The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-29
For the Central Presbyterian.
Gods Thoughts.
BY REV. ROBERT P KERR.


The Psalmist says: "How precious
also are Thy thoughts unto me; how
great is the sum of theml"
Away back in eternity, before the crea-
tive epoch began, God mind was active
and must have been always Upon what
grand subjects was it engaged? is an in
teresting question we can never answer.
God is trinity, and there could have
been no loneliness in the intercourse of
the co-equal members of that splendid
royal family. But at the eternally APP
pointed period, this thought was ex-
pressed, Let as make man" Long be-
fore that, however, another idea had
evolved from the eternal intellect-Let
US make angels These heavenly spirits
came flying as winged thoughts up from
the unfathomed depths of the infinite
mind. They were thoughts Of God. Then
came thoughts of God, materialised, when
the universe was born The stars and
planets marched in grand procession out
into space. We see an engine, ship, a
bridge, statue, or painting, and dis
Germ in them the genius of great minds
They are their thoughts. They were
studied out by painful industry But
Gods thinking is free, and infinitely orig
inal; Just as when master musician sits
down to an organ, improvising; the har-
monious strains pour in unfailing fresh
ness, and melody from the instrument.
1t is the power of invention. The
thoughts of his mind pour from the organ
pipes in glorious harmony. Gods crea-
tons we must believe are an endless i'm
provisation. For we never see His works
repeat themselves. No two stars, or
men, or leaves alike. Nature and provi-
dence are the improvisation of an endless,
an infinite originality. Every meteor
that flames across the sky, is thought
of God. Every beautiful field; every
lovely landscape; every sunbeam; every
tempest; our life; our death; are all
thoughts of God. How great is the
sum of theml'
But so far as God has revealed His
thoughts to US, the grandest of them all
is-Redemption. All creation, and pro-
violence before, seems to have been so far
as this universe is concerned, but the
prelude of this sublime revelation. 1t
existed in God s mind from the beginning,
but was unfolded on calvary. In crea-
ton and providence we saw Gods power,
His wisdom, and His goodness, mani
tested; but in the sacrifice of the Son,
God opens His heart, and tells all His
creatures to look into the 8anctunu sane
forum of His being, and behold His
mercy.
We shall never know the fullness and
grandeur Of this one of Gods thoughts
until we see Him as He is until the
veil is lifted, and death, the liberator,
sets us free from sin. Then shall it flash
upon us in all the splendid glory of the
infinite God, as a new discovery.
Well what Of all this to the soul ?
There is here an inexbaustible mine Of
comfort and strength, for this God who
has such sublime thoughts, thinks Of us
He thinks Of thee, fellow-toiler, in all thy
cares, disappointments, and tears Hl
thinks of thee Thou art myself one oil
Gods thoughts All thine experience, is
but the evolution Of His HoughtfuJuess
and love. IF we can but appreciate this
and have constant consciousness of it
our doubts would vanish, our burdens
would grow light, and over our Joys
would come food Of glory; for they are
all Gods thoughts concerning us-Hi'
children.