Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-24
TENNESSEE MINIsrERl BROAD.
Rev. Francis p. muiIalIy an ceving-

s ton, Ky.
This reverend gentleman and distin-
guished divine Of Bolivar, Tenn, is in
I Coungton, where he has been holding
a series OF meetings. He has created
profound sensation, and astounded the
theologians of that place and Of The Queen
City with his superior talent abilities and
earnestness. The Cincinnati Gazette al
ways cautious in its advertisement Of
merit, especially when appearing outside
the limits of its own city, State or party.
In its issue of the 10th, thus speaks Of his
preaching at the Second Presbyterian
Church -
The meetings. in this church, on Ninth
street, have been continued every evening
during the present week, increasing and
highly appreciative audiences attending
upon the rich gospel preaching by the Rev.
Francis P. Mutually, Of Bolivar, Tenn. Mr..
Mutually VIII preach again on Sunday morn
ing and evening. It IS an unusual thing IN
this region, and everywhere In the North.
TO hear what may IN strictness be called
preaching in Presbyterian pulpits; for.
with the thorough education and training
for the ministry which has always been
matter of primary importance with that
denomination, the ''old paths" have been
deserted, and it is fashionable to read writ
ten sermons, not always in an attractive
manner. Mr.. Mutually breaches altogether
without notes; and while his sermons do
not ''smell of the midnight oil" they indi-
cate the ripe scholar, and are eminentiy
suggestive and practical, full Of thought,
and their language elegant and eloquent,
far beyond that Of most of-hand speakers.
We have heard several of them spoken of
as the most edifying, instructive and COM
prehensive ever heard in Covington, upon
subjects not generally understood, and full
of difficulties.
The sermon last night was one of marked
ability Providence" the text.
ninty-seyenth psalm and first verse. ''Ihe
Lord Reigneth-" If duty is based upon
eternal and Interchangeable principles, we
must have some unvarying, eternal, un-
changeable object by which to fix our pur-
poses and guide our strength. What God
deems worthy of reward once, He deems
worthy of reward always. Gods
power and Gods will are one and the same.
In order to do anything, God is not de-
pendent upon anything eternal, as man is
He accommodates His works to us. He is
the great originating cause of all things.
If, then, His power is lodged in His viii,
If His power and His will are the same,
it is plain His power is omnipotent,
His arm is long enough to reach
and strong enough to rule all |
things. ''The counsel of the Lord stand |
eth forever, the thoughts Of His heart to |
all generations. His power is omnipres-
ent. He fills the universe. He transeends |
the universe. In all the plentitude of His |
power, in all the potency of His will, God |
IS as present in the bud and the blossom |
as in the flower and the tree, in the gentle |
breeze that fans our cheek as IN the mighty |
storm that upheaves and desolates, in the |
lowly howell of the peasant as in the coun-
of kings. We are never alone
We have no secrets. There is an eye Ell
ways present. God knows Us better than |
we know ourselves. There is no wisdom |
but honesty. Where anything is to be |
done, there God is in the plentitude of His /
power. tH
God governs the world by power ever
vigilant, ever faithful, ever active. ''He |
that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber
nor sleep" HE Yorketh all things after
the counsel of His own viii. The Bible
teaches the universally Of Gods power;
His control extends over all creatures, ami
mate and inanimate. The Bible never says
: it rains;" but God sends the rain upon the
just and the unjust; God feeds all his crea-
lures; holy angels delight to do His behest;
lost angels move only as He consents;
they could not even enter into the swine |
without His consent.
Laban could not touch the liberty or
of Jacob; God told him to
speak not to Jacob either good or bad
Esaus hatred God turned into affection for
Jacob. When the Sabeans and the Chal-
deans robbed Job of his substance, and
the fire from heaven burned up his sheep
and his servants, Job said, ''The Lord gave
and the Lord hath taken away" And when
JOseph's brethren were troubled and
grieved and angry at themselves because
they had sold him, he said it "'was not
they that sent him thither, but Cod he |
believed God controlled their wicked act.
God governs all movements, all actions, ali
events; all happen by his appointment
There are three kinds of events. or
binary, those known beforehand, which
have occurred and will certain
Iy occur again; extraordinary,
Or providential, where God suspends or
modifes at pleasure the established laws of
nature, and exercises eis care over the
ninutest of his creatures; miraculous,
where there is no cause coming between
he result and the work of God. Natural
results are results of divine will or appoint
nent. We can not conceive of God as
otherwise than all exertion, all motion, all
Energy.
We regret that we ere compelled to cut
hort even this meagre report of sermon
# great power and interest emitting any
lotice of the latter and most striking part.
This unequivocal endorsement fully in
licates what we have often said that the
'ulpit of our State is one of the ablest in
he whole country.