Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-15
&eadiug fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
COriginal.l
GODS PROVIDENCE.

[origInal.l
GODS PROVIDENCE.
The word providence is derived from two
Latin words, pro and videre. Pro means be-
fore, and videre means to see. Hence, provi-
deere means to see before, and providence means
foresight. "By Gods providence" is meant
his holy, wise ndpowerfpl government, which
he exercises over all his creatures and all their
actions.
Scarcely any one will deny that God exer
cises some control over his creatures but
there are some persons who limit the govern
ment of God. They restrict the providence of
God. His foresight, say they, is partial. For
some things he makes provision, and for 9TH
ers he makes no provision. Over some things
he exercises control but over others he exer
cises no control 1t is useless to attempt the
settlement of this important question in any
other way but by direct appeal to the Scrip
lures. With regard to the providence Of God,
the Scriptures teach that it is particular and
universal. In other words, it extends to the
most minute events taken singly, and to all
things taken as whole.
To prove this, we appeal to the Scriptures
themselves. "Whatever the Lord pleased,
that did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas,
and in all deep places. He causeth the vapors
to ascend from the ends of the earth he
maketh ightnings for the rain he bringeth
the wind out of his treasures. Who covereth
the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rainfor
the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the
mountains. He giveth to the beast his food
and the young ravens which cry. He sendeth
forth his commandment upon earth his word
runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like
wool; he scattereth the hOar-frost like ashes
He casteth forth his ice like morsels; who can
stand before his cold2 He sendeth out his
word and melteth them he causeth his wind
to blow, and the waters to flow" Psalm, 1876.
'I,.' says God, "form the light, and create
darkness make peace and create evil; I,
the Lord, do these things" Is, 45:7. care
not two sparrows sold for farthing and not
one of them shall fall on the ground without
your Father. But the very hairs of your head
are numbered" Mat, 1929, 80. These quo
tations, we think, show conclusively that Gods
providence is universal in that it extends to all
things, and particularly, in that it extends to
the minutie of everything.
The scriptures teach that God provides for
the wants of his creatures. The following
texts may be cited to prove this position:
Psalm 104 ''He causeth the grass to grow
for the cattle herbs for the service of man
that he may bring forth fruit out of the earth.
The young lions roar after their prey, and
seek their meat from God. These wait upon
thee, that thou mayest give them their meat
in due season. That thou givest them, .tley
gather thou openest thy hand and they are
filled with good" Matthew ssHe maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain Of the just and unjust. Be-
hold the foYss~ of the air for they sow not,
neither-ao they reap nor gather into barns
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them"
From these quotations we are forced to con-
clude that the Scriptures teach US that God
opens his hand and out Of his great liberality
supplies the wants Of everything that liveth.
He causes the seed to germinate in the earth,
and he molifies the earth with showers, caus-
ing it to bring forth bread for the eater and
seed for the sower.
In addition to this, the Scriptures teach that
God, as God of providence, exercises con-
trolling influence over the hearts of all men.
"The preparation of the heart in man and
the answer of the tongue is from the Lord"
Proverbs, 1911. 'The Lord opened the heart
of Lydia and she attended unto the things
which were spoken by Paul" Acts, 16: a.
"And he stirred up the spirits of the Kings of
Assyria to punish the Reubenites and the
Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on ac-
count of their idolatry." Ch., 5 :26. 1t is
no difficult task to prove by direct quotations
from the Scriptures that God extends his prov
idential care and government to all things
He made all things, and in him all things live
and move and have their being. 1t is mani
fest that in his providential government, God
makes all things work together for the ad-
vancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In
spite of all opposition, the gospel of Jesus
will triumph. He who opposes it, is des-
tined to be broken in pieces. The fact that
the Lord will provide, is full of comfort to
the heart but it is very difficult for most per-
sons to accept this Bible-taught truth.