Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-12-18
&eading fpr the $abbath,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
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lOrginal.]
PHYSICAL REDEMPTION.
Usually we take too narrow and contracted
view of the work of Jesus Christ. We are
too apt to think of it and speak of it as still
prospective-as o work which will take place,
not in time but in eternity. Our notions Of
the redemption made by Jesus Christ are
visionary, impracticable and contrary, alike to
the teachings of the Scriptures, and to what
we see constantly taking place around u.s.
There can be no doubt, both from the teach
ings of the Old Testament and the New Tes-
lament that Christs work consists in taking
away the sin of the world. The Scriptures
warrant us in saying that Christ's work con-
sists in restoring to its primeval beauty and
goodness, all that was in any way marred by
the sin of man. 1t is clear that when man
fell, the world which he inhabits fell with
him. Everything with which he in any way
stood connected, underwent an instantaneous
change as soon as Adam eat the forbidden
fruit. Paradise lost all its beauty. Its trees
lost their beauty, and their fruits no longer
were sufficient for food. The earth itself un-
derwcnt a complete and thorough change:
The elementary principles and constituent
parts of the soil were changed. We might
say, to adopt the language of science, that the
chemistry of the soil was changed so that
what was made very good, became very bad.
The earth lost its beauty and its productive.
ness at the same time. Instead Of spontane-
ously bringing forth food for man, it now and
ever since the fall, brings forth thorns and
thistles.
Sin affected every thing on the earth. The
nature of every beast was changed. A spirit
of cruelty and destruction entered into every
living creature. The effect of this spirit is
seen and felt in every land beneath the sun.
Every living creature, and every plant has its
enemy. A curse rests upon everything with
which man stands either directly or indirectly
connected. The lord of the lower world
sinned, and his whole kingdom was smitten
with mildew and blasting-with disease and
death.
Christ came into this world, God manifest
in the flesh, to redeem the world-not simply
to save sinners from everlasting destruction
but to redeem the world from the curse which
now rests upon it. The angels which an
nounced the advent of the Saviour, proclaimed
in tones which every creature heard: "Peace
on EARTH" Since the fall, there has been
continual war in this world. This earth has
been one battlefield. Christ came to "beat
the sword into a plow-share, and the spear
into pruning hook" The redemption-price
has been paid, but the work of saving the
world is not finished. In fact apparently, it
is only begun. God, if we may 50 speak, is
never in hurry. He has faith in his own
wisdom and power, and what he does is done
in his own good time.
From a multitude of passages in the Scrip
lures, we are forced to conclude, that some
time, no one knows, this world will be ran
somed from the physical curse which has
rested upon it for more than five thousand
years. The whole creation groans and ira
walls in pain, waiting for that good day when
the wolf shall dwell in peace with the lamb
and the calf, and the young lion shall feed in
the same pasture, and the little child shall
lead them. That God has promised such a
time, no one who believes the word Of God
can doubt. The prophecy of Isaiah is full of
predictions. The whole world is to become
like Carmel for fertility, and Sharon for
beauty. That this glorious period has COM
menced, no one conversant with history can
doubt. 1t commenced on the evening of
the day of the fatal act which brought death
into our world 1t was so small, and so cir
cumscrbed in its effects at first, that it was
scarcely discernible for a period Of four thou
sand years. Of all the families Of earth, only
the descendants of Abraham experienced its
benign influence and these only partially.
When Christ died upon the cross, new era
commenced in the worlds history. Since that
memorable event, the work of removing the
curse has progressed slowly but steadily and
surely. The wilderness and the desert place
has been converted into fruitful field. The
useful arts have made advancements which
are astounding. Year by year, under the
benign influence Of the gospel Of the Son OF
God, the earth is regaining the fertility which
it possessed when first created Under the
blighting influence of in6delity and Pagan
ism, fat lands are turned into barrenness ; but
the gospel of the blessed Jesus, covers chalk
hills and barren glades with the choicest
fruits of the EARTH
We might infer from the nature of God,
that this world would ultimately be ransomed
from the physical curse which now presses
upon it. God delights in beauty and harmo-
ny and peace. Since the fall, all has been
deformity, disorder and war.
1t is the peculiar work of the gospel to
eradicate the thorn and thistle and plant the
rose; to bring order out of confusion, and es-
tablish peace among the conflicting elements
of nature. This is what it is actually doing.
The work is Gods. He has made begin
ming, and as in the fullness of time Jesus was
born, so in the fullness of time, the work which
Jesus came to perform will be finished. To-
day, every sweet has its bitter but the day
will come when the bitter will be removed
and the sweet made sweeter.
We think we are warranted in concluding
that this earth will not only be redeemed from
the effects of sin, but it will be made by grace
more beautiful and lovely than it was when