The Southern herald., 1915-01-15
ON Anvil OF GOD
Those Who Would Do His Work
Must First Be Thoroughly
Tested.

When war breaks out in a country II
means that forges and armories will be
ringing all day with the clash OF steel
as the necessary weapons are prepared
for use. Steel blades will be heated in
the fame, plunged in the icy flood and
then beaten hard to make them hrm
and pliable, and to give them the keen
edge and temper" without which
they cannot become effective instru-
ments Of offense and defense. They
must be made tough and sharp by
successive tests Of fire, water and
force, ere they can help to win the
fight.
God has occasions when he reveals
himself as "the Lord strong and
mighty, the LORD mighty in battle"
and he calls for men to "come to the
help of the Lord against the mighty"
His weapons are living men and wom'
en- tested and tried in the forge of God.
In the furnace Of affliction" they are
heated to the white heat Of purity and
power, In the icy flood Of sorrow, sep
aration and isolation they are chilled
through and through, and then on the
anvil of God they are placed for many
heavy stroke, and are beaten to an
edge. BY fire, water and anvil he tests
and tries them again and again, until
the hard will is fused and pliable and
pain becomes a privilege and Joy.
Then, strong, keen and tempered"
through and through, they are ready
for his work.
God Wants only Those Tried.
The trouble with so many is their
temper" in more than one sense OF
the word. Against the furious on
slaught Of the enemy and his hosts
and the crying needs and evils Of
these last days, God will trust no un-
tested, untempered blade. When he
goes forth to war he uses none but
souls beaten long on the anvils of pain
and yeaTning-living swords which are
also twoedged, piercing and dividing
asunder' anything and everything
when welded by his omnipotent hand
If you are willing for the process,
namely, conformity to the image" Of
Jesus Christ and the fellowship Of
his sufferings," you, too, may be his
helper in the war" Chron. 1871, R. V,
"Is there not a warfare to man on
earth?" Job IL, R. V.-"Shall your
brethren go to war, and shall ye sit
here?" Mum. 1926. This warfare is a
spiritual one, against principalities
against powers, against the rules Of
the darkness of this world, and against
hosts of wicked spirits in heavenly
places" Eph. 6:12, R. V. The process
in other words, means the forge, the
furnace, the food and the anvil
Does this explain the Lords dealings
with you just now? Are you on the
anvil, going through fire and water
beaten, bruised, on edge? Have you
often prayed: Remove thy stroke
away from me: l am consumed by the
blow of thine hand" Ps. 1910.
Need for Patience.
Your aspiration is real and intense
but your soul-stretch is straining its
capacity. You want to attain to the
Masters image by leaps and bounds
without the necessary process; but
spiritual capacity takes on expansion
only under pressure Lie still, there
fore, wait patiently, and he will be
able more quickly and more thorough
ly to gain the end he has in view.
The process completed will mean 9
pure, strong, pliable, keen, tempered.
victorious weapon for the use Of the
pierced hand, either in the hidden
mighty work Of prayer and interces
sion, or in the more public, but moi
more effective sphere of service.
In thy strong hand I lay me down,