Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-10-08

a very unfair basis upon which to judge of
the capacity and skill of the artist.
So, we are not to judge too rashly of
Gods works and ways while as yet we are
able to see only the imperfect outlines of
His plans and purposes which stretch away
through the centuries.
In the clear heights of eternity, where
we shall see not Through a glass darkly,"
but face to face" No doubt many things
that are obscure and mysterious, will then
be made plain.
''What do thou knowest not now, but
thou shalt know hereafter"
Let US learn to trust and wait.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain.
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain"
God works with plan as all intelligent
beings work, but it is vast plan, reaching
through the ages, far beyond our finite
comprehension.
He is building the grand arches of His
purposes across the centuries out of appar-
emily helpless disorder and confusion, bring
ing moral order out of moral chaas, bringing
hight out of darkness, constructing palaces
of moral beauty out of most unseenlly ma
terials, and building highway of holiness
through the wastes of human depravity,
and out of its very roughnesses, silently
but surely and constantly, amidst all the
din and tumult of this busy life.
Finally, whatever mysteries there be In
religion, whatever difficulties connected, in
our minds, with the ways of Gods Provi-
dence or grace, our duty is plain, and if we
follow the light as God gives us the light,
our salvation is secure, and all will be well
with us.
God has revealed to US His purposes OF
love and mercy in Jesus Christ, His
only son. He offers to us eternal
life through His son, out
of all the death and woe that sin has caused
Can any one complain of that +? He offers
freely, and without price, to cancel all past
guilt and transgressiOns- in other words, to
wipe out that account and accept us as His
children and make US heirs of eternal glory.
Can any one complain of that?
Can any sinner on the footstool look at
Calvary and the Cross and say that God has
not done all that loving Father could do
in order to save His children? And God is
working now for the salvation of men. He
is sending His word throughout the world,
which is quick and powerful and sharper
than two-edged sword.
| He is sending His Holy Spirit
| into mems hearts in orQer to show them
their sins and their need of Saviour. He
is working to-day in your heart and in
mine, and tens of thousands Of hearts by
His word and Spirit, and by many silent
and unseen influences III order to draw
them closer to himself, in order that they
may have rest and peace. Religion is
Gods work in the soul And He who
hath begun good work in you will per-
form it until the day of Jesus Christ"
He will perfect it by His grace.
And when, from the battlements of Clio
ry, the ransomed soul shall look back with
unclouded vision over the past, with all its
failures, its temptations and trials he
will not only be able but COM
PEELED to say He hath done all things
we'll" Mine were the mistakes not His.
Mine were the murmurings and the doubt
lngs and the wanderings. His the loving
kindnesses and tender mercies. His way
was the best, although He often led me
"by way / knew not" still it was the best,
for it led me from sin to holiness; it led
me from pride to humility from ignorance
to knowledge; from darkness to light; from
weakness to strength. 1t led me from de
feat to victory. 1t led me from doubt and
fear into His perfect trust and perfect love.
1t led me from the cross to the crown
From the shadows and tears of earth, up
to the light and glory of heaven.
" He hath done all things well"