SORROW'S ANTIDOTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9823, 13 June 1914, Page 7

SORROW'S ANTIDOTE.

Jesus comforting word*: "Let not your heart* be troubled; ye believe in God. believe also j n mc" (John xiv, 1), is Pastor foK S^ CXt thi * WCek " H ° di9courscd M Tlic world does well to keep tip a cheerfull outward demeanour. Nevertheless, there •s great force, and weight in St. Paul's htateuient to the effect that the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together waiting for Messiah's Kingdom and its longpromised blessings, to lift the curse, of sui and death and to restore to mankind the smile of the Bather's favour. Reason though they may that there, is no personal God—that there is merely a bliud.god of nature, an evolutionary forco, nevertheless, deep down in tho heart, men believe that there isii.God. Almost unconsciously the mind attributes to Him, Wisdom, Justice, and Fower-but little of Love or sympathy wiUi humanity and its frailties. Tins very intuitive knowledge of God is closely associated with manv human troubles. At the root of r.oarly every trouble, perhaps deep below tho surface, is sin-disobedience to recognise principles of righteousness, and a fearful looking for of retribution, and an uncertainty a/, to what will eventuate. This is true, not only of manv Christians, but frequently true of others who have made no prof os</son. iIASK OF HILARITY. This doubled heart-condition does not always f now upon the surface. Sometimes the troubled heart seeks the theatre to trv <o forg us troubles. Sometimes its owner is imn. evsed in sinful pleasure-seeking in an enrteanoar to drown some hauntinc grief. Sometime* relief is sought through intoxicating hquors or narcotics; sometimes in suioirtf One cannor s . Jrelv know fhat mcn 7 laugh or witty j 0 ke or cheery song (foes not mask a, troubled heart. Indeed, wo know that such is the case in manv ins«n«M for frequently those who have , su indulging in merriment have committca suicide a few minutes thereafter, leaving wssages that their h?arts were heavily burdened wnile outwardly they were chcer-

eorrow-iadcn hearts. As a' race we arc V j ? "tnrough tho valley of the shadow ot death day by dav. 'On every hand wo luvo reminders of this—grief, disappointment, headache, heartache, etc.. If wo aro measurably free from pain ourselves, yet have sympathy, we are pained for others. If none of our own dear ones have died, the peat enemy, Death has laid hold upon tho homo of a neighbour, a brother, and he id bereaved and a reflex shadow falls ui)on our hearts; and further, the thought comes that our homo may bo invaded bv tho great brainy which has already swallowed up twenty thousand million of our race—and .fiat by Divine permission, because we are sinners— and beciiec sinners are unworthy of everlasting life. BEGINNING OF WISyOM. In our troubles we, sooner or later, realho Hie lack of human sympathy or. at least, t,s impoteney. Feeling our helplessness we, instinctively look to our Creator. In tho Kour of (rouble remarkably few doubt the -•xisfenco of God. Hut as* we look to the Almighty for protection and consider Di vine Justice and realise our own weaknesses ind shortcomings the heart of man fail*, flow could man think that the Omnipotent One would have interest in, or care for *uei> a worm of the dust as he feels himself to he. How could Divine Justice look with sympatuy upon the course of selfishness winch ho recognises is stTctehed out behind turni in full view of tho All-Seeing Eye? it" j „ car °M' K ' kwd is tho beginning of Wisdom tho inspired Message informs us. Surely many have this beginning of Wisdoni come to them at some period in their i." s f\-|H;rience. But such a fear is tho tart to wisdom only when it leads tho fearful one to greater carefulness of living and :o a desire for tho Heavenly Father's approval.

HEART TROUBLES CURED. ' The Father knows your heart troubles. !('• wishes the bunion to remain until von appreciate its weight—until you will *bo ready u> cry to Him that vou are sin-sick weary troubled, and. above all, hungering and tlnrstmg tor rightfulness, and desiring to Him—Hia smile of approval. He luus not waited for all of tins to take place before making provision for you. He has anticipated your needs, vour longings your necessities. He has alreadv provided the Redeemer who is mighty to save. If Divine Justice is exacting to the la-l degree, believe that Divine love as represented in the Redeemer sent of God k qually exhnustloss, boundless, sufficient lor ail ol your needs. If you will accept of this, the Divine arrangement through I mist, your heart troubles mav bo at an eud. You will still have troubles in tho .tesh, weaknesses, aches and pains, but, your heart will be joyful and happv in a fellow. ship Divine. PURE HEART ESSENTIAL. Ah! says one, I have heard of God and Jesus, and-of the invitation to reconciliation, but 1 know not how to proceed. How can [ 1 gain a hearing in my case to obtain the blessed assurance, "Thv sins are forgiven hoc; go and sin no more"? , First of all. my brother, allow me to rejoice with you that, you have com.- into the .condition where you are seeking and knocking for tho opening of the storehouse of Ihvme favour, because he that seeks shall lind, and to. him thuit knocks it shall bo opened. Continue, then, to seek and to knock, and very soon the blessing shall be yours. See first whether or not vou are seeking the proper blessing. You want forgiveness of sins that are past. You want assurances of Divine love and care. You want the Heavenly Shepherd to take vou for one of His sheep and look after vour interests, l>oth temporal and spiritual'. If these l>e the earnest desires of vour heart you arc seeking the very thing? that God is pleased to grant. Many are poking ether conditions. They may be seeking to have some self-will and some of God's will; and som «of mti and some of righteousness. Such seek in vain ur-.nl. in puritv of heart, thev desrc tliat wh.ch God is willing to give. HOW TO APPROACH GOD. All of God's gifts are bv grace. None of us co.,|d ( .|. MtII t | u . In OQ l)io croun j,. 0 j jusl.ee or merit. We cannot keep God's perfect law, not because it is too exacting, -•m because wo are far from perfection. W :"'' l>orn in sin, shapon in iniquity. Be our wd!* ever so strong, our rl.sh is weak. The Divine arrangement of this Gospel age is adapted to tnis very condition, and offers glorious opportunities to the honest-hearted, tho sincere penitents who aro fully determined to turn from sin and follow truth and righteousness. ( need not come to anv earthly priest, :>'". as the Master said, go to the Father m secret. Go not in your own name or mini, but in the merit of the Redeemer bo Scripturally, claiming Him as vour advocate, and appealing in His name, for forgiveness provided by Divine mercy—to cover all the sins for tho past and provide for all the im infections unwillingly yours for the future, oven to the end of the way. Coming thus. Jesus becomes your priest, your advocate. "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ tho Righteous" (I. John ii. i). Let m "come with courage to the throne, of grace that wo may obtain mercy and find grace to lielr> in every time of need.''

A correspondent writes: The. International Hiblo Association have taken over the New York Temple, which j-i lo l*> used for the «ho\vin<r of the photodrama of "Creation," the moving picture enterprise i;i connection with the. promotion of Bible teaching. A large talking machine combination is used to deliver the lecture and provide music, etc., while the films are being shown. The pictures have been shown ;it Now York. Boston. Cleveland, Toledo. Indianopolis, Cincinnati. St. Louis; Los Angelos, San Francisco. Portland. Seattle, and other places. No collection is taken up. The pictures arc expected in Australia shortly, and may be shown through New Zealand..