New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-28

SERMON BY THE REV. HENRY q. WESTON, IL
TIE MADIsON.AYENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

SERMON BY THE REV. HENRY q. WESTON, II
THE MADIsOE-AyESUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
TSIT-I will have mercy whom viii hsEs mercy. and
will have compassion on whom vii have eompsssion
Rom. iHpfa
Gods sovereign purposes of mercy are the only
bope OF the world. Tho world boasts Of Itself Of ia
own power ard tendencies, as insudng progress.
But ever since Adam siDned, its law, instead Of
being one of inherent and necessary development Of
good has been the law Of sin and death. Ii groans
under the bondage Of corruption and It's tendencies
are constantly downward. Iiis with earth ply sical
which requires constant care aud asis'auoe, or IL
osss its fertility. Language tends to deeay-worJs
never pass from low use 10 high AID digniied
sense, but always from the higher to tie lower. No
society IL ever civilized from iself b., from with
out, aud the tendencies Of al society IN shape
other ere 20 barbarian. There IL no power IN right
principles 10 ofsert and yindicaie Themselves. The
common maxim that "tfnth - mighty ard will pre-.
vail would be true In state Of sinless beings bot
in such world this the history Of every nstiOl
and Of all religions confGie II. Here error al ways
has triumphed truth, and always viii, only ~
truth ~ made victorious by the superaidcd power q
an Agent from higher world All men who irust
in abstract principles whatever those principles are
be disappointed aud IN the disappointment will
grow sour, censorous and, Ia the end, iniitlesss.
The divine injunction Ia not, Hope tboa Ia truth,
jusiice, liberty, but Hope tbou in God.
For this determination Of sovereign mercy we to.
DAY rive thanks. IL ID the dstermin. tion vi God
founded on Himself; not the will Of an arbitrary
being but the will Of infinite holiness justice, wis-
dom goodness, and mercy. Tho-e who Oh Get 10
Gods uncontrolled viii rs q source Of good to tbc
world, must object to His law and TO oil Of His
actions Tor tbese have all the same source ard
origin. lie ir the fountain OF all good, as
He is the uneatsed cause Of sll beng. Ii
il the determination OF mercy--and hi. term
does not the meIe act OF pardon, but
embraces all OF Gods grace 10 man, His whole
scheme Of benevolent prov-ion-so that Code pur-
poses Of good 10 the race do not spring from mans
goodness and are Lot dependent upon IT, nor are
they put to Hight by mans rim. IL Is not beoause
we deserve anything thst we hope, bat because God
has determined TO be gracious. II IL the determine
ton Of IA sovereign. lie has the night TO show mer.
cy-the right which He has to execute usiice,
and lie bas the hight to select the time and place
and persons, when aud where and TO whom He will
lie gracious. lie has the power also. No obstacles
III those who 70 DO the recipients Of mercy, no
opposition from His enemies, no blgnders Of His
friends, can stay His hand.
Let us to-day rise above nll lower considerations,
and taking our place where we cannot be SWAY ed
70 aud fro by the fluctuations OF human events aud
passions, be thankful with all our hearts that cd
has determined to be gracious.