Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1914 — Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour [ARTICLE]

Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour

LEANNESS OF SOUL. BT THE REV. A. W. SNYDER. And He gave them their desire, and sent leanness withal Into their soul. realm, evl., 15. This was said of the chosen people at old, but of how many of this generation as of that It may be said, "He gave them -their desire, and sent leanness withal Into their soul.” It is the natural outooxne of unworthy wishes. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reejT—that, not something God does net force ns into conformity to His holy will. He gives light, knowledge, grace, blessing. He seeks and constrains in all the divine loving kindness and oompasston, but than we may withstand It all; may. If we will, walk in our own ways and perhage eome at last to live as if altogether without God In the world; nor do we need to ttv* bad Bros in coder to do this. No, not at all; we have singly to live without say ttenuftt at God or of Hk will and desire concerning us. The world is wide and full, of many things. We can choose what we will. It may be aimiply to make money or gtfn position or place or power, or Just to “enjoy life,” as the saying la. Everywhere we will see things “pleasant to the eye” and apparently "to bo desired to make one wise." There ane any number of things to choose from, and, too, you may got what you want. ’ You are not likely to; still, you may, and yet find to the end what an empty and unsatisfying thing it Is after all. An even worseelot may‘be yours, and that is to have your soul become so smell that It Is quite content with tbe petty things at life "that perish In-the using.” In such case especially Is the saying verified:—'‘He gave them their desire and sent leanness withal Into their soul.” And. in truth, it will be our case also unless wo fall to with the eternal purpose by becoming workers together with God, loving that which He loves’ and dealring that which He desires concerning us. It may not always appear so. The passing show may seem to satisfy for a while, but not for long. The time will come when of all fleeting things you will oay: —“1 have no pleasure to them, If not before, you wffi begin to see that “the world passeth away;" that only “he that doeth the -will of God abldeth forever.” Then at last you will come to feel that one approving look of the living God would outweigh the world tand all that it has to givew