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| Pray<
CAUSES OF
Week Beginning
The prophet begins by
upon inc people ana exiu
mourn and be girded with i
ments would especially affei
material estates. The prod
ed by vast multitudes of ii
of water were to be dried
over fields and through fo
and the herds of cattle w<
had no pasture.
The people were exhorte
emn assembly and to gathe
the Lord, and to cry unto 1
God's hand was in that wh
to know that it was his cl
for the day! for the day of
struction from the Almigh
army of extraordinary fierct
make desolate their land if
To avert these distressei
turn to the Lord with all
with weeping and with m<
and the assurance is given
slow to anger and of great
The exhortation is repeal
the congregation, assemble
The priests, the ministers o
"Spare thy people O Lord
proach, that the heathen s]
promises made that the Lc
and pity his people, and i
proach among the heathen.
Great temporal prosperitj
turning to the Lord. The I
were to yield their abundan
to "be not afraid," for the
spring afresh. The rains we
the floors were to be full ol
flow with wine and oil. Thi
and rejoice in the Lord. T
satisfied and praise the nan:
drously with them. The <
snecial favor of thoir f!oH
am in the midst of Israel a
We are concerned especia
that nation that reverence!
law. His sovereignty in the
of mankind is supreme. If
because in his infinite kindi
national prosperity it is be<
there is contentment in the
he administers their affairs
tional peace, it is because i
the earth. If we have just
king's heart is in the hands
me rivers 01 waters wneres
There Is a tendency In hu
God at the very time that 1
blessings and distinguishing
humiliating commentary on
in perceiving and construini
less this very tendency had
time that Joel wrote hq pr
most fearful decree that the
their guilt and peril. It Is
under the curse that was 1
aiatonov in ah r maioriollaM,
oiuiuuuj m 11 vui iiiaiuiiuu^tr
elation of God's claims up
will bring the curse upon i
form as terrifying as was ei
people.
THE PRESBYTERIAN
*r Meeting |
THANKSGIVING.
Nov. 21. Joel 2:21-27.
proclaiming impending judgment
>rts them to be warned, lament,
3ackcloth. These threatened judg
r?t tlio nnnnlo i n thoir tamnni-nl on/1
lucts of the soil would be destroynsects,
by drouths?for the rivers
up and by fires that would sweep
rests. The beasts ^ere to groan
?re to be perplexed because they
d to sanctify a fast, to call a solr
with their elders in the house of
lim. They were to recognize that
ich they were about to suffer and
lastisement for their sins. "Alas
the Lord is at hand, and as a defy
shall it come." A conquering
mess and power was to invade and
they did not repent,
s the people were admonished to
their heart and with fasting and
aurning and to rend their heart;
that God is eracious and merciful.
kindness.
Led, to gather the people, sanctify
the elders, gather the children,
if the Lord were to weep and say:
and give not thine heritage to rehould
rule over them." Then the
>rd would be jealous for his land
would no more make them a rer
was to follow this repenting and
fields and vineyards and orchards
ce and the beasts of the field were
pasture of the wilderness would
re to come in their proper season;
wheat and vessels were to overe
children of Zion were to be glad
ney were to eat in plenty and be
le of the Lord that had dealt won;ffect
of their discipline and the
would be, "Ye shall know that I
nd that I am the Lord your God."
illy with the promise of bounty to
i God's authority and honors his
temporal affairs of his people and
we have bountiful harvests it is
less he bestows them. If there is
;ause he is our supreme ruler. If
midst of the people it is because
i. If there is internal or internale
rules among the inhabitants of
and wise rules it is because "The
of the Lord and he turneth it as
oever he will."
man nature to feel independent of
lie is most lavishly bestowing his
; his people by his favor. It is a
our ingratitude and our stupidity
g the realities of our life. Doubtbecome
dominant in Israel at the
ophecy; and it was only by this
iy were aroused to a conviction of
possible that America may come
threatened by this prophet. Perc
mania and our practical renunon
our reverence and obedience
is, that may be in degree and in
rer threatened against his ancient
f OF THE SOUTH.
