The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-06-17

YOU pepln IL. IneIe is an OiO proVerD
which says, HE who pleased every
body, died before he was born" That
is only another way of saying no one
ever has. or can please everybody. How
ever we can carry the self pleasing
process too far. The wrong way is a
self exalting way. That suggests van
ity and pride and pride goeth before de-
struction and naughty spirit before
fall. - God resisteth the proud but
He exalts the humble" it is a self
willed way. 1t doesn't pay to insist o
having your own way always. Others
know something's as we'll as we do.
Your way may not be the best after all.
We must recognize authority, especi-
ally the divine rule of action and be
governed by it.
Jonah is a forceful illustration of
self-willed man. He insisted on hay
ing his own way. He chose his own
course. He refused to 60 where the
Lord directed him, but chose his own
destination, paid the fare, but had to
embark in the first submarine of which
we have any knowledge. He had to
yield his will at last, though it was CO I.
ly work for him. We may detect the
wrong way by conscience. What is
conscience? 1t is hard to defise it salts
factorilv. though we may discover its
constitu ton in some measure through
its operations. 1t is a compounded
/ faculty. 1t implies mutual knowledge
between two persons regarding one
| thing, especially Knowledge Of wrong
! doing. am conscious | have slnned
aud God is conscious of my sin. | may
not be suspected Of SHINING, but know.
and God knows. | know that God
knows and God kno IS that | know that
He knows. This knowledge gives men
tai suffering on account of the sin. "
Everything is naked and open unto
the eyes of Him with whom we have to
do. Bunyan describes God as ''all eye
and always eye" No sin can escape
His holy eyes. Conscience in the link
that binds US to our Creator, when all
others were sundered by sin. In the
midst of moral devastation conscience
lived and flourished. Man is now a NOR
al ruin and the only hope OF his ulti-
mate restoration is to be found in the
possession Of conscience. This is the
way God approaches the soul. De-
stroy conscious and you are severed
from God and your doom is sealed 1t
is the Waterman at the door of the soul
and gives warning at the first approach
OF danger of temptation or sin. 1t is
like watchdog at home. The bark
ing of the dog arouses the inmates TO
repel the marauders. A silent dog is
worthless, dumb dog is a menace to
the safety of property aud life. So a
silent conscience is worse than no con-
science. 1t is menace to the souls
safety in the hour Of need. by means
Of conscience, God protests against sin
il thought or act. A normal conscience
will challenge every desire for evil or
deed Of sin. Whenever sin is committed
conscience enters its protest in the
temple of the soul and the whole moral
eiifce returns the fearful echo
We may know the wrong way By the
Inward restraints that We experience,
By the teachings of the Bible, by the
admonltions of the churdh. by good
books. by friends and by the providen-
tial dealings of God. The spirit of wis
dom is the spirit of God, says Isaiah
The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom" Paul says that Christ is
the wisdom of God. Right relation
ship to Him then is the way of wisdom
for Us. We can't attain good and
strong character apart from right rela-
tive to the Son and proper adjustment
| to the spirit of God, but il IS the spirit
| who makes these available 10 Us.
Worldly wisdom is considered essential,
! yet in essence and expression it is sell
| fish. self-asserting and self exa!ting.
/ The best book for business is the Bible.
| The best book of the Bible is Proverbs.
It is prominently the business mans
book. Henry Cabot Lodge, u S. Sena-
tor says. The Bible should, be studied
by all men and women and must be de-
sired by everyone who reflects at all on
the condition of the world at the pres
ent time"
Secretary Daniels said on one occa-
sion. 81 never knew a wise man who
Was not familiar with the scriptures.
never knew a public speaker who
reached the hearts of hearers, who did
not draw upon the Bible for his best
illustrations and most convincing cpl
grams. No man is educated who is not
versed in the Book of Books But
we are not only to give heed to wisdom,
we are to take fast hold of instruction.
We shall need it in the battle of life,
A ships crew must sometimes betake
themselves to their boats. A whale
ship in the south seas was struck by a
wounded whale and was sinking. They
loaded their boats and put off one hun