The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-29
CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.
COPS LOVE ron MANKIND--sERMoN BIZ REV.


DIR. CHAPLIN.
The fifteenth chapter OF Luke, said DR.. Chaplin,
contains three parallels and these parallels represent
the Gospel view OF the rotations between God
There arc other views OF these relations There Is tho
physiological view, In which, II God Ia mentioned at
ALL II is simply the Creator First Cause, and man
is regarded merely link in the series OF the ami
nal kingdom. Again, there Is the philosophical view
that dscerns intellectual agent, allied with
the Infinite Mind which no moro less apprehends.
Those may be right so far as they 80, but they
are not complete Mans experience reveals more IN
innate and vital relations The Gospel view rep
rescns man as being OF spiritual capacities needing
help and guidance; morally endowed, yet imperfect
and sinful God is not merely tho Creator. He is the
In fntc Mind, sustaining toward man closer and moro
personal relations and who, In his immexsurabie con
dcsccnsion aud love, seeks tho lost. The world, TO
mankind, is world of possibltes-a world Of hidden
secrets; and mans highest aim Is always 10 discern
something Christianity ~ tho unveiinE OF God;
the exhibition OF his love the world Man sumbles
along through the world in tho nero idea OF revea-
ton and cannot fully believe in It's existence. But
man who does not hceye IN revelation cannot .rus.
others 10 trust him. There are three points IN which
Gods action toward the world may be judged fairly;
the Gospel teaches the distinctions shown In the
divine seeking the divine appreciation and spiritual
sympathy. God Is represented in the parable from
Luke az seeking God in Christ goes out after his
wandering children and he will seek until he finds tho
sin ner and brings him home In no place better than
in tho Bibc do we md SIN IN all us oco!mity: " is
clothed proper garments and It's effect Is shown IN
all tho teachings. There are teachings wnicn
Enthusiastically tell that the love OF God
for the world is not 10 DO characterized as the
human looking up toward the divine but u Is the
divine reaching down toward tho human ind giving US
something 10 live Tor aud 10 hope Tor. There can DO
no money value put upon love; there can he no est-
mate made the love Tor the lost sheep as shown IN
The parabIe We all know what money will do; all
Know how men will seek and seek Tor u until II Is
found braviDg all danger searching Tor the precious
gold in the dark and dangerous mine and sweeping an
IN I'M
greatest power Of all The perfect love- as that OF God
for His creatures which caseth out all ienr governs
all things 1t invests with sanctity ana holy affection
even tho most distorted shapes, and we can make no
choice oil the sheep within the fold.
GOrS VALUATION or U.s.
When. years ago, In England, grand old estate was
burned, the rich, grand ana titled owner was Iounu
for his gems but for small casKct which held what
him his treasures-the toys OF his dead child
So God values us ALL so he VIII search aud seek TIL nc
finds the erring sinner. There are men IN the world
who laugh ut tho idea OF honor and who, when ono
who before has led unmpeachable untarnished lie,
falls, will iaughingy say"I told you SO; no would
seem glad when an errine woman sins aud falls. Sin
may 10 jostlcd from its SOCKETS by tho
very rumbngs OF damnation. The over
towering strength OF s'n may cause us very
scmbance OF Himself, is the ruling power after all.
1t consolation that We may not LOSE that as the
or the prodga fell among the husks, there was
love hey ond all others for the wanderer; and Chris
tanity, as tho revelation OF Gods goodness, Is the
embodiment Of the love that never will iorsake us.
Quoting Dickens, when poor Peggotiy snys, "l'll
search and search the world over I'LL | fnd my
darling,n Dr. Chaplin applied the language OF the
great novelist to tho practical ILLUSTRATION OF ms SUB.
jcci will take the first step, and God first loved
the world AS the wandering sheep lost amid the
mountains is sought for and recovered, so IN Gods
wisdom and HIS goodness, He stoops down upon tho
world and calls the erring home.