The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-10-05
. THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Destruction of the Foundation.

the ills of life. and the mlsfortunes
that befall US, instead of driving US
from God and tempting US to distrust
Him should lead US nearer to Him and
establish our faith in His goodness and
providences. We should reeXamine the
foundations on which we rest, and
having these secure we may then build
q strong supersh ucture against which
the storms of persecution may beat in
vain.
If we are securely planted on the
Rock of Ages, and the principles of HIS
word, all the things which seem to be
against US, Will be found in reality to be
for US. Every victory over our foe, or
adverse circumstances will then tend to
strengthen our faith in God and we
shall be able, like David, TO gain a great
victory. 1t is natural for US to trust
our own strength and when that fails
we are tempted to say hard things
against God. Why does He permit US
to suffer? How short sighted we arel
If we had no trials or Affections that
were an evidence that we are not the
children of God. David was feeling the
resentment of Saul. The javelins had
been hurled at him and Saul would have
been glad could he have slain him.
His friends tried to get him to flee.
No, I'll stand my ground. How say We
to my soul, fee as a bird to your noun
tains, out of the neck of the fowler.
Was he too much of a soldier to
flee? Would 1t be cowardly for him
to act thus? Not that, for it may
be an act of valor to flee and the
worst kind of cowardice to hold our
position, What decided David, was
that such a course would SAVIOR OF IN
belief. They enforced their advice by
personal interest. You are not safe
and your usefulness will be at an end,
for if the foundations be destroyed
what can the righteous DO. They as
sumed too much.
Did they suppose Saul had the power
to destroy the civil state and govern
ment. What can you do David, to re-
dress the grievances. Better abandon
the ship to her tate and secure your
own safety by flight
Maybe his enemies were haunting him
and trying to shake his confidence in
God. If that were so, then we have
David's answer to their sarcasm in
Ps. lib. He complains of their malice
and then resists it with adherence. He
regards this as striking at the founda-
tions upon which every tue Israelite
built.
Destroy the hope of the Christian,
persuade him that it is false, convince
HIM that religion is a sham and YOU
make him miserable indeed.
The righteous build their hopes on
the principles of religion. These are
our bulwarks and we hold fast to them
against the attacks of skepticism and
infdelity. True, the foundations of
law and justice were destroyed under
Sauls reign, but what was that to
David, His trust was in God. He does
not say that the foundations can be de-
stroyed. The case is suppositive. 1t is
a sad case, if the foundations be de-
stroYed.
1t is sad question, what can the
righteous do? A sad answer is i'm
piled, viz. that they are powerless to
do ANYTHING in re-estabhshing the de
stroyed foundations. When once the
laws and constitution Of a people are
destroyed what can the best and wisest
do under such circumstances.
Christians sometime despair and sup
pose that all Is about to be lost The
ark of the Lord has been carried off.
TheGollathes of skepticism and infidelity
come out and defy the armies of Israel.
who are thus made to quail before their
defiant challenges.
These clarion mouthed, bIaying giants
say, come to me and Wen show you
how easily the foundations can be de-
stroyed What can you do now? Tim
orous Christians atfrighted at these
blatant assumptions hang their harps
on the willows and refuse either to sing
or fight; they throw down their weap-
ons and huddle together like sheep IN a
storm, with their heads to the earth in
stead of looking up and encouraging
themselves in the Lord and valiantly
sallying forth against the enemies,
who would be like pack of wolves in
close quarters.
If they would take some of the
smooth stones of Gods promises and
put them in the sling of prayer and
then with the strong arm of faith hurl
them, these Boosting clamorlng giants
would fall, and upon their great mailed
carcass, they could stand and behead
them with their own weapons. We
needn't worry about the foundations of
our Christian religion ever being de-
stroyed That has been tried too often
the devil himself with all his power