Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-01-08
@eaaiua fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
Original.l
THE Purpose,

REV. Ro BERI LAIaAN.
Orlginal.l
THE PURPOSE.
Long ago, it was regarded as the part of a
fool not to think. At present it is charac-
teristic of fool not to think; and it will
ever be characteristic of all fools that they
do not think. Fools have no end in view
no purpose to accomplishment they effect
nothing that is of any real value, either for
themselves or any one else. When, then,
we contemplate the vast machinery of the
universe we are forced to inquire why, or
for what purpose was all this brought into
existence, or why is it preserved in being?
If we admit that God is it's maker and pre-
server we may we'll ask: What did God
have in view when he brought all this
mighty fabric into being and for what pur-
pose does he stretch out over it his protect
ing hand? Why was man brought into
being, and why is this earth peopled with
SO many human beings? Or, we may sum
up all the parts into one grand whole, and
ask the question, what end is it proposed to
accomplish by all this?
Shall we say God had no purpose in Great
ing and that he has no purpose in preserv-
ing? This would be to regard the Maker
and Preserver of all things as q veritable
fool. Surely God had some purpose in view
when he created the world and all that it
contains. Surely he has some purpose to
accomplish in preserving all things in exist
ence. 1t cannot be otherwise; and to con-
clude otherwise would be not only to charge
God foolishly, but to- stultify ourselves.
In every part of creation, and in all the
events of providence, there are some mani
festations of design. 1t is not claimed that
these manifestations are SO clear that in ev-
cry part of creation, and in every event Of
providence, they are discovered by simple
inspection. Still there are evidences of a
purpose in creation and providence, which
force themselves upon us.
Itis manifest, from the acts of men gen.
orally, that the feWest number ever Sc
riously ask themselves the question, "For
what was I made?" 1t lis also manifest that
the great mass of the human family have
practically concluded that they were made
for purposes utterly unworthy of their Ma
ker. No sensible being can be induced, by
any amount of arguments, to believe that
God had no other purpose in creating and
preserving men than that which the mass of
mankind are apparently attempting to ac-
complish. Who can believe that God made
and preserves any being for no other pur-
pose except that the individual might graf
ify his bestial appetites for few years and
can believe that God had no other view in
creating any member Of the human family
except that the Individual might toll night
and day, on the battlefield or in the forum,
to win fame which is as unreal as a shad-
OW? Who can believe that God created
any man for no other purpose than to hoard
up wealth, which the hoarder himself
knows, from the experience of hundreds of
generations, and from his own observation,
will dissolve like a morning vapor into
nothing? .
It is most evident to the rejecting mind
that the object which God had in view in
creating all things, was his own glory. The
same is true with regard to his providen-
tial care. For his own glory he extends his
preserving power to all his creatures-to
the least as we'll as the greatest-to the ant
that the careless traveller crushes with his
foot, as we'll as to man created in his own
image. BY him were all things created !;
and for him were all things created.
Again, it may be asked, What was the
purpose for which God sent his Son into the
world, and the Son was sent by the Father ?
The answer comes, loud and prompt, by
thousands of selfish souls, "to save sinners" ]"
That is true; but the saving of sinners by
the death of Jesus Christ was not the main
purpose for which Jesus died. 1t was the
means chosen in infinite wisdom to accom-
plish the purpose which God had in view in
sending his Son into the world.
The purpose which God had in view
in devising, executing and applying the
scheme of salvation was, in the language of
Paul, the "praise of his glory" Eph. II.
So far as sinners are concerned their saliva
tion is great and glorious thing; but it is
not to be compared to the glory of God.
Peace on earth and good will toward men
on the part of God are more to be desired
than gold; yea, than much fine gold; but
they are things second in Importance to the
glory of God.
o The chief end of man is the glory of God.
For this God made us, and for nothing else.
For the glory of God, and for nothing else,
Jesus died and rose again. Enjoying God
forever flows from glorifying God with GER
tainty which cannot fail.
On the other hand, God cannot be enjoyed,
either in this world or in the world that is
to come, unless he is gloritied here on earth.
Christ glorified God the Father in that he
obeyed, suffered and died in the stead Of
sinners. Christ glorified his father by tax
ing upon himself human nature, and this
the Father declared when he announced
him as his well-beloved Son in whom he
was we'll pleased. Christ gloritied his father
by all that he said, by all that he did, and
by ali that he suffered.
The only way that is open for us to heaven
is by clarifying God, and the only way that
we can glorify God is by believing on Jesus
Christ.
The only reason that any of us will fail to
enjoy God forever is that we will refuse or
neglect to glorify God through Jesus Christ
his Son.