Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-04
Jonathan and
His Armor Bearer
Sermon by
Sermon by
REV. Floyd w. TOMNINS.
Text: | Samuel xiv. l-46.


parts of the Old Testament. ana it car
rics the lessons. first. of Christs love
for us and ours for Him. and second,
Of the love we should have for one an
other. Jonathan's position was a diff
cult ono. for he Saurs son. and
saul hated David. II il not easy al
ways to reconcile love and duty. Some
of the hardest struggles have arisen In
life from the attempt to reconcile them.
Th'y ought not to be in contradiction,
and generally they are not But there
arc times when duty to our parents.
duty to our business duty to right and
TOD seem to clash with our human at
lection. and think God has allowed it
so In order that we may learn how to
think. how to reason. how To balance
Things In our lives. how TO love God
supremely. and yet. through this very
love. to draw near In hclpculness to our
fellow men. The one infalliblc rule Is
that we must love God first: but the
second rule, Xix" unto the first. as Christ
said. is that we must love men.
WAS CAST; OF LOVE
At FIRST SIGHT
Jonathan's love for David seems to
nave been love at first sight" Some
times the enthusiastic lover declares
that his love has been born In heaven.
IN great sense that Is true If the ar
icction is pure. unsclhsh. genuine and
tasting. But not all love at first sight
IN OF heaven. The normal love, | think
Grows gradually and only reveals IT,
self in time. But there are exceptions
ana this love Of Saui's son for his
lather's enemy is one of them Perhaps
II was David's beauty that first at
tracted him: and beauty is not a vain
'hlhG, 10 h" dcspised. !; is meant 10
a'tract. only il should be counted a
h"iF thing and not cause pride in III.
poSScssor but rather humility All
'cahty, whether Of body. mind or char
actor, should be cultivated as n means
81 doing good. OF blessing mon "a,
helping the world onward Cancel, ,,a
Sooi looks is a iuiscr spirit like tho
Si"htihs over gold and is sur. to work
rum Probably sympathy for David
nom ms father was prosecuting also
'phaihanS love" Sympathy Is tho
companion Of love. PITT as usod il,
m" Bihi". Is a divine emotion which
reaches out hands TO help and sno,L.
words OF cheer. We ought aIwovs 70
''"! Tor on" another and CONT each
''"er JOYS ana sorrows as our own.
NO STRONG FRIENDSHIP
BETWEEN WEAK PEOPLE
f'"' our lesson TO-DAY particulnr ly
'"n'"rnS jonathan and his brave al
,ack upon the Philstincs with oniy
ms hrnoT-hearcr To help him. he gained
a,o- rf", victor /, is beautiful
i'hNid's friends No friendship can he
strong between weak peopla II ;s
~" bravo men who make the best
trends To some il might have seemed
"lld attempt for two men alone
." attack the enemy, but courage never
stops To- count the risk or tho cos,
When God calls we are 10 obey NO
matter how mighty the foe opposing
ana re gives the victory because
Of our faith.
some people have wondered whether
Jonathan was right in breaking Saul's
command that the people should not cat
IN! 'hihS during the day OF the battle.
III the hrst place NC are told he aid
not know OF the command And In
tn" second place. Il IS n grave oues
ton whether a bad command should
ni"aNs be obcycd. /, is a serious 0ucs-
ton IN my mind. whether the old niece
81 poetry called ''Casabianca" b,- Srs
licnans C'Thc boy stood on III. burn
ihE deckb, conveys a healthy lesson
o' obedience, We must look TO God
ana use our Judgment when We are
IN" sin which kept God silent tvc-sc
81 was Jonathans. II was ra thcr the
SIN OF Saul who Mas cruel alike TO
David and 10 Jonathan. His jealousy
or David and his unwil!nGncss to admit
me courage of Jonathan were OF n
p!cc" with Saul's miserable character.
which finally led TO his ruin Aftc-
AL. there can only bc one Master
'hrist II on? King. To His will only
must VIC give heed.
LOVE For COP HAS
MADE HEROES AND SAINTS
Finally. let us note how this victory
and tho love of these two great men III
III together. Both loved God Both
were seeking to rid the land OF the
enemy. Both were brave and both we're
lo%al 10 the love which God created
between them. II is love that gains
great victories
When once IL begins to master a true
man no obstacles can block it's way
l.ov" for God has made tho heroes and
saints OF the ages. Love for man has
given birth 10 all our institutions of
mercy and made them messengers of
heaven. When we are afraid true love
can Danish fear. When we are weak,
love makes us strong. When we are
oppressed and in tho shadow of sorrow.
love casts its light upon the way and
makes tho heart glad. II was love
that brought Christ To earth that man
might be saved II was love that drew
TO Him the mon who afterward went
ont and established the church. 1t is
love that calls MS to the cross and gives
MS peace as we see the Crucifcd King.
II is love at last which will open TO
use tho gates of heaven and bid us
enter IN. Love God. love mcn and
there can he no defeat.
Dear King Of Love. lead mo to draw
from Thee that divine fountain Of love
which shall make me follow Thee In
my weakness strengthen me. In my
loneliness cheer me. In my Ignorance
teach me. When the enemy is strong
let my love he stronger When the
harden is heavy let my love rejoice in
hearing II after Thee. And at last wei
come mo with Thy loving greeting as
enter heaven. For Thine own dear
sake. Amen.
Faster Service nj Railroad Y. VI. G.. A.
The Eastern service program for the
railroad Young Mems Christian ASso-
citation presents very attractive fea-
lures, and n large audience is expected
TO he present. The speaker will be
Rev L. i. Bransford, the evangelist
from Bilacksburg