Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-17

tho church can make 1t known. es-
pccially 10 those In war-torn France
and belgium, those that have seen
their homes shot away and their chill
dren Killed or led into life that is
worse than death.
They shall not build and another
inhabt: they shall not plant and an
other eat: for as the days OF a tree
are tho days OF my people and mine
elect shall long ENJOY the work Of their
hands. They shall not labor in vain,
nor bring forth for trouble"
In this luxury loving, care-free age.
the preacher is going to be unpopular
who ventures this sort of thing But
1t is because we have been concerned
with popularity that we have not sue
ceedcd in our mission. Isaiah was
not careful to avoid the scorn Of the
king and his counsellors. Isaiah stood
absolutely alone. And so we preach
ers must stand, If needs be. But first
we must be conscious as many OF us
have not been conscious, of the un-
escapable presence OF God. We must
feel. and we must make others feel
that God compasSeth our paths and
our lying down and that He is ac-
quainted with all our ways. We mus,
preach the unacceptable God a God
whose knowledge Is too wonderful for
us. Amid the many complexities of
almost succeeded in putting God out
OF our lives. We have lost that init
macy with Him that our fathers knew
Tho habit of family prayer Is thing
almost unknown to us to-day and
grace at meals is seldom heard We
need something of the spirit of the
people of the Old Testament. They
prayed TO the God of those whom thew
knew. as to the God of Abraham. Isaac
and Jacob. Let these meu who are
fathers In this gathering this after
noon, and whose sons have gone off to
war. pray to the God of their sons
that He will guide and keep their boys.
This is not irreverence. Through Jesus
Christ we have access 10 the Father
Let us counsel with Him: let us seek
His guidance; let US encourage all
those that we meet to pray in that
Intimate manner. as one would petition
his father This Is tho mission If the
church to-day. In weary, war-worn
world, 10 give TO men and women q
picture OF tie Father so that they will
seek Him. And seeking they shall
find.
MESSAGE FROM MAN
WHO HAS BEEN AT FRONT
Let me give you a message from a
man who has been at the front think
you Will see something of what l mean
when l say there is sunlight on the
sword Inc war has taught us that
the things OF this world pass away.
But God remains. Listen to Coningsby
Dawson: when you've faced the worst
IN so many forms, you lose your fear
and arrive at peace. There's a mar
Vicious grandeur about all this carnage
and desolation-mens souls rise above
the distress-they have to. In order to
survive. When y.u see how cheap
mems bodies arc you cannot hclp but
Know that the BODY is the least part
or personality" This lesson was worth
the cost. say that solemnly and
seriously as one who faces life on the
battlefront. The lesson, so firmly en-
grated. that these things-the body,
the material things inconsequen-
tial We had 1t In. Bible language. in
words that are very familiar, since
they came from Him, Lay not up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves
break through and steal. but lay up
lot yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither mo,h nor rust corrupt
and where thieves do not break through
ana steaT; but our acquisitiyeness,
our delight In inconsequentiaI achieve
ments. showed that we had not learned
the truth.