Mansfield mirror., 1914-11-26

they treat him?
Some decline to acknowledge him as
having any personal relation to them.
He is an intangible, far-away being,
possibly nothing more than the great
Pan Of the ancients. Some forget God,
having occasional moments Of recog-
milton, especially when he appeals to
them by catastrophe, but the words Of
the psalmist are again true: God is
not in all their thoughts" This Is true
oftentimes of bodies of men, even
great nations, and Rudyard Kipling
has very forcibly suggested that the
English nation may forget God.
Some defy God, following the advice
Of the wife Of Job-to curse God and
die. They fight against God, but they
never think of asking the result of the
fight. They never win. Some parley'
with God, having some recognition OF
his being and of their moral obliga-
tions to him, but when those obliga-
tions are pressed as present duties
they say Tomorrow" or Consider our
business, our political or domestic sit
uation and excuse U.S." And some ac-
knowledge God in all his spiritual be
ing as holy, just and loving and their
lives are fully surrendered to him.
They have linked themselves with the
infinite and the power of the infinite
will avail for them.
Tho Demand Of God.
We have in the text a command, not
q mere suggestion or intimation:
Know that am God" The latter
part Of the verse defines what God
means: II will be exalted among the
heather. I will be exalted in the
earth" The cry of the Mohammedan
muezzin is not wrong: God is great"
In the Old Testament we have the
word "Elohim." which means the
strong or faithful one," used $500
times. The root in that word, Ell"
means "the strong or mighty one.",
That was Gods claim in those times
and one Of the things upon which he
has been most sensitive is that Of his
unchangeableness. What he was to
Moses or, David or Nebuchadneszar he
Is to US. God makes demand in the
text, and no man has right to chal-
lenge It: 81 am God"
~ How Obey the Command.
In our authorized version of the
Scriptures we nave the words: BE
STILL" Most men make such q clamor
in their business or In the political
world, or on the battle field that they
cannot hear God. Elijah in the cleft
of the mountain side heard God more
distinctly In the still, small voice than
in the raging fire or stormy wind.
Men have come close to God as they
have sat by the silent sea. or in the
stiffness Of the woods, or in the hush
OF the midnight hour. The Hebrew
word translated 'still" might be trans
lated cease ye," or Let your hands
hang down." which means that efforts
should cease. Many claiming to rec
ognize God struggle on. attempting to
do things that God would do, but
which he cannot do because men in
slst on doing them for themselves.
While God has been compelled to
show his almightiness or strength in
sending catastrophes on men he shows
this same strength In simple ways.
The snow crystal as II falls on the
hand, melts in a moment or two, but
that crystal with its companions. fall
ing noiselessly as the great train
rushes on. drawn by a mighty engine.
will cause that engine to throb and
groan, and at last stop. Victor Hugo
says that 1t was few drops Of water.
more or less. that prostrated Napoleon
at Waterloo and that the passing Of
a cloud across the sky sufficed for the
overthrow Of world.
The Nations and God.
Probably in these days when the
earth is trembling with the crash Of
the mightiest armies that the world
has ever known there should be q
thought Of God and his power. What
are kings and emperors and great ma
tions? Nations are as a drop In the
bucket and are counted as the small
dust in the balance. AS the rulers Of
the earth take counsel together
against the Lord and against his
God sits In the heavens and
laughs at them and has them in de-
rision.
Over the armies Of Europe now In
conflict God is standing. He has q
purpose in this unparalleled war and
that purpose win be realized. The
mighty fighting organization Of Ger
many will not Illustrate it. nor the pa
triotism and impetuosity OF the French,
nor the tenacity Of the English. nor
the masses Of the Russians.
Waterloo and God. ~
Victor Hugo asks with reference to
Waterloo; Was u possible that Ma
poleon should win this battle! We
answer. No. And whyf Because Of
Wellington? Because Of Bluchert
No. Because Of God" And he says:
Napoleon had been impeached before
the Infinite and his fall decreed. He
vexed God" .S
The man Is wise who makes God his
refuge and strength. a very present
help in trouble. Today the glory OF
America lies In the fact that Its chief
executive is q man OF clear recogni-
tion Of God. and his remarkable
achievements may be accounted for by
those moments Of solitude before God.
II his chamber.