The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-09
SATURDAY NIGHT
Ma SERMONS
>W.,Sfzs By
AEvSAMIJEL.
W.pURvISDl
MULBERRY TREE TOPS.


trees. then shalt thou so out to battle,
for God Is gone forth before thee."-(R
w Chron. xiv. 15
1t was the night before the battle.
The Phhistines, Davids ancient and
inveterate foe. were drawn up In ar
ray before his pitiful little army. The
israelitish general had formed bis
plans and outlined his campaign.
What more could he doG He did what
many another God fearing commander
has done. When be had done his all
then he went to God, the Lord of
hosts. the arbiter of battles and ma
tions Like Robert e. Lee. StonewalI
Jackson, Cromwell and Havelock, he
went into his tent and laid his sword
down before the Almighty and asked
for the sword of Gideon and the spir-
1t. The king of glory told him to take
stand opposite grove of mulberry
trees. At the break of day when the
first tint of dawn put color into the
foliage and the morning breeze rustled
among the leaves he was to listen. and
when he heard the sound as of a
marching in the tops of the mulberry
trees he was to go forth knowing God
was going forth to battle before him.
is God Aheadp
What that sound was do not know,
whether it was simply the rustling of
leaves or the tramp Of horses hoofs
and roll of chariot wheel as heavenly
n r rcb bnl lad int L., 81
vibrant ether, but it was a signal for
David to advance and an alarm to the
enemy. the hostile Philistines. that put
them into confusion. No foes harder
to battle with than those we cannot
see; no forces are so difficult, for We
cannot estimate numbers. detect move
ments or sense tactics. We cannot an
ticipate attack nor plan defense. The
Philistines. bearing the march of an
unknown army against their front
rank, retreated with precipitation and
into David's forces. which lay in their
rear. OF those who fight against God
the Bible says, The sound of leaf
shall chase them" The movement was
success. David obeyed orders; God
performed promises God always goes
before his people on the highways of
righteousness
When the kingdom of the Messiah
was to be set up the disciples were not
allowed to do anything or make any
move till they received the promise OF
the Spirit. who came at Pentecost with
a sound FROM heaven as of a rushing,
mighty wind. When they heard that
the tiny Christian church went for
ward to battle, going forth conquering
and to conquer.
Spiritual Discern n.ent.
A revival is not divine caprice.
The history of the church-every great
forward movement of the church--has
movements that have sometimes been
regarded as freak movements or wild
fire. By revival" is not meant the
particular mode of any denomination,
of course. but a general awakening. Il
reviving of the truths of God as old as
Gods truths themselves. When Gods
people are awake to sense of broken
altars, the neglected Word. conditions
of Indifference In the church and sin
fulness without, when the people are
so ready, then is Gods time. Lord
Macauley said long ago that it Is easy
enough after the ramparts are carried
TO find men to plant the flag on the
topmost tower. The difficulty is to find
men who are ready to rush into the
first breach. 1t is also easy to manu-
facture the materials for a set move
ment of the church, but another to
wait for the going In the tops of the
mulberry trees" The mill by the riy
er may be equipped with the most
modern machinery and managed with
the highest efficiency. but If the water
runs low and the dam becomes dry
there's no grinding of the grain. The
secret of the miracle of the revival is
that godly men and women, having
done all things human, come out Of
and wait for the Holy Spir-
1t. There is no limit to divine power
Revival Versus Religious Boom.
A religious boom is not a revival; 1t
is a dangerous counterfeit. When
church declines in spiritual life. prayer
meeting dying, communion neglected,
finances dropping, there comes dissen.
sion and factions. What shall be done?
Employ an evangelist Machinery is
organized. Meetings are multiplied.
There is much hurrah and excitement
Crowds gather. All, the magic Of the
crowd! Results are measured by the
of accessions to the church.
IL the number Is large there is much
self graduation: If small the revival
was a failure. 1t started with ma
chinery and ended with it. There has
been no rise In the tide of the spiritual
life Of the church, the same un-Chris-
ton practices, the same dearth of at
tendance among members, low
finances. chickering's and atrophy. The
real revival means a consecrated God
fearing preacher. parents who will re-
pair broken affairs at home. Sunday
school teachers who are men and wo-
men Of prayer and take their boys and
girls to God. a church membership
interested in the spiritual
interests of their friends and neigh [
bSrs and who are modestly without
cant trying to live blameless before
God and man. A people coming be-
fore God in such condition. ranging
themselves before his groves. waiting
for sound of going In the tree tops.