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

St. Johns Church, october LIST, by Rev. ID.
Fl. Morrell, D. D., and is printed by re
quest:
he hath done all things wen," Mark,
1887.
This is the testimony that was given con-
corning Christ after He had opened the ears
of the deaf man and Embossed his tongue.
1t was the universal testimony concerning
the works of Jesus. Even his enemies,
whatever fault they found with his teach
ings, were compelled to confess that HIS
works were good He boldly challenged
their confidence and belief in Him on this
ground He pointed to them as the great
credentials of His divine character and mis-
sion. IF ye believe not me, believe the
works, for they bear witness of me-"
Well might He make this challenge, for
His works were those of benevolence and
mercy only. They were such as only Om-
impotence could perform. He healed the
incurable leper with touch of HIS finger
He opened the eyes of those who were
borne blind. He gave health and activity
10 the helpless paralytic. He even restored
the dead to life and turned the abode OF
mourning into a house of joy, and sent
and cheered and comforted thousands OF
hearts.
The records of these wonderful works are
remarkable for their simplicity. They are
given as plain matters of fact in the fewest
possible words, differing greatly in this re
spect from the legends of post-apos-
tolic times. They indulge in
no fulsome eulogies of Jesus
Christ as do the writers of later times in
respect to certain saints. For example, one
of these writers in speaking of st. Francis
makes use of the following extravagant
language:
''Oh how beautiful, how splendid, how
glorious he appeared in innocency of life,
IN simplicity of language; in purity of
heart, in delight in God, IN fraternal love,
IN odorous allegiance, IN complalscent
deyotedness, in angelic aspect, sweet
in manners, placid in nature, afable in
speech, prudent in counsel, efficient IN
action, serene in mind, gracious in all
things"
There is nothing of this extravagant
language in the apostolic records. The
simple and only statement aside from the
narration of the facts is, HE hath done ell
things well.
The great mistake that Strauss and Renan
and other skeptical writers have made Is
in failing to discriminate between the ex-
travagant legends of later times and the
apostolic records, but confoundlng them
and putting them upon the same level of
credlbihty, when, to any candid and intelli-
gent mind, there is an immense distance
between them. The great historical scholar
Neibuhr was strongly impressed with this
fact. He confesses the critical spirit with
which he came to the study of the New
Testament histories, and to the imperfec-
oI he Cd 70 HnA in
and this is his testimony after most
thorough investigation.
Here, as in every historical subject,
when l contemplated the unreasonable
gulf between the narrative and the facts
narrated, this disturbed me no further.
He whose earthly life and sorrows were
depicted, had for me a perfectly real ex-
istence and his whole history had the same
reality. Hence, also, the fundamental fact
Of miracles, which, according to my convic-
ton, must be conceded, unless we adopt the
most incomprehensible but absurd hypothe-
sis that the Hottest was deceiver and his
disciples, either dupes or liars, and the de-
ceivers had preached holy religion in
which sef-renunciation is everything, and
IN whith there is nothing acceptable to
vicious inclinations.
''As regards a miracle in the strictest
sense, it really only requires an unpreju-
diced, penetrating study of nature
to see that those related in
the gospels are as far as possible from alb
surdity and comparison with legends or
the pretended miracles of other religions, to
perceive by what different spirit they are
animated"
Such has been the conviction of the best
minds and profoundest scholars of all the
Christian ages, and but re-echoes the verdict
of the multitudes of Judea who were eye
witnesses of these mighty works. He hath
done all things we'll"
But our subject has wider range than
that of the personal miracles of Christ.
1he.text may be regarded as compre-
hending all the works and ways of God
1t is in this broader sense that desire at
this time more especially to consider 1t.
There are those who are tempted with
doubts and perplexities on this subject.
They cannot cordially unite in the sent-
melt of the text, but are inclined to spirit
of criticism and fault-fnding in reference
to the ways of God in His providence and
in His grace.
Certainly no complaints can be urged
against the works of God in nature.
The order, the beauty, the benefcenee,
the marvellous adaptations, the grand har-
mony running from the lowest up to the
highest scale of being and condition, from
the tiniest flower to the sturdy oak, from
the sand upon the sea shore to the snow
capped mountains, from the streamlet to
the ocean, embracing the world and systems
of worlds, sun moon and stars innumera-
BILE, all proclaim in silent but impressive
language the power, wisdom and goodness
of the Creator. All answer, in harmony
with the text, HE hath done all things
well"
The Psalmist echoes this sentiment when
he calls upon the fields and floods to clap
their hands and the hills to be joyful to-
gether before the Lord. Thou art clothed
with honor and majesty, who coverest thy
self with light as with a garment, who
stretchest out the heavens like a curtain,
who layeth the beams of his chambers in
the waters, who walketh upon the wings of
the wind, who maketh his angels spirits and
his ministers flaming fire."
But it is more especially with reference
to Gods Providence and grace that some
are tempted with doubts and perplexities.
That there are mysteries in the Provi-
dence of God as well as in His grace, all
must admit. Gas the heavens are higher
than the earth, SO are His ways higher than
our ways" We can not expect to compre-