Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-03-18
beat all Pray, how did you know all
this?n
"All what?'

"All what'"
"Why, how did you know ! should not
leave my house till after six, when your
tea was to be Mt six !"
Because | never knew you to be
punctual at meeting on the Sabbath.
That amt your way you know.
"But how did you know l should drive
fast?"
because, being late when you set out.
| felt sure that you would drive fast to
make up lost time"
Now about the bridge, how did you
know that | should drive off,"
Because the snow Is drifted on it, on
the north side, rs have passed over it, l
saw man must drive very carefully not
to run off-which felt sure you would
not do"
"Wcll. the breaking the slcigh?"
when called at your house, l saw
the old sleigh, and knew that tho boys
had been sliding down hill with it. and
saw that small wrench would destroy
it.n
"llow came your two hired men there?"
II felt so sure that yon would drive
of tina: told my men to 60 there, and if
you were in trouble, 10 help you on, one
leading your horse"
"And about the three surprises for my
wife ?"
go, had seen Captain Hamilton. and
he promised he would come in during
the visit, and he told me about your
wife's brother and about the present of
the shawl"
How did you know | should ride
home with Mr.. Hough?"
II asked him to be kind enough to come
with his double sleigh-toreseeing you
would want somebody to carry you
home
How did you know we should 90 up
round the pond and not come directly
home ?"
80, | knew that Mrs. lIough would be
in hurry to get home on account Other
baby"
And the apples that they gave us ?"
"Why, heard them say they meant to
give YOU some, and begged them. as q
particular favor TO me, to have them
ready that night, for felt quite certain
that, one way or another. you would go
home by their house. 1t was all planned,
you see, though they nor you knew moth
ing about it.
well well, but one thing more, how
did you know should buy your sleigh
the next day, and the very sum should
pay for it?"
''As TO that. felt sure YOU would
break your sleigh, and that you were to
came 10 my house the next day on the
Jones business. and knew I could put
the sleigh so low that you would jump
At the chance
"Well. General, you are cute one,
but alter all, what docs all this prove?"
1T proves that our actions may all be
marked out and written down-all plan
ned ever so minutely, and yet the crea-
ture be left free. My plans, my drawing
out all these plans on paper, did not
touch your free agency. You know you
was free TO come or not--free 10 start in
season or late, 10 drive fast or slow, to
go cartuIly over the bridge. or careless.
~. You were free to welcome Captain
Hamilton, or to be cold toward him, TO
be glad or sorry to hear from the brother,
free 10 ride with Mr.. Hough or 10 walk
home, tree to receive or refuse the ap-
Piles, and finally, free to buy my sleigh or
not. Don't you kn0W and feel that in all
this you were tree to do rs you pleased ?"
Yes, yes; but you could not compel
me to do any Of these things"
True; nor does God compel you. He
leaves YOU just rs free as if He had no
plans. All | have wanted to show you
is, that we are nonc the less free becau sc
God can forescc and plan that we shall
freely act under His government. You
see, too, that In all that | have done l
have done nothing but what was for your
good"
That's true again, General, and the
thing looks curious. l don't exact ly
know what TO say-you have outwltted
me. | must talk it all overwith my wife,
for she has real head OF her own. l
should like to know what she will say to
it all. What is your definition OF Gods
purposes and plans?"
The DEGREES OF God are His eternal
according to the counsels OF His
own will, thereby, for His glory, He
hath ordained whatsoever comes to pass"
"You see the purposes or plans OF God
are eternal, because His thoughts and
plans mnst be eternal and they are nc.
cording to the counsels of His own will,
because, in eternity, when the plans arc
formed, there Was no created being to
consult, and, as they are all for His own
glory. they caunot be unjust. for that
would not be His glory, nor unwise. nor
wrong, nor hard-but such rs will make
Him more glorious. And they embrace
else something might happen
that would not be for His glory"
"Well, General, l see things in some