The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-11-29

: Dy Pastor w. ,. PetersOn, Oh the fIrs
Congregational Church.
PSALM cvII. S. Oh that men would pIais
the LORD for his goodness and for MS wonder
fuI works to the children of men
One whose mind is rich in devou
sentiments expresses in this psalm al
earnest desire that all Een would
praise God for His providence. Me
to day, in compliance with the sug
gestions of the chiet magistrates o
the Nation and the State, and in &C
cordance with the Christian custom
of our country, to render thanksgiv
ing to Gcd, it is fitting that we should
respond in thought and feeling 10 The
sentiment of the Psslmist:
oh that men would praise the LORD for hi,
goodness and for his wonderful works to the
children of meni
The expression of such a desire,
in this form, implies that men do not,
generally and heartily, praise God.
And this is true. Notwithstanding
our constant experience of the divine
goodness, so great is our natural
spiritual blindness that We fail, wholly
or partially, to recognize the Source
of all blessings. Daily we enjoy a
bountiful feast of coed things, for
getful, how Otter, ,oi the Master whose
guests we are, and ungratetul for His
infinitely generous hospitality
May the privileges and associations
of this Day of Thanksgiving stimulate
our thoughtfulness and revive our
gratitude Let us seek 10 be grateful.
Let US study to praise God accept
ably.
The text suggests two modes by
which we msy be aided in attaining
a devout aud thankful state OF mind /:
/. Meditation on God's character.
II. Meditation on Gods blessings.
Even as our respect for right &C.
tion, or good conduct, on the part of
men, is more intense and profound
when we believe their acts are root
cd in true worth of character, so our
appreciation of Gods blessings must
be heightened by the consideration
that 10 is in HIS Nature to do good
unto men-that His character itself
is Infinite Goodness.
1 The character Of God is mani
tested to us in his goodness. 1t is
not fully made known in that, or any
other, quality. But it is partly,
family revealed. 1t is not possible
for fioite creatures to know, in q large
sense. the Infinite Creator. But it
has pleased God to mske known to
men, in as large measure as they are
capable OF receiving it, knowledge
of some of His attributes BY the
study of the divine character, then,
is only meant the study OF that region
of the divine nature which has been
opened to us, snd which by divine
authority, we have been invited to
explore.
The Goodness of God Is a mani
festation especially of two attributes
of His character, Power and Love.
Without almighty power, He could
not be good; without infiuite love,
He acould not be good.
l. The Power OF God may be de-
fined as His limitless ability to sc.
complish what he wills. This power
is not sleeping or dormant. 1t is
never in q stste of rest. Its activity
did not cease when the work of crea-
ting the material universe was ac-
complisbed 1t is in constant exer
else. To uphold, to sustain, to keep
in harmonious movement, the vast
machinery of nsture, is task no less
worthy of divine power than the
original construction of it. Such
view of Gods omnipotence is es-
sential to faith In His providence. If
our Fathers care for His children is
efficient, perfect, adapted to all cir
cumstances, simple for all needs, ready
for all emergencies, IS they occur,
He must have a direct, immediate
supervision and control Of the world
Of nature. So Jesus taught, saying
of our Father:
He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and
on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust.
Whist, now, may be more conf
denlly referred to the operation OF
natural law than the rising Of the
sum- Yet Jesus refers it to the al'
rect, presently acting power OF God.
The same unerring teacher assures
US that God feeds the birds, aud
clothes the lilies with yerdure and
bloom, aud by such facts supports
our trust in Him for our daily bread
and all other blessings. Not spar
row falls to the ground without our
Fathers notice; the very hairs OF our
heads are sll numbered. Aud sill this
means that God is exercising q di-
rect and complete control along the
whole scale OF being, from the highest
to the lowest, from the greatest to
the smallest. He furnishes fuel for
the sun and food for man. He
clothes the plsne,s in their magni6
cent robes Of light, and the flowers OF
the field in their dsinty garments OF
beauty.
"Superstition :" cry the blind lead
ers of the blind in the fields OF science
foo often falsely so called SIS they
stumble in the ditch Of unbelief: "Na
ture IS under the inexorable reign oi
LAW To the regular operation oi
her laws all her phenomena must be
referred"
But what is law? Certainly not q
6rst cause. Itis, III itself, an effect
g product OF some cause back OF IT,
and superior TO it Among men, ol
in the realm OF mind, it is IS rule oi
action" In nature, or the realm o.
things, it is san observed order o.
facts" BaLk of it must be s rule.