Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-25
Sermon.
Preached before the Orleans Co. Bible SOci-
ETY. at its meeting in H-asburgh, Oct. 4, By
ReU. Il. r. WTL1.

The use of means by agents is the APP
pointed way Of working in this world
Nothing is accomplished in any other way.
The farmer tills the ground, but he has
his pillow and hoe to do it with. The me-
chanic performs wonders of skill (; but he
has tools to work with, and materials to
work upon. The philosopher revolution
ICES the world with his opinions but in
arriving at his conclusions he uses theorems
and posJulates and figures. So it is thro'
all the acts of men. And this is Gods
way Of working too. lie does not by the
instantaneous exercise of power force every
event upon His creatures. He rather APP
points the means to be used in bringing
events to pass, and either uses those means
Himself, or delegates their use to some
creature. Every event may thus be ana
lyzed. No matter how great may be
the complication resulting from our social
relations, or how long the series of agents
and sub agents; in every link Of the chain
there is an agent and an instrument; and
over all there is the one supreme Agent,
holding in his almighty hand the whole
series, and using it as He will. In thus
carrying out the plans Of God every intel
ligent being is an agent, from the loftiest |
seraph to the humblest member of our
race and every created thing may be an
instrument from the stars crcling in their |
courses to the smallest atom that floats on
the breeze
In the great work of converting the
world, the Holy Spirit is the agent. This
is His special worl, among men And the
instrument which He uses is the truth
lie is not limited TO the use Of such means
lie might descend at once and change all
hearts in a moment. Rut this isnot Gods
way. He chooses to work by means: and
the Spirits chosen instrument is the truth
The sloord Of the Spirit is the ,oord Of God
As the sword is the instrument by which
the warrior achieves his conquests 50 the
sword of God is the weapon which the
Spirit Yields in His conquering march
through this world Of sin.
The theme suggested by these words is
this The adaptation Of COTS ~Jrd to the
use ofthc Spirit IN Lhs ,c0rk: The appro-
priateness, the fitness, of the instrument
for the use to which it is to be- put We
find proof Of this in three different direct
ions, viz:
l. In the fact that the use Of the truth
accords perfectly with the nature of the
Spirit The means must be adapted to the
faculties and capacities of the agent, or
little good can be expected from its USE
1t may be said here that God, who is in
finite and perfect, can use any means to
accomplish any object. This may be true,
and yet we find in everything as He uses
it there is peculiar adaptation to its work.
In nothing is Gods very perfection more
plainly shown than in fitting things togeth-
err. Everything has its place in the uni
verse; every being his work and in the
still, silent work of converting human souls
what more appropriate means could the
Spirit use than the Word of God? In the
conquest of the revolted land of Mansoul
by its rightful sovereign, what more APP
propriate weapon could there be for the
conqueror to WELD than that which is
quick and powerful, and sharper than any
two edged sword, piercing even to the di-
viding asunder of soul and spirit, and 0
the joints and marrow, and is discernel
of the thoughts and intents of the heart?
These words describe the very things thai
must be done in each individual soul il
is the office Of the Spirit to do them anC
the word Of God as His instrument there
fore accords perfectly with the nature o
the Agent. Other instruments might b,
used the voices of Nature, from the peal
ing Of the thunder to the whispering 9th,
breeze the eternal truths of reason, from
the law Of causation to the simplest math
ematical axiom. The Spirit does use these
applying them in their place but for Hi
great work they are not sufficient. TIL
chief characteristics of the Spirit in thi
work are power wisdom, justice and benev
olence; and the means which He use
must be something adapted to each Of these
something worthy of them all. The might
power of the whirlwind is not exhauste
in twirling the fallen leaf; the wisdom G
the sages is not spent on the simpler prob
lens of thought; justice is not satisfied i
the little occurrences Of life 4; or benevo
lence in bestowing pennies on commo
beggars. So He who is infinite in power
wisdom, justice and benevolence, hayin
an infinite work to do, must use means
the highest order no other is adapted I
His nature The word of God, as contain
ed in the Bible, fulflls this condition. Sc
this in the three particulars of its origin
its mission, and its effects Its authorshi
is divine; "Holy men of God spake {
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. L
mission is divine; it is profitable for do,
trine, for reproof, for correction, for il
struction in righteousness thatthe man,
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnishe
unto all good works. And its inhuenC
is divine: cit is the power Of God unto sa
walton to every one that believeth." Wit
such an instrument, so closely adapted
His own divine nature and working cha
acteristics, what power among men
possessed by the Holy Spirit! Mohamme
thought to conquer the world and perpe
uate his religion with the literal swor
Doubtless that weapon was more consonai
TO his nature than the word of God an
perhaps his failure tells us not 50 much
bad judgment in the choice of means as
wicked presumption on the part of hi
who used it. But He who has in charg
the final conquest of the world has pur
ly spiritual work to do. He Himself is
Spirit. lie works among and upon spiri
ual beings, and for His use He has chose
spiritual weapon, the word of God Ar
lie will succeed not only with few mi
lions of credulous men, but with all, fro
the lowest to the highest not only will
few tribes in the darker portions of Il
earth acknowledge His conquering powe
but every nation and kindred and peop
under the sun will own His sway. and Il
whole earth see the salvation of God.
III. In the fact of its fitness to meet Il
wants of mankind. In any sphere of a
ton, the instrument must be adapted to
object, or little good can be expected fro
its use. The improvements made in o.
agricultural and mechanical implemen
illustrate this general truth. Defects a
seen in those already in use: thinking M
seek to remedy these by inventing bett
instruments; and in doing this they mt
keep constantly before them the particul
,isa of thosa ,oartin,,la a. \