Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-10-14
COM M u NICATIO N S.
For the Register.
Thoughts on Divine Sovereignty.

lis generally admii,ed tina, Religion is
the pre- eminent. and should be The all
absorbing, interes, 10 mortal lmmortals.
The naiure. Of true religion like iha, of its
Divine Author, is love--love TO God and
oar enure race. Like Deity also j. is
uiune, or ihreefold, embracing Theory,
which refers 10 the intellect: Experience
30 the heart. and Practice TO the life or
eonduc, Of individuals.
Theoretical Divinity has been so uni
VERBALLY in. uIcs,ed as to perplex young
christians, AID even older ones, OF llmiied
mental power. The difficulty has origi.
mated in the nisspprehension Of the Bible
doctrine of JehoVsh's sovereignty. One
passage is sufficient 10 establish The truth
of the doctrine "God over all blessed
forever" This luminous lex, is applied
10 The Redesmer and simply means Di.
vine government
The most prominent theories ale those
OF Calvin and Armlnius. Calvin taught
that the Great Supreme governs the
whole universe by one uniform law, tina,
OF compulsicn or irresistible force, and
consequently in virtue OF His Omnipo-
tence every event is obliged to be just as
il occurs, having been wiled or decreed
by Onniscience from all eternity.
Tha, this system throws the response
biliiy Of every mans fate upon The Crea.
tor, is as clear as language can make 1t.
On the contrary the Armenian Theory
asserts that God governs the different de-
psrtments of the universe by different
]aws-laws suited to the nature of the
various departments He created We
may specify though hrmipius did not.
lsi. The physical department Of our
world only is governed by absolute force.
Every one knows that attraction and grav-
ilaiion are The laws under which the God
Of nature has placed This DIVISION OF His
works
%. The irr,iinns animal creation is
governed bv the laws Of instinct, Of
which heyond the bare fact, lIGle or moth.
ing is kno~n.
81. b. what Law does the Advise rule
the intellectual quarter Of His domains I!
Certainly oy the law of Reason. and He
holds ns strictly accountable for the exer-
else OF that nohlr facnly.
An. The moral Ut spiritual region Of
Gods goveInancs is subjected 10 The la"
OF Liberty. The Gospel is The reigning
influence If this hispensaiion. and inspl-
ration enphaucslv proclsrlns the Gospel
10 BIZ the ''perfec, law Of Liberty" Iibtr-
~ 10 choose or refuse observation-disclosures
ZION from sin. Choose life that We may
live" 10 The Divine Word, and we all
know in this nineteenth century what the
end shall be Of those Who choose not to
obey the Gospel.
Thus the responsibility Of every ones
doom rests with him or her self. accord
ing 70 the philosophy OF the Bible. mai
Ter OF ilct A.i4. Cu.4..oA scnse. GJd inade
man in His Own likeness and image-ihe
Likeness of tls intelligence and conse.
0uent immortality, and the image oi HIS
Holiness, which was forfei'ed in Adam.
Intelligence or mind involve voliiion,
usually denominaled will, which is ali es-
sential attribute Of mind. All parties &C
knowledge themselves probslionefs, and
what - IMPLIED in probation but liberty
md power of choice in relation to a course
IF action I,ife and death are set before
the humsn family. Almighty sovereignty
shuts them up 10 the necessity OF choos-
ing or refusing; there is no escape there
fore, either way they are compelled to be-
come the arbiters OF their own destiny.
An astronomical fact presents striking
ilIuslrali,n. Orbs that move around the
material sun become enlightened by turn
ing tow ards him, contrary-wise they cast
their own shade, 81 least in the case OF
the Planet We inhsbit, whose involuntary
turning forms our night. Intelligent
creatures turning by permission and lnvi-
talion tn the sun of Righteousness, be.
come Light in The Lord" BY turning
from HIN they east their own spiritual
darkness. and IL persisted in will inevila'
bly, realize The gloom Of an Eternal night.
"Sinner, hasten TO he wise,
Wait not for to- norrow's sum
His beams to thee may never rise,
Rsst not till thy works begun.
HGrken to secure the prize
Ere thy short probsilon's done.