New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-10
MIDSUMMER WORSHIP.
A BRIGHT SIDE OF GODS GOVERNMENT.

II.
The Rev. DIR. C.. E. Robinson of Troy, n. T.,
preached his third sermon In Plymouth Church yester
day to largo congregation. the services peing ne"
thu room on account Of repairs TO the main aud
enceroom OF the church. The text was hm cono
HIGHT into the world, that whosoever pehe'o'h Oh me
should not abide in darkness"-John XII 40 ine us
tngushing feature OF Dr. Robnsohs dscourses ~ nis
analysis Of the Scripture or chapter choseh or HIS SUI
,ect This mode of treatment occupies halt posi-
Ri mora than half OF his sermon, and II
"a m,de especially interesting through the
sneaker's clear insight into the Senlncauon VI
Biblical recital and equally lucid ehpIaua'on Vi !" "
ia seldom II ever, caught outside OF tho urect cou
marked out his premises In MS sori"oi 'e''o'I"'
after remarkng that the emphasis OF scripture was upon
,a,,o, no took the ground that the Bible was written
q, MAKO known Gods love and His desire to save men
rather than to reveal the wrath OF Goa anu his
horror of sin, since 1t was unnecessary W man
any fuller revelation OF ths IMAM 'no Hh
OF nature afforded In other "orus' '"o So
,o, q, christie coming was not to show the dark side
of the Divine government, but the orlsh' anu a.'i
ga, 1,s was seen IN the first place. in His direct as
sortiona tn this eec-as, for example, his reprooi 10
tbe discipes in their indignation at the samarltah
WIN had refused TO offer Him hospitality; 10 Rho"
not what manner OF spirit ye arc OIL Tor tho son o MAN
ia not come TO destroy mems lives, but TO save them
Again. in His conversation with Nlcodemus gu the ne"
Birth after giving utterance TO those words which form
X
he added For God sent not His Son into the world TO
condemn the world. but that the world through Hin
might be saved" still more significant and powerful
quotation was made by the speaker when he read wha
might be favorlte passage Of the un.Christiln man:
III any man hear NV words and believe not, Judge
him not for not to Judge the worid Ddt 10 save
Secondly in the ngures used in the Bible to illustrate
His person and character and mission lie II called ny
Isaiah the "Hidlng-place." the " Keiu1e iroL. tno
Storm" and the Prince 0f Peace Moses cried OUT III
81 Ip 4, X,
and Isaiah caught up the refrain ne Is as tne sGauow
He was the sinners advocate, and the Good Shepherd
beautifully and lovingly expressed by him' ,,.
OF the Divine nature were in the nature Of
HIS doctrines teachings. When tho jewish teachers
sight of the great truth of the Ftherhooi OF
been judicial lie was to them God OF wrath, pro
clouds and darknoss-"G God the ali-terribie" He
was looked upon ms hard master and creditor,
exacng OF his creditors the uernost farthing Hence
they had formed system OF rualism which the} car
red out to most Irng deall. tthng the smallest
service had become an intorrabe burden. So that
when the Jews accused Chrst's disciples OF breaking
the sabbath in plucking ears OF corn ana eatng te
on that day. He said. II ye had known what TINS
meaneth, will have mercy AMI not sach[e ye T0ua
said not come to call tue righteous Dat sinners
The speaker found still moro apt illustration OF this
pont in that peal of all Cbrists parabe5-tle PrOds1
liar stress upon the element of love ia 1t typical Of
Gods strongest emotion. We need, he added such
such assurance from one VINO knows. VINO
is familiar with the connsels OF the Almighty OF the
power and Will of Gods providence. The world and hu'
man lie without II nave Iofpy scues9, ifhon
faith ali things were drifting as the elements OF
Error seems to stalk forth boldly, vice walks regnant
haunting her sceptre over human society Power Is IN
the hands OF tyranny and oppression. Men ltt
themselves up on the heaps of this slain IL il In reality
not So but il often LOOKS. ana we lose courage We
follow the links of evidence Of Gods overriding prOyi
dence. We therefore need CnrisPs testimony to hat
warning, and confused 20 yOu are controlled by mo
Divine Will. Then when we hnd ourselves questioning
this VIII take OF lis because God seems too ofy
and far removed TO take notice OF our trllng
troubles we have those reassuring words To fall Dack
on: "Not sparrow faleth TO the ground without your
Fathers notice "eveu the hairs OF your head are
all numbered" What ligHt this throws not only upon
national but individual life. Let US sun ourselves IN
Then take His doctrine concerning the office and work
otherwise great darkness Tnc onniscent scrutiny
of the Holy Spirit Is abstractly fearful Thought to
sinful man Ii il by Gods very knowledge Of
mans sniulness he would aOhOr him. To some there Is
present the Of ever present ever search
Utmost SINS; but Jesus teaches us that NJ atn 0s
phcre OF June Is in sucl glowing radiant sympathy with
the flowers and the rpeninR haryess, unfolding them
with quickenlg embrace, the Holy SOrt Is with
the great needs of mankind that tue whole mora, at
mosphere palpltates with the urgency Of the Holy
Spirit OF God III His importantly, HIS entreay with the
Now this in view of our condition. our ignorance.
the encouraging. cheering view Of the Holy Spirit
that INSTEAD Of being enmity with us, it infinitely
allied to the plan OF salvation Our Sayiors doctrine
concerning the grave and the resurrection is full OF light
These and the solemn silence of the future are the dark
things with winch we have TO DEAL but TO every one
who believes ChrsPs testimony there Is victory
death and the grave. so that death. from DeiGg the
shnent OF sin, becomes him "A blessing happy dis
charge from all SORROW aud glorious entrance into all
joy.
Then the doctrine OF the New Testament concerning
heaven the future home OF Gods elect, reveals TO
the brightness Dcssedncss OF the life there, and that
of solemn dun cathedral, perpetual judgment
hall 1t is home full OF glad sounds and tho happy notes
OF praise and love.
We see the bright side OF Gods government in the
offer OF salvation freely made To every man Some
seem TO think God does not want TO all men.
and. arguing in the straight rigid lines OF their logic
Gods election, DEGREES, aud foreordinaon, they have
msrepresented the God Of the Bible aud given these
doctrines undue, unscripturdl Prominence Now,
DEGREES Of God are his plane for carrying his
government, and have nothing whatever to do with
them. God distinctly states, with infinitely sublime
indifference the logical difficulties the way, that no
dies for want Of divine sympathy, for want OF
divine Willingness and suiliciency TO save him. WHAT a
result OF human folly for prOiessed preacher
of Christ led by his logic to hold that Christian should
be willing be damned for the glory OF God and how
far great from the free, glad gracious spirit
of Christianity, who preached that cried out
" Mr.. Eiwards Mr. Edwards is not God mercifull"
L.