FOR THE SABBATH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 496, 31 August 1912, Page 6

FOR THE SABBATH.

"THE STRENGTH OF STILLNESS."

(By Rev. A. Armstrong.)

"Their strength is to Bit still." —lsa. 30, 7.

Let us apply this text in its modern meaning. Let us study quietly the attitude herein advised. What is it to "sit still," in the spiritual sense of this text. First of all, to "sit still" indicates a condition of silence. Times occur in each life for silence beforemen. When we feel it best to refrain from all expostulation, all argument, all exhortation. "Silence is golden." says the Proverb and the most we sometimes can do is to preserve its worth. Times occur when we feel that silence is the best speech. Our most eloquent moments are those often in which the lips frame no words. Siilent sympathy who has not heard the gentle voice of that "stillness,," silent rebukes—who has not been convicted by them, silent inspiration who has not felt its influence? Christ on one occasion put to flight many hot-headed and harsh accusers by simply maintaining silenco as be "stooped down and wrote on the ercund." When dealing with the Syrophenician woman we read, "He answered her not a word." Why this silence before such suppliant? Was it the outcome of indifference or petulance? Nay, it was the speechlessness of an Infinite love, the silence of a fathomless sympathy. Of those things we feel the most and love the best is it not often true "It is better felt than telt," as the old Scotch lady said. There is a time for silence before God. Meditation must take the place of prayer at times. Communion the place of the penitent cry. Momenta when revelation hushes to sleep all the noisy children of reason. "Be still and know that lam Gotf." We ar* never more gloried than in those moments when "the heart is too full for words," when speech forsakes and we realise what the Psalmist means whtn he says "Be silent to the Lord and wait patiently for Him." The child in its clatter fails often to hear the gentle warning voice of its father and so it comes to harm. So it is with us and the world—"The world cannot hear the still small voice, such is its bristle and its noise.

Sitting still also signifies resting. —We know what great emphasis is placed to-day upon the "rest cure" for physical and mental ailments Suffering humanity is taught to relax, "to give up themselves absolutely to the soothing and strengthening influences of rest" This law holds good spiritally. We must resign our opinions, our anxieties or resources and iook simply into heaven. All our heart troubles nd an antidote in the advice, "casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you." "Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and 1 will give you rest." Let us make way or God, let us efface self and "Ye shall find rest to your souls."

Sitting still also indicates the attitude of waiting.—According to the poet, "God's purposes shall ripen fast, enfolding every hour." But God's purposes sometimes enfold slowly and to calmly and patiently await this unfolding is one of our greatest difficulties. "I bide my time" is the motto of some of our noble families. Happy the man who can abide God's time and who out of a full faith cry, "Thy will be done, not mine 0, Lord," This soul shall dwell in the secret place and abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Yet nothing is so difficult as to acquire the strength that comes from the stillness of victorious faith. Actors affirm that to play "statues," which requires stillness of body is the hardest trial of the physique. So it is spiritually. Are we not anxious to do everything else but what God wants us to do? We have faith in anything and everything —yet not in God and without faith it is impossible to plaase Him. The great test of modern life, a test which proves too much for many, is not the test of blood and martyrdom, of penance and fasting, but the test of quiet unfailing faith in God. The rapid, the exciting, the novel appeals, we dissipate ouraelvea and in the dust of our efforts loose the vision splendid. The Duke of Waterloo kept a certain regiment waiting for hours. They were the moat tried men in all the army. They had the most difficult task to perform they had to keep themselves in hand. But at the crucial moment they were launched on to the broken ranks of the enemy and so wrested victory from thR jaws of defeat. If called tn wait, let us remember that "the captain of our salvation" knows what is good for us and for the whole better than we do ourselves, If we are but faithful if we but render prompt and full obedience to God's will we ahall find "it our strength to sit still." Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." Not only for the full development of pur characters are we able to trust God, but in every detail of our circumstances our safety is in Him. When shall we learn "to commit our way unto the Lord and find Him bringing to pass all the desires of our hearts?" Let us resign in favour of a good and gracious God and claim the victory that cometh by faith. In the days of long ago there dwelt in the Egyptian desert a poor hermit preacher. One day he thought it would be nice to have an olive tree growing at the door of his cave. So he procure one and planted it. He then thought rain would do it good and so he prayed for rain and rain came and refreshed it. He wanted the warm sun to shine, so he prayed for this too and it was also granted. He then thought the tree somewhat feeble, and so prayed for frosts to brace it and frost was granted. But he thought this was rather severe, and so he prayed for the hot southerly wind to blow upon it so the wind

and died. Some time after he visited another hermit at whose cave door stood a flourishing olive tree. "How came this tree here, my brother?" "I planted it, God blessed it, and it grew," replied his hermit friend. "Ah, I too, had an olive tree and I prayed for all I thought good fur it and it was given me, and yet my olive tree died." "And I brother," anwsered his friend, "left my tree in God's hand for He knew what it wanted better than I." "Trusting in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Their strength is to sit still.