Evening journal., 1916-01-29

see tnlS brave prophet, VINO ndu raced
a host OF enemies, weeping in dis
couragement. Yet it is such touches
as this that makes us appreciate that
these men were OF like passions and
weaknesses as the rest of us. God
answered his prayer by refusing his
request. He wanted to take Elijah
up into heaven in a chariot Of fire,
and that was vastly better than letting
him die under a juniper tree.
We'll" says some one. II admit
that, as a general rule, this Is true
That the grace OF God Is sufficient 20
save from sin and keep amid the dim
culties OF life. But my case is pecu-
liar. have more trials and tempta-
tions than others" Supposing this to
be true let us note In the third place.
the direction OF grace. God says. my
grace is sufficient for thee" This is
much better than n there had come
to you a personal message that IS
with your own name. You might have
said It was meant for some one else
with the same name, but when il says
that Gods grace is sufficient for
THEE. no matter what your charac-
ter or condition the promise Is uni
veraal.
"Are you a Christian" I asked one
evening TO a man in an after-service.
"Oh. no." he replied. 81 am not a
Christian; I am a railroad man"
Said l. "That makes no difference.
God loves you just the same and is
Just as willing to help and save you
as anyone else
But" said he, "I am a switchman
surrounded every day by profane and
ungodly men. It would be impossi-
bic for me to live a Christian life
well" I replied. you are the very
man that needs Christ. Supposing
some cold winter morning when you
had to work outdoors in an exposed
place, you would say to your wife, 81
guess I'll not wear my oyercoat to-
day: and will put on my thin cloth
ing. " He looked up at me in amaze
ment and answered.
"Im not such a fool that / would
talk that way. II I had an especially
cold place 10 work, I would wear
more clothing. rather than less "
"Now. my friend" I responded
why do you not use that same good
sense in religion? n you have espe-
cial trials and temptations and diff
culties do you not suppose God knows
about IL? DO you think that He
would ask you to do anything that you
could not do, and would allow you to
be placed in a position where He
would not give you help to overcome?
He has said where sin abOunds,
there grace much more abounds.'
81 never saw it that way before"
he exclaimed. and that evening he re
ceived the grace OF God in the per-
son OF our Lord Jesus Christ, as his
Helper and Saviour.
Now. in concluding the cOnsidera-
ton Of this special theme. | wish to
press home upon your own conscience
this great truth. that you, personally
need the grace Of God. You need
Gods grace for salvation. We have
nothing Of our own with which to
blot out our sins on that great day.
when every one must give an account
OF himself to God. II you have not
Christ. no matter though you may
have wealth and works, kind friends
and culture, yet from the eternal
standpoint. you have nothing For
by grace are ye saved, through faith
and that not OF yourselves: it is the
gift OF God" There Is no other way.
But there is something additional
that 7 especially want to urge and
that is that you need the grace OF
God not only for eternity. but for
now. You need that grace in the
day of adversely Everything may be
pleasant and prosperous for today,
but how little does any OF us know
what will come tomorrow The wheel
OF fortune turns around very rapidly
I'm this world and he that is now at
tho top Of the scale may very soon
be at the bottom. And in that time
OF darkness and OF difficulty, without
divine help your soul must make sad
ship-wreck. Just as Joseph, in the
seven years OF plenty, stored Up FOR
the seven OF famine. So in the time
OF opportunity, be laying up treasure
where moth and rust cannot corrupt
nor thieves break through and steal
The saddest and bitterest poverty il
soul poverty. There is no pauper
quite so abiect and hopeless as the
one who although possessing rank
and wealth. is a spiritual pauper.
You need also the grace of God II
the time OF prosperity. Il seems thu
natural thing when clouds come owe
our sky to seek divine aid but wher
the sunshine OF fortune is smilins
upon our pathway. we are apt to be
come proud and hard OF heart Il OF
ten takes more grace TO withstand
prosperity than adversely. In tn
prosperous days you need that powe
to keep you gentle and humble tina
/ God may guide and use you. A lii
Tie boy, whose father had suddenl
became wealthy. when he knelt Z
pray at night. exclaimed, Goodbye
God. papa has struck OIL"
Further, in the time OF temptatio
also we need the grace Of God. An
! who OF us is not tempted? The bus
! ness man. amid the sharp. unscrupJ
, lous competition OF the modern con
! mercial world when so many are GU
, ting corners, needs every day the hel
that Christ alone can give to kee
his life and conduct perpendicular