The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-01-03
whv C4od Permitted Sin.

?
sion OF Mr.. Brownlow Norths addresses
in Edinburgh, Scotland, a young man
came into the room where he was re-
ceiving persons anxious forprivate con
versation, and said to him:
81 have heard you preach three times,
sir; and neither care for you nor
your preaching unless you can tell me
why God permitted sin"
II will do that with pleasure" was
the immediate reply, "6ecaase he chose
TO-"
The young man, apparently taken by
surprise, stood speechless; and Mr.
North again repeated, "Becaass he chose
10; and," added he, '.if you continue
to question and cavil at Gods dealings,
and vainly pufed up by your carnal
mind, striving to be wise above what is
written, will tell you something more
chat God will do--he will some day put
you into hell-fre. 1t is in vain for you
to strive with your Maker--you cannot
resist him; and neither your opinions
of his dealings, nor your blasphemous
expression Of them, will in the least
lessen the pain Of your everlasting
damnation, which, / again tell you, will
most certainly be your portion, if you
go on in your present spirit. There
were such questioners as you in ST.
Paul's time, and how did the Apostle
answer them? ltNay, but, o man, who
art thou that repliest against God"
The young man here interrupted Mr.
North, and said: sis there such text
as that in the Bible ?" g.....
eyes, there is" was the reply, Gin
the ninth chapter of Romansi and |
recommend you to go home and read
that chapter, and after you have read it,
and see there how God claims for HIM
self the right to do whatever he chooses,
without permitting the thing formed to
say to him that formed it, Why hast
thou made me thusl remember that,
besides permitting sin, there is another
thing God has chosen TO dO-God close to
send Je8u8i OF his own free and SOW
ereign grace, God gave his only-begot-
ten Son to die for sinners, in their stead,
in their place; SO that, though they
are sinners, and have done things worthy
death, not one of them shall ever be
cast into hell for his sins who will accept
Jesus as his only Saviour, and believe
in him, and rest in his word. / have
no time to say more to you now; others
are waiting to see me. Go home; at
tend to what | have told YOU, and may
God the Holy Spirit bless it, for Jesus
sake +" .. f ,..r...r
This conversation took place on Sun
day evening. On the following Friday,
Mr.. North was sitting in a friends
drawing room, (the Rev. Noodle
Stuart's), when the servant announced
that a young man wanted to speak to
him On being shown up stairs he
said:
"Do you remember me ~"
"No"
"Do you not remember the young
man who, on Sunduy night, asked you
to tell him, why did God permit sin 2"
eyes, perfectly"
"Well sir, / am that young man, aud
you said God permitted sin because he
chose it, and you told me to go home
and read the ninth chapter of Romans; {;
and also that God chose to send Jesus
to die for such sinners as | am and !
did, sir, what you told mei and after
wards | fell down at Gods feet and
asked him to forgive my sins, because
Jesus died for me, and to give me His
Spirit to put all wicked thoughts out Of
my head, and he did and now am
happy, oh, so happy, sir and though
the devil still comes sometimes to tempt
me what reason | have to think God
has forgiven me have always man
aged to get him away by telling. him
that do not .want-tO judge things by
my own reason, but by Gods Word (:
and that the only way l know am Tor
given is that, for Christs sake, God
chose 10 pardon me-" a.u
The changed expression of the young
mans countenance was quite sufficient
account for Mr. North's not knowing
him again. 1t wasradiant with JOY and
peace. +. VIII llt. '-I-i '''
Dear reader, the first lesson poor
sinner has to learn is, to trust in the
Lord with all his heart, and not to his
own understanding to trust God not
only for what is explained, but for what
is not explained, This is faithi and
such faith honors God, and saves the
soul This is receiving the kingdom of
of God as a little child, who always
believes that "things must be right, if
father says them, and father does them" !"
and let useyer remember that it is writ
ten (and the Scripture cannot be bro
ken), that unless tive receive the king
dom of God, we shall in no wise enter