The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-04-05

N'N
A distinguished Christian nobleman
Of England has recently written n
book entitled "1he Silence of God"
and after discussing the proposition,
whether God, who Is holy, infinitely
powerful and Interchangeable, can per-
NIT the present worldwide care TO eX-
LIST or not, ne comes TO the conclusion
that God Is the same as he was yes
terday, and will be the same God for
evermOre.
Our topic is "The Quletness, or the
tranquility of God" Is that justi-
fed? Is he just as quiet in the trlbu-
lations OF the nations Of the earth as
he was when peace ruled supreme?
We strongly believe SO. Our text says,
God is not the God OF confusion, but
OF peace !" that Is, he is an orderly God.
His character Is brought into contrast
with the turbulent religious assem-
blles Of emotional orlentals. Never
for a moment does God become ex-
cited, lose his head, or act hastily,
or under passionate impulse. When
David came to his best self, he saw
that the, steadfastness Of Zion was
secured by the fact that God dwelt in
her, and therefore she could not be
moved. That was what steadled Mar
tin Luther and Melancthon in the
stormy days of the Reformation, as
they sang, God Is Our Refuge and
Strength" especially as they heard
God speaking to their very souls, "Be
still, and know that / nm God"
A Vivid Contrast.
In the second Psalm, the raging ma
lions are brought into vivid contrast
with the quiet of God. God Is sitting
on the circle of the heavens and
laughing, as though utterly indiffer-
ent. unconcerned by the earthly COM
motion. At one Of the crucial mo-
ments in our national history, when
the beloved Lincoln was stricken
down, James A. Garfield, then n con-
gresham, spoke in New York as to
the dire event, and said: "The Lord
reigneth he is clothed with majesty,
the government at Washington still
lives"
This quiet Of God is based on his
Infinite character. Nothing is more
needed In these trying days of the
shaking of nations, than the thought
that God Is sovereign. that he has
majesty, is infinite in his power, holi-
ness, goodness and truth before him
the nations are but as the small dust
of the balance; he sets up kings and
casts them down. The paraohs of
Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar the Great,
Cyrus the Persian, were but individual
pawns In the hands Of the Great Play
er, and precisely so Is II today. EN-
perors and kings and presidents are
but instruments in Gods hands, for
accomplishing the purposes formed In
eternity, and working out with the ut
most precision. While absolutely
speaking, 1t is impossible to divorce
thought from the claims of the Son of
God as the Saviour Of the world, In
this day possibly 1t is well to let the
hou6hl NpilC W tic pOu VI tlt lSTttl-
ties now, the one God beside whom
there is no other. In the beginning
God now God.
Can Man Attain This Quality?
Can this characteristic quality Of :
God be transmitted to men2 Can man
be tranquil and quiet in the midst Of
commOtion, contention and bat
tle2 The days in which we are living
are described by the Lord as those in
which mems hearts shall be failing
them for fear and looking for those
things which are coming on the EARTH"
Three years ago, men were predicting
entering in Of the day of universal
brotherhood, Of amity, Of altruism, and
a consequence material prosperity,
The wise diffusion of wealth and realiz- ]
Ing millennial conditions, but now they
Ire so overwhelmed with the facts
hat stare them In the face, that they ,
ire In CONSERVATION and confusion and Z
all into rage when asked to think
lbout these things. e,
1t Is natural that the children Of /.
God should partake of his nature; con-
'equently they may be quiet, If the
of faith is strong. Is it not true
hat God will keep him in perfect
,eace, whose mind is stayed on him? |
The voice of wisdom Is the voice Of |
Tod; and wisdom says, "Whoso bark '
ms unto me shall dwell safely and
hall be quiet from fear of evil"
Many of the children Of God have
to this quiet that comes from {,
In his Word. The patient =
DING to the operating table, or the q
older going into the battle, or the
Merchant seeing his property all being
wept away from him, can remember
hat Goo is his friend and be quiet.
he early Christians as they were
brown into the arena to be torn into
by the lions were quiet, and
ang together to the honor of their
ord. II
Today God is not excited. The Il
'rath of the world is not confusing g
i'm, and he is just as really interested =,
the fall of the sparrow as he is in III
lie adjusting Of relationships of en- S
Tres, Kingdoms and republics. &C
9 this my joy that evermore m
rulest all things at thy will, Ii
nv sovereipn wisdom ia adora 7