The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-10-24
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
AfIictiOn.

allurements.
! Death is dismissed from our minds as
much as possible. Our obligations to
God are forgotten ard we become Who'll
ly engrossed in the things of time We
are apt to grasp for its treasures for
I getting the endurable riches of heaven
We become Indifferent to our RESPONSE
bilities. careless in regard to cur
eternal interests and unmindful of the
fact that there is one above who claims
the first place in our affections as well
as our best efforts.
To wean our affections from the
world, God finds it necessary to send
Affections upon u.s. We may fret and
even rebel, yet when we see the wis
dom of God in it, w5 cannot but be
thankful. We become so intent on
acquiring the things of the world that
we are libale to fall into great peril.
This may be illustrated by the case
! of two painters who were frescoing the
walls of a cathedral. They were on a
high scaffold. One, so intent on his
work that he forgot where he was, and
stepped slowly back viewing his work,
until he had come to the edge of the
plank. His companion saw his danger
and Selling a wet brush flung it against
the wall scattering the picture with
blotches of cloring. The painter flew
forward in rage and turned upon his
friend with fierce upbraidings until he
was made aware of the danger he had
escaped, then with tears of gratitude
he thanked him for what he had done.
So we become so absorbed with the
pictures of the world that we are I'M
conscious of our peril when God in His
mercy dashes out the beautiful images
and draws US at the time we are com
planning of His dealings, into His out
stretched arms Of love.
Frequently God sends Affections to
show forth the energy and power of
diYine grace. Doubtless this was one
of the reasons for Jobs sore aff1iction.
Though friends comtorted him with the
assurance that he had been guilty of
some heinous crime and was consequent
ly suffering the just punishment of his
crime against God. Yet in all job
sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
1t was dark night that had settled
about him, but there arose light in the
darkness. The energy of grace was suf-
ticient for him then. His miserable
comforters were glad enough to beseech
his prayers on their own behalf. HUI
man nature could not have endured un-
less it was assisted. What mortal, for
saken by friends, deprived of all his
worldly possessions, robbed of his chill
dren, and even entreated by his wife to
curse God and die, could have endured
all this without the power of Divine
grace to assist and support? 1t was a
wonderful manifestation of the power Of
grace. Yet many Christian now can
bear testimony t. the efficacy of this
same grace to support them In sore trial
and have realized the notification of the
promise, "My grace is sufficient for
YOU"
Again, God designs to manifest, in a
peculiar manner, Hist goodness to US.
We can witness this in the Affections of
Job. He was impoverished, only to be
enriched to a greater extent than ever.
The goodness of God has shown forth
in a special manner in the midst of our
trials. When we thought all hope was
gone, that God had forgotten US, we
have witnessed the manifestation of His
goodness and love in wonderful man
ner. The way has been opened from
Moab to Bethlehem; from the gloom of
dependency to light and joy.
Though trou bles assail you, the Lord
will not cast you off. Cleans of light
break through the clouds. for the Mas
ter grants US consolation. Sometimes
our hearts are in state of agitation.
CddoCu NY oOlISlAiuS uioosl SSdOics IL
heaves and agonizes under the pressure
of grief and anxiety, of dependency
and apprehension of future evils. How
cheering then, amid the troubles of life,
to mediate upon the character of Jesus.
How consoling to know that we can tell
our griefs and cares to Him who is able
to grant US consolation. How cheering
to remember that we have High
Priest who is touched with feeling of
our lnfirmaties; who looks upon His suf-
fering children in pity. Then as we re-
fleet upon his abode, the worship of &C.
lestial spirits and His love for them. it
is comforting to realize that He sympa-
thizes with US and to hear Him say. as
He did to His disciples of old, LET not
your hearts be troubled" All of US
have Universities now. They may differ
in nature and degree, still we have our
cross to bear. Sometimes it is scarcity
of labor when the poor man is compelled
to see his family deprived of the neces-
sites of life, when want turks at his
door, or debt accumulates with no pros
pect of relief. Nav be he is not prop-