The Washington herald., 1918-04-21


written especially for The Herald by
Rev. William Oscar Roome. jr.:
st. John xiIe. 80 and there
shall be one fold and enc shepherd"
In every calling in life Il is essen
tial, dear friends. for one to seek two
things before any careful study can
be concentrated upon any problem
that faces him, and these two things
are, first. an isolation from other con-
fiicting thoughts. and, secondly. ac-
ceptance of standard writings Of SCI
entists who have mastered the sub
ject matter for guidance In the study
about to be made. And So, in keep
ing with this well-known fact. let us.
you and !. withdraw for a short
while from the confusation OF the
present times all about US. and. on
this Lords Day. i'm reyerent medita-
ton, seek guidance of the Holy Spirit
in prompting our thoughts and guid-
ing US in our seeking comfort from
the writings of the Holy Scriptures.
known to be the word Of God.
Let US pause, then. and unite In this
petition for Gods grace:
Blessed Lord. who has caused
all holy Scriptures to be written
for our learning. grant that we
may In such wise hear them.
read. mark. learn and inwardly
digest them, that by patience and
comfort of Thy Holy Word, we
may embrace and ever hold fast
the blessed hope Of everlasting life
which thou has given us in our
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We are all, each and every one OF
us, living in times which test the very
metal of the soul, and it Is only by
frequent heart turnings to God as our
loving Father, and by comfort gained
from daily readings in the Bible that
anyone, no matter who he may
be, will obtain grace sufficient to pre-
serve his stoutness Of heart and en-
able him TO prove a ready source OF
comforting strength to those depen-
dent upon him in that capacity. Our
country is drawing deeper and deeper
into the part she has pledged herself
to fill in this terrible conflict now
raging. More and more dense grow
the clouds of anxiety and suspense as
the hearts of us all conceive feelings
of hope mingled with suspense. But
Win Ir6lsQGnl dCCcSS u OuT stNANoCN
closet and by diIigent musings over
the multitude of revelations of Gods
never failing Providence, as witnessed
to in the various Biblical records, ev-
cry one who with prayer gives up his
heart to Gods Holy ministrations,
will come forth from such seclusions
refreshed and fortified with that
strength that permits a follower Of
Christ to ever remember that the
dark days of this world are passing
on into the unrepeating past, and
that every soul who persevereth In
his trust and faith in Christ shall
receive eternal life in the world to
come
The words ] give to you in my
text, intended for mental food. bear
an appro pirate relation to the at
;itude of ones heart this Second Sum
cay after Easter. Our text reminds
US of the self-sacrifice OF our Blessed
Lord in order to redeem US. and,
consequently with Easter so near
upon the outpassing tide Of time,
the Cross tells us not only Of the
sacrifice endured by Christ. but 1t
presents the life of Jesus as an ex-
ample of Cody life TO US.
With the sweet old story OF Christ's
coming to earth in the mission o.:
love to save others from the powers
of evil. We can find much in the way
Of enlightenment these saddered days
of our life. Let us turn to the Book
of Exodus; there We find in the four
teenth chapter ana in a portion OF the
fifteenth verse, these words:
Wherefore criest thou unto Me.
Speak unto the children of Israel
that they go forward"
Here is preserved, for mans study
and guidance, a detailed account of
the passage of the Israelites from
land Of slavery and oppression on
into a land of freedom They start
out upon this journy with rejoic-
ings and readiness. When they en-
counter the Red Sea. and realize the
approach Of possible death from the
forces which enslaved them. they
begin to express wishes that they
had not taken up the journey and
obeyed the command Of God. Their
desire TO place their part OF the bur
dens upon God, so that He do it all
and thereby avoid any personal suf-
ferinGs themselves. is instantly call
ed to account by God in the words
addressed TO Moses: Wherefore
criest thou unto meas much as
TO say 1 have rendered YOU nv
Providential care and promised your
freedom, surely / expect some COOP
Grafton on your part. Speak unto
the children of Israel that they go