On the other hand grateful a
bounty is the condition upon whi<
that bounty continued; and what i
dition upon which God's gifts are
real and highest happiness. As a
"He hath not dealt so with any ni
we live is the most favored of th
limitless are its resources. Year al
"ruin front hoovon
-. v/4.1 hvutvu auu nuiuui nt'il
place among the nations, which is
portunity for moulding the futuri
other age or nation has possessed,
of this trust and devoutly fulfil thl
Young People
"THE BATTLE OF
Topic for Sunday, November 28: 1
tie of the Slum." Lt
DAILY READ
Monday: The way downward.
Tuesday: Exceeding bitterness.
Wednesday: Prodigals in the si
rnursaay: The Saviour in the
Friday: The slum worth saving
Saturday: Tears for the city. L
The problem of the slum is but o:
missions. That the slum is found
city missions still keeps It close
phase of home missions.
The slum is as inevitable as sin
worst forms congested. And it is i
that it is intensfied and increased,
"loves company,", and binds its vo
Many n time, however, denizens
willingly. Wives are carried by 1
ents, not by consent. Poverty has I
quarters of the purlieus of better
And all in the slums, whether un'
souls to be saved. Jesus came to
Were he here today, could we beli
the wretched streets and the more
ters of these souls?
The problem is not to be dealt v
rious. Those who go "slumming,'
gratifying a morbid curiosity. So I
concerned thev are nlavinp' with fit
roaring.
There are those who may safelj
parts of our cities. They are not t
the old, the settled, the recognize
Salvation Army people have been
ment of work.
Only as one goes into this work i
need one expect to accomplish got
purity, his tact, his tenderness, his
men must be in the heart and mind
worker here.
"Social settlements" have been
results have seemed to vary, so thi
ioi miiit-ci juai now iar mey will i
apart from the religion of Christ
experiments they will do little pen
Institutional churches have not i
and are not likely to do so Amus
something to do are not enough,
inner life. Their work is too muc
working from the circumference
from the center to the clrcumferen
The invitation to the gospel feat
nate people of the slum no less t
rich. "Go out quickly into the stri
and bring in hither the poor, and
and the blind. Go out into the I
compel them to come In, that my l
November 17, 1909.
ppreciation of the dlv.ine
?h we may expect to have
8 more important, the conto
be most fruitful to our
people we may truly sav.
ition." The land In which
e earth, How vast, almost
[ter year God has given us
isons." He has given us a
second to none, and an opb
of mankind such as no
Shall we be found worthy
is mission?
's Societies 1
THE SLUM."
Home Missions: "The Baiuke
14:15-23.
INGS.
rroverDs 1:20-23.
Jeremiah 2:9-19.
uin. Luke 15:11-32.
slum. Luke 5:29-32.
;. Luke 7:36-50.
-uke 19:41-46.
ne of the problems of home
only in the city and is for
to us as a most practical
. it is sin in some of the
sin brought so close to sin
Sin no less than misery
taries together,
of the elums are not there
lusbands, children by parforced
many into the cheap
life and homes,
willingly or of choice, have
seeK and to save the lost,
eve that he would pass by
! wretched homes or quarkith
as a fad. It Is too se'
as it Is called, are only
far as they themselves are
e, with the flames already
r and wisely go into such
he young or the giddy, but
d wise and discreet. The
most usual in this departis
Christ would have gone,
>d in it. His purpose, his
yearning for the souls of
i and hands and lips of the
tried in the slums Their
at it can hardly yef be de
t?rove enecuve. uertainly
and solely as sociological
manent good,
so far solved the problem
ement, entertainment, and
They do not reach to the
h surface work, too much
to the center Instead of
ce.
it is to go to the unfortuban
to the palaces of the
seta and lanes of the city,
the maimed, and the halt,
tlghways and hedges, and
touse may be filled."
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