverse
aspects OF our need-The three RS in
Christ
Refuge.
"A man shall be as a hiding-place
from the wind, and a covert from the
tempest" The traveller in the East
knows the meaning OF that, and even
In our western country one will find
storm-cellars and cyclone caves, for
the day OF visitation is uncertain, and
there is great need for place of
safety.
We live an exposed and defenseless
life, subject TO greater storms than
sweep our prair1es. and more TO be
feared than the cold. wild winds which
beat upon us from the North. We are
exposed TO the storms OF afliiction,
the terrors OF n troubled conscience,
the oncoming OF divine judgment II
we have lived in sin. You may fiat
ter yourself but you have not lived
long without learning how defenseless
you are. Has there not been day
when you sought for shelter-a hid.
ing-place from the wind, and n COW
ert from the tempest? The storms
may sweep. but God is a refuge for
all who will flee to him. Where do
you go? Think OF that caravan In
the desert as the fierce howling storm
sweeps upon It. how 1t presses for
ward to the distant shelter. Think
of Christ as your hiding place. The
Lords our rock, " him we hide-a
shelter In the time OF storm"
Refreshment.
las streams OF water IN dry
place" The desert is not only with
out shelter, II is without water; and
the path OF the caravan is strewn |
with the bones OF those who died for |
lack OF water What lack OF re- |
freshment there is In the world and |
how many perish for lack of the wa
ter OF life
Men seek refreshment I'm 80 many
ways and so many false places. and |
they find that the world really has
nothing TO meet their deepest need 1t
cannot satisfy the thirst for happi.
ness, for consolation, for reconcilia-
ton, for peace; every promise the
world holds out is not an oasis but
"a mirage, and the promised assuaging
Of thirst only proves an aggravation
OF the desire. We find out that this
world, without Christ. is not only
dangerous without refuge, Il is dry,
without hope OF refreshment. we do
dwell in dry land where no water
Is. Why not recognize the fact, and
say My soul thirsteth for God. for
the living God?"
I heard the voice OF Jesus say.
Behold / freely give
The living water-thirsty one,
stoop down. and drink. and live.
came 10 Jesus and ] drank
OF that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quench'd, my soul revived.
And now / live In Him.
Rest.
AS the shadow of a great rock In
weary land" We do not 20 far
In contact with the world until we
find out not only is II dangerous and
dry, but IL is a wearisome place. There
is nothing so monotonous as life from
the worldlIng's standpoint All It's
boasted pomp. power and agitation
can never give a moment OF rest TO
the weary world; and many who have
tried 70 find rest in the world have
been like Gagged birds who have beat
en- out their lives against the bars OF
the cage. How infinitely wearisome
Il all Is! Study the faces OF men
and women In sim do they not seem
20 be void of all sense OF rest or quiet
or peace? Note the nervous life
which so many people out OF Christ
are living. The desert Journey is 30
long. 50 languid. 50 monotonous. Oh,
for the shadow OF a great rockl
heard the voice Of Jesus say.
Come unto me and rest.
Lay down. thou weary one. lay down
Thy head upon my breast
] came 10 Jesus AZ J was
Weary. and worn. and sad.
] f0uhdi In Him a resting place.
And lie has made me glad.
Refuge, refreshment rest. great F.
hope for our great need "A man shall
De' these things for us. Who can
his man be? The solution OF the
mystery is in tn. Lord 5us Christ.
Thank God there is a an able 20
shelter. and 10 give rest: the Man
Christ Jesus. our brother, touched
With feeling Of our infrmitles.