Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-12
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CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
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A correct knowledge of the character of
the Supreme Being lies at the base of true
religion. That individual who has no knowl-
edge of God is destitute of every thing that
in any respect resembles devotion. He has
no hopes and no fears beyond the narrow line
which divides the present from the future.
His aspirations are few in number and grove
ling in character.
The existence of Supreme Being is clear
ly taught in the Bible. His existence is Ia
ken for granted on every page Of the sacred
Scriptures. Before man sinned and his in
tellect become darkened, there is every rea-
son for believing that he could clearly discern
the existence of God. He had no need of a
revelation to make known to him this impor-
tant fact. A knowledge Of the existence of
God was concreated with him. He was con-
scious of the existence of God. When man
snned he lost this knowledge, and also the
power to discern, satisfactorily, the existence
of God from the works of creation. In the
exercise of his wonderful mercy, God made
his existence known to the fallen race of man
by revelation. When we are informed by
the Scriptures, that Supreme Being exists,
the human mind readily finds collateral evi-
dence of the fact in the material world. The
magnitude of the works of creation is all evi-
dence of the existence of a Being who is su-
perior; by whom all this mighty fabric was
brought into existence. Experience teaches
us that nothing produces nothing. Every
effect must have cause. This world is an
efect-it must have cause. The Scripture
teaches us that God is the cause. He created
it, To this declaration the human mind
readily assents.
The material world bears witness to the
teachings of the Bible in another respect con-
cerning God. The Bible teaches us that
there is one God and only one. The grand
harmony which we find any where in the
works of creation is striking proof of this
declaration. No confusion exists in any por-
ton of the vast dominion. All is harmony
and order the most sublime
That our religious feelings may be of the
proper kind, we must have correct notions Of
the attributes of God. In order that our de-
votions may rise above superstition, we must
know that God is almighty. The Bible is
full of declarations concerning the omniro-
tence of God, and the world that We inhabit
bears ample testimony to the truthfulness Of
this declaration. The conclusion of every
intelligent mind is that no power less than
Almighty, could bring into existence this
world of ours. The tiniest insect that creeps
upon its surface could be brought into exis-
tence only by an omnipotent God. tits good
for US to mediate upon the omnipotence of
God. Rejecting upon it we develop our de-
votional feelings. Insensibly we grow hum
BILE, and are ready to exclaim, "what is man
that God should be so kind to him?"
In the works of God, we see convincing
evidence of his infinite wisdom. It is diff
cult to say which is the more evident or the
more wonderful, Gods wisdom or his power
as displayed in the works of creation and
providence Every thing is in perfect accord
ance with wisdom the most consummate.
The wisdom of all created beings, when COM
pared with that of God, is but foolishness.
In the Bible we are told that God charges
the angels with folly. So much greater is his
wisdom than the wisdom of angels, that when
contrssted, the latter appears to be foolish
ness.
Goodness is another attribute of God. In
all his dealings with his creatures, both as a
God of creation and providence, we see the
goodness of God manifested. The pious
Psalmist exclaimed, "Good unto all men is
the Lord" We see glorious manifestations
of this attribute of the Divine Being in the
ample provisions which is made for the hap
piness of all sentient creatures. God, in the
exercise of his goodness, brought no creature
into existence until he had provided for it a
home. This home is suited in every res
pect to the nature of the creature. What q
miserable world this would be were God in
the exercise of his omnipotence to drive his
creatures from their homes. Death would
reign every where. The fish cannot live in
the air nor the birds in the sea. The polar
bear would die at the equator, and the king
of the forest would perish amid polar SHOWS.
God is also a just God. Justice and judg-
ment are the habitation of his throne. We
see many evidences of Gods justice. Sin is
always punished. He is angry with the trans
gressors of his law. Suffering follows sin as
the shadow follows the sun. Justice and
goodness are the same thing displayed in
different way. In other words, Gods good
ness and justice are the same thing dispensed
to his creatures through different channels.
To punish the transgressor is good-the
greatest of all goodness.
No study is so we'll adapted to make us
what we ought to be, as the study of God as
revealed to US in his word and works. 1t ele-
Yates and it humbles us. 1t keeps us from
wandering in forbidden paths.
TOUCHED WITH OUR INFIRMIT1Es." "A
Door lone woman sat one evening thinking
how sad was her condition. She was old and
almost helpless, with little Of this worlds goods
which she could call her own. "Who cares
for me?" thought she. Suddenly this verse
came to her remembrance: "For we have
not high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our inirmities" 1t was
like food of golden sunshine. Her doubts
and fears were gone. What need Of earthly