Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-27
A 1IEnORIAl. DISCOURSE.
Delivered by the Psst0r at church
street N. z. church. SOuth. Oh
Sunday, July 2Olb.


"For we know that all things work to-
gether for good to those that love God. -
Romans, 9Th chap. 10Th verse. s.fzz
have selected this text, my friends, not
for the purpose of giving an elaborate ex-i
position of If, bat merely to use 1T as,the
basis of memorial service That it is APP
propriate for such a service is apparent to
all, for it is flu j of Christian comfort and
assurance. 1t is not the language of I'M
tried theory or of empty speculation, but
of practical experience. He-who uttered
it was divinely inspired, and had also
passed through every phase OF trial and
affection. He had known what it was to
realize some of the pleasures of earth, as
we'll as to suffer the extremity of every
conceivable tribulation and misfortune IN
cident to human life. He therefore speaks
what His personal history had actually
demon strated He had received stripes at
the hands of the Jews; He had been beaten
with rods; He had been stoned; He had
been shipwrecked. In journeyings, in
perils of waters, IN perlls OF robbers, in
perils by his COUNT ymen, in perIls by the
heather in perlls in the city, in perils in
the wilderness, in perils by false brethren;
in WEAKNESS, in painful Iness, in hunger, in
thirst, in fasting, in cold and in max edness
He had suffered beyond expression. In
| addition to these things, He had been forced
| to sever the ties that bound Him to the
home of His childhood and His country
men, BE also knew that His approaching
! martyrdom was but a question of brief
| tune And in view of all this, He could
say in perfect confidence: We knoW that
a things acork toeeihsr for good to them
that toue God he does not say this with
reference TO the past or the future, but to
the present Neither does He say it con.
ditionally but positively and absolutely
To Him it is lnfatlible knowledge. Ii
therefore sets forth the idea that we are
| under the moral government of All
| wise superintending Providence, who has
| the very hairs of our head numbered,
| and who is using all things in heaven and
upon earth for the present and eternal good
or those who love and serve God. 1t is
rather difficult matter for finite intelli-
gence 10 admit this. We know that all
things Of pleasant and of An agreeable
character work toge her for our good.
Sach, for instance, as the blessings of per
sonal com ort and prosperity. But when
| Institutions OF an adverse nature Overtake
US, when reverses in fortune sweep down
upon US when sfflIction and death enter
the unbrOk circle of home, and those
whom We love are torn rudely from US, our
faith does not realize so fully, for the time
being, that these things work together for
our good. 1et, my brethren, il is as true
in the one case rs in the other. Such is our
natural and moral constitution that great
deal of Christianity is necessary to dis.
cipline our lives, to humble our pride and
bring US into perfect suberdination to the
divine will. Hence our Affections and sor-
rows are the messengers of divine pur-
pose God is working within us to will
and to do of His wn good pleasure And
He assures us that these light Affections,
which are but for moment, are working
out for US far more exceeding anu eter-
nal weight of glory. And in all of these
vistatOns God will sooner or later vindi-
cate the wisdom Of His providence. Dark
ness frequently comes and wraps the world
in impenetrable gloom, but the beauties of
the morning Invariably succeed. The icy
arms of winter lock up the resources OF
growing vegetation; the foliage fades,
the blooming flower turns pale in
death, and the fruit decays But in process,
of time the vernal breezes kiss the earths
all nature rtjoices, the foliage renews ite
self, the flower springs into beautiful ex.s-
tence, and the fruits grow and ripen. So
it is with Divine prOvidences. They fre-
quenty come in the darkness of night,
and in the winter of sorrow. We may not
understand them for the present. but like
the weary sentinel watching fbr the morn
ing; like the anxious hus bandman looking
for the approaching spring!ime; so must we
quietly wait and watch forthe unfolding OF
| the Divine purpose. God never afflicts his
children without le1i:imate 81 cause
| neither does he disappoint nor forsak-
! those that place their confidence in his
WISDOM ana mercy. We can mourn our
ueao with moderation, as Jacob mourned
the opposed death of his favorite son and
refused to be comforted, but let US not be
impatient or mistrusting but cling closer
and closer to the arm that plies The rod
Lln ba aH "a h 10
ing more than human grief for as say
Not my will, thine be done" The beau,
tiful morning, the springtime of joy and
gladness, will return by and by. For al
things work together for good to them tha
love G d. While sitting in my study
yesterday morning, meditating in silen
prayer as to what | should preach to this
audience to day, this comforting text Wa.
suggested to me as appropriate to this oc-
caslon, by the affection and sorro W throu g /
which we as a church have so recently
been called upon 10 pass. 1t is rather 8
rare occurrence, in the absence of pesti-
renee That our congregation is called upon
WITHIN The short space of eight DAYS. to de,
post Tour OF It's number in the grave, YET
soch mas been our experience. And this
experience Is being deeply felt, not onIv
Oy the immediate families whose circle,
nave been broken, but by us all as a con
gregatlon. We are a band OF brethren
and sisters in Christ, and when the tie tina
binds US together is broken, the Who'll.
body feels the shock. Some of the tie
that have boundsus in the union of sympa
thy and love have been broken, Death
ruthless and stern, has invaded our Gem
munen ana left the sad tokens of his pres
ence. The infant, the middle-aged, AM
the old, have fallen. There are dark home
and desolate hearts in our faithful congre
cation. The voice of weeping has beer
heard; the drapeIy of orphanage and wild
Owhood is worn; pews are vacant in til
sanctuary; and voices that were once redo
lent with prayer and with praises are nov
silent and speeches..
The first ofthis sainted number to depar
was Mrs. Martha j. Roberts, who lived a
the western terminus of this street. Sh
made a profession of religion ant
joined this church, imm ediatelyn afte
the war. From that day to tn
time of her death ~ she lived 4