Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-10-30
NUMBER XIX.

In referring to the text he said it seemed as
IT the spirit OF inspiration pervaded its words,
as if the words had been taken out of the mouth
OF the prophet and had almost become the word
OF God himself Testimony under oath is the
highest kind of proof of any fact amongst men,
and In proportion to the intelligence and credi-
bllIty Of the witness is the weight it has in
human affairs. He asked what there was pc
cullar about his text. 1t presented the impressive
spectacle of Jehovah himself testifying of the
people of the world, and that by his own life
All the solemnity and results of testimony are
not always recognized by witnesses; and by re-
qulring an oath they are called on to remember
God who can and will punish perjury. There
was no necessity for God to take an oath in
making declaration to his creatures, but he
has condescended to do so on account of their
blindness and ignorance; he had sworn by HIM
self because there was nothing else by which he
could swear. He said that in this solemn oath
taken by Jehovah, it is implied that men are
sometimes willing to doubt Gods sincerity and
to bring impeachments against his integrity
In this oath all of the integrity of Almighty
God is thrown into the scale of human doubts.
God says that there is such thing as eternal
| death, but He declares that this doom is not
chargeable to Himself The charge brought
against the Almighty by persons who permit
ted themselves to entertain doubts of His sin
cerity in offering salvation to all men are: lst
A deficiency Of Divine love; I'd. A deficiency
IN the provisions necessary for salvation of all
men and, 3rd. The alleged secret DEGREES of
the Almighty in contravention of the plan of
salvation.
In respect to the first of these objections, what
more can be said than that God is love-?
But how can love in God move towards man
that is sinner? He cannot love him with a
love OF cOmplacency, on account of his guilt,
his wickedness, his disregard of His laws. But
He does love him with love of compassion.
He loves him when he has no right to expect
that He will do So. His long suffering, His
protection and watchful care Of him prove that
He loves him. Is he grateful for it? If God
loves sinners with love of compacency it would
undermine the confidence of all sanctifed spirits
in His integrity. God offers salvation to all
He urges it with great tenderness, and with the
vehemence of compassion. He stoops to ex-
postulate and entreat men to accept this greatest
Of all boons. 1t cannot be said that there is
any lack of the love of compassion
Secondly In regard to the provisions that
God has made, every impediment, legal and
external to the sinner himself has been removed
The atonement is full and final, 1.-THE blood of
Christ ceanseth from all sin. Ministers are
authorized to say, ''Whosoever will, let him
come and partake of the water of life freely
All sufficient aid is provided to meet the neces-
sites of all classes OF sinners truth to enighten
ana CONVICT, 10 snow tnaC COQ can TO rocOnclloQ
to sinners to lead them all the way up to
Heaven. The blood of Christ has been spilled
to atone for the sins of man, and to answer all
the demands of the law. The sanctifying spirit
of God meets all the sins ofmen and guarantees
full measure of the love of ofcomplacency. There
are also promises to comfort and direct and point
the way you should go. He says to the doubtful,
He will never leave nor torsake thee. He has
power Infinite power, to defend you against al
adversaries
Thirdly. In regard to the secret DEGREES of
God, which are often presumed by men to stand
in the way of their salvation, he would say that,
to him a God without fixed plans and DEGREES
would only be God in name. His DEGREES are
the rules and purposes by which He manages
the affairs of the world. His secret purposes
are not and cannot be the law of action for any
men. Secret things belong to God, revealed
things to man. This objection is founded on
mans ignorance
Observe God s command, His promises, His
threats-all prove that there is no conflict in
His plans Command implies promise A
commanding God cannot be secret. 1t is the
safe plan for us to act ON the plain rules laid
down for our guidance. The secret DEGREES be-
long to God;
The reverend gentleman closed his discourse
by exhorting all to avail themselves of the
promise of the gospel.