Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-22
SERMON OF REV. J.H.RYLANOE.
.ewaitiug for God i'm the way Of Jndg.
meut.S


This word Judgment, or judgments, mean
ing. at first, simply an exercise of the un-
derstanding, verdict given after due de-
Liberation, gathered to itself in the Hebrew
speech wider Specification. 1t came TO
mean, as it means now with US when used
in certain connections, calamity, Divine
visitation, the infliction of punishment.
And in this there is clear though subtle
testimony to the fact of mans disordered |
condition; of his having been a wroDg-doer,
a breaker of law, rebel for the very word |
which at first, etymologically, had no moral |
bias, but designated merely mental act, |
an opinion, a verdict given by God, became |
soon to mean d verdict GdUerSe to man, IN |
volving condemnation, penalty, punish |
ment.
In the vast sffairs Of nations, it is hard
for men generally to realize divine interpO-
sitions. The circle of Gods operations
sweeps beyond the ken Of human or sngelic
vision. otis but part we see, and not
the whole" We cannot grasp the original
plan; we cannot comprehend the ultimate
purposes. We stand amid the unfOldiDgs
| Of a scheme which has eternity for the field
Of its operations. There are hidden rsla-
tions. What we see is ottentimes worse
than nothing; it bewilders and eontuses us.
We yearn and agenizs to know more, but 1t
is forbidden. Then, too, it is difficult be-
cause we are cognizsnt of forces and powers
in Us and about US, which to some seem ade-
quate to account for the visible results. To
such life is simple sum in arithmetic
there is no unknown qusntityJ no factor
needs to be assumed. And then to others,
TO most perhaps, the doctrine of ProVi-
dence is difficult, because we can seldom
see how the two sets of powers-the human
and divine-cO operate in the production
/ of results. We cannot explain how they
cross and limit each other where they run
/ parallel, or fall into the same line OF opera
| lions, or how divine purposes can be hnally
accomplished, and yet there be place IN
the process for things or events which we
| call oontin gencies. We could understand
the question better if it were said that
either alone was effective, and that the other
only appeared to work but We are soTely
puzzled with the terms as they stand now
that there are two free forces, often IN con-
dict, now the one and then the other ap-
pearing to be supreme, but that after all,
one great purpose underlies all confusion
and disorder; one divine intent Is ever
kept in view and that some how or other,
(for this is the most we can say ofteD)
cosmos shall ultimately emerge from this
chaos. However this may be, surely for us
it is wise to wait, not to be rash with
our lips, with our frsgmentary knowledge.
Not much can be done, l fear, IN the way
of attaining an intelligent faith in living
and ever present Providence by studying
the phenomona only, by watching the vis-
ible working of things. We must start
farther back we must get the conviction
on other grounds. The many must ever
rest in intuitional evidencfs, educated and
guided by religion.
| Men often rashly pronounce upon tho
intentions of the divine dealings vainly
endeavor to interpret and apply them be-
fore the clouds have retired, that 10 US often
vail the divine purposes. would not for
get this, in hny attemptI may make to read
Alright the lessons God would teach us in
our bitter and prolonged tribulation.
For surely no man will call itcant, charge
us with merely pulpit conventionalisms,
when we say that if ever Gods hand wss
made bare IN history, its wondeB may be
seen in the last four years'of our national
life. Ruler and ruled, teacher and taught,
have been led in q way that they knew not,
and in paths they had never trod. Often
in our wild desperation we would have
seized the spokes in the great wheels
of Providence, to stay their revOlu-
ton, but they moved on, grinding
men and systems into dust, till in the
minds Of some suspicion arose, convic-
ton slowly shaped itself, that Power
above and beyond the control of ell parties
was working in the troubled scene. Slow
} of heart 10 learn, lessons were yet taught
US in the fiery discipline which we and our
children's children will never forget till
at length wa were made willing to stand in
the way Of Gods judgments, and learn o.
Him,
l take it that one of the mosE,marked ex'
eellencies in the character of our late hon
ored and beloved Chief Magistrate-a fea-
ture that as much as any other fitted hIu
for the high and perilous Office he was call
cd TO sustain, was his willingness TO stand
Just here in the way of judgment, seeking 6
to know, that he might do, Gods will. He
could do this the better because he was moi
e man, hampered, as statesman too otter
are, by abstract theories. A great honest
purpose filled his soul. He sought only
TO stand upon the rock of right, o
Justice, of truth, and when once he haC
planted his foot there, he could afford
, to dash in pieces every party idol upon it
He was not in any offensive sense, party
man. He was too great, and truthful. Gno
generous for such part. He desired to bt
the President of the whole people. His
policy, if such word can be applied x
: Mr.. Lincoln's administration of affairs Al
all, was sptly and characteristicslly put II
an illustration which he employed IN ar
interview with which I was honored in the
, | ton if l cam" said be "and I am unwil-
, ling to do or to sanction any measure which
does not look TO this. Our condition
in relation to slavery, may be compared T.
that of man having an ulcerous excres
cence upon his person. Looking at him
some persons might in their eagerness say
take an instrument and cut 1t off; bu
wiser men would say, nay, lest II
your haste to remove the excrescence, yoJ
/ destroy the life of the map. So with us
!, socially and politically; my am Is tia
! sL1UerV 1say die that the nation may hUe."
Mr.. Lincoln was perhaps as fully i'm
pressed as any man in the land with th'
fact that there was divine ordering il
the affairs of the country, and humbly and
devoutly, believe, did he seek to know
the meaning Of Gods dealings with US
; and to shape his own mind, and Will, anC
measures, accordingly. 1t may be said, in
deed, with more of meaning than the wOrdi
, commonly have in the mouths of men, tina
he had grown in grace in the troubled
years of his official life, until he had the
moral courage to deliver for his last inau
gural words which bitter bad men spoke o
, In derision as cant, buswhich the good anC
, true everywhere revered as of the inspira
tion of Gods own spirit in the man.
OF all the judgments God has mysterious
ly suffered TO fall upon US as people, the
removal Of our revered Chief, at such a tint
and by such means, is the most tragic snC
appalling to the national heart. Noyel
have seen mourning like this l wss il
England when the bitter tidings flashed
through the land that Prince Albert WA
dead but though he was so greatly below
ed, no such wall of woe went up from tbs
homes of the people as hear to-day.
was there when Wellington, the great cap
tain and public servant died but there wal
+ no such responsive lsmentation as this.
was there, too, when the death of HavelOck
the Christian soldier, the reliever Of Luck
now, filed theland with SORROW but Meth
or then, nor ever, did I see grief so deep, 81
bitter, so universal as this. The nation
mourns, and it is as if in every house there
were one dead,