Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-23
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
TRUST GOD AND 10 RIGHT.

By !. a. Eubnnk.
Tho fear OF man bringeth a snare: but whose
putteth his trust In the Lord shall be safe
Prov xxx %.
An Intelligent understanding OF tho above
text presupposes the acceptance OF the doc
trine OF the Fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood OF man. which, of course. brings
all mon under the promise
In tho beginning of his career no individual
purposcly sets out upon course of wrong
doing. He would prefer to do right hut
sooner or later circumstances arise which in
fuence him. unconsciously II may be- to de-
riate slightly from tho path OF rectltude. THE
fear of man bringeth a snare" in which the
wandering feet. In the progress OF events
become entangled. Then the fear of man
Increases. and the old-tmo trust In the poten-
taiity or the everlasting promises OF God
ceases TO be the guiding influence OF his life.
ihe wv" antagonistic forces of life, good and
evil. stand squarely against each other seek-
inE 70 become the dominant power over the
man. The millions OF wrecked lives witnessed
hy every age mournfully attest how often the
evil has trlumphcd.
Is IL safest and best to do right under all
\ circumstances? Emphatically. yes But. say
seine. take the example OF Christ. who was
without guile did He not suffer an i2nomin-
ious death upon the mt the hands Of
wicked men? He did. but in yielding to the
Fathers VIII in allowing Himself to become
the supreme Sacrifice. He broke tho power
of evil over mon. and by His blamcless life
and clear revealment Of the love Of God the
Father for tho whole world. has so impressed
All humanity with tho sublime sacrifice. In
Christian as we'll as Pagan nations, that 1t
may be boldly avowcd the man who dnres
70 do right under any and all circumstances
for rights sake hero or anywhere even though
II brings him to poverty. will in due tirne re-
cciVe his Just reward. and ne won't have to
wait until he dies for its coming. either.
Was not tho heart OF wicked Dyonsius
sottened by the remarkable example OF self
sacrificing friendship exhibited by Damon and
iEthiaa that he pardoncd the former. who
was under sentence OF death and begged to
be admitted into the golden circle Of their
friendship? Many times have we seen men
under business misfortune surrender all their
earthly possessions to their creditors because
~ was right TO do 60 and yet In the after
years we have seen them get more OF real
pleasure and happiness out of life than n
they had wronGfully held on to all they could
OF tho wealth they had honestly accumulated
curing years OF toll. Yes, many such have
recovered all that they originally lost and
nave added wOndrously thereto. on the other
hand who Is Il that has not seen tho wealth
that was il-gottcn swept away in the twink
ling OF an eye and It's former claimant go
down t" his grave In poverty? 10 that by
nsury and unjust gain increase,h hts sub
stance, he shall gather il for him that will
pity the poor" saith the Wise Man The in
cSFr7--le law OF God Ia vlndicating itself-
"iea which was wrcngtu!ly taken from tho
roor Is turned back to the poor
~ OF our troubles in life-that T.. all tho
serious ones-come as a result OF snares into
which we nave been led by fear OF man
wherefore the hug" ornaments OF nations
when nave reachcH the highest stages OF
christian civilinatl.A. IL II be not that man
Is feared? The truth OF the matter is the
Who!" earth Ia wandering about In craven fear
refusing to lay hold OF the promise "whoso
putteth his trust in the Lord shall be saf. {"
Henc" mo agonies this old world endures are
largely OF Its making