The New York herald., 1876-12-04
ALL SOULS CHURCH.
REV. DR. BELLOWS on TIE DIVINE CHAR

AcTEg-How BEyEALED
Avery large congregation assembled In All Souls
Church yesterday ana DR.. Bellows chose for his
themc the character OF the DEITY and the ways in
which IL reveals Itself to US
There are many, he said. who look 10 external
nature. the phenomena We see, tho mysterious laws
wo Try TO iathom and cndeavor 10 read in then the
character OF God The grandeur OF tho universe. the
beauty see In every work OF the Divine hand, how
ever trivial, are calculated TO impress upon His
greatness and the illimnable Resources He controls
He appears IN them as the all-powcriu and omnis
ccnI whose finger euides the planets in their
courses and at whose word worlds spring into
existence. But these things do not present
GOD 10 US IN the form lie should assume
TO our mndsthat OF the bene!ccnt LOVING Father In
external things. IN tho pnenousena OF nature and the
dire wncn they sometimes occasion, there Is
nothing to remind US OF tue Kind. watchiui care The
Deity exercises over HIS human offspring. We sec
the winds buffet the sea rise aud overwhcim the
vessel which carries the innocent and guilty alike.
We see the earthquake bury n common grave The
kind hearted and the God tearing as well as the cruel
and proiane Disease cuts down before us every day
the sinner, and The same the Just
man ANA the wretch sUddcn win every vice. These,
the laws oi nature IN thcr ordinary action do not sug.
gcs us aucnt OF mercy or OF tenderness And when
We look around and the easy living man o tho
world revciline IN the midst o plenty. while ihc sell
denying Chr stan starves at his post: when we see
the cr ninai the ieiaulter. The ioreer. the
tibet ioaaed down with the good thing, OF liie
white wabIdps, God-carins poverty sarves at his
them that ideal justice that melting ont OF reward TO
the good and punishment 10 the evil which we would
be encouraged expect True there Is the provldcnt
Deny in natur, who tcmpers the seasons who Axes
Tie scedlime ana the harvest. and adapis The condi-
tons oi the bounteuus cartn 10 thcin. IL Is not
enough to say that these things show Gou's care,
that the great OF nankind provided With the
needs OF life. ana that the tendency OF humanity has
Always been upward. Such general reasoning does
not tend to give idea OF Gods character can IL
be pictured by the world or by any I conditions
Those who watch external ard his
tory cannot form proper conception oil
God; not but that they have lessons Tor those
who are bile read them Alright only they are not
thcrown interpreters Nature is not suggestive OF
God who can listen cries and give us succor.
When disaster comes upon US when the storm rscs 10
ovcrwhelm US when the earthquake yRwns 10 swa low
US, there IS response TO and rcmonsranccs
Ia Natures impassivc face Man has always been nc
cuStone &c see IN Tue universe symbol o the Deiiy
But tue beauty and significance of Jesus Chrlst's
character, when he understands them properly, make
acnc ana 10 know HIM iather. That idea OF God
all gooiness, all justice. all mercy, ingrated
IN us all nature, al history could not beat out
the belief II Is most vital when assalled ana most
stable when confronted with argument or theory. No
alictoD can drive II away. anu !. Is especially when
distress upon that II shows lis real powers
UsurDaton and violence only gvc Us new reason Tor
trusting God, and IN the darkest hour raise the
heurt IN prayer confident that response VIII be
corded us. see no surer sign of an immortal soul
than that feeling OF trust We experience aiicton
1t seems 10 Indicate that man has higher destiny
than his lot here would 30 to show Every mar who
has the proper idea OF the character OF God has IN his
breast u spiritual antidote against external crcum.
stances and one which Will ABIDE with him..