Telegram-herald., 1886-07-19
AN ABLE SERMON
b. the Rev. Kerr E. Topper Of
the EOuntaln-Sr Church
Ist PUNISHMENT 0F giIl 00EA.
Ire peal.Y u V.iHsa La~ "ai
S-rsif os e. c-le- Ias P-nish-
msH 14f - Se@ 14t t
uHl ps S4rs

LIl NlrI- IlrE E.lUleL .IeUt -i8H -lt
sure sas ile subject oi Rev Aerr 3.
rappers serHoa az tle Fountain s- Bap-
T u-l Church yesterday m1ralng For bis
Z te.l BE- selected Eee.e-ia-l1s yil ll Be
cause sentence AGAINST sn evil Wofk IS nog
( szeel.ei speedily therefore che 1earl oi The
T saus of men is hlily SEQ in tlem GO 90 evil.
I he spoke as olloNs
These eori. sussest for oar consideration
i three lllnEs al laQ4lrg facr
al inference TIE inquiry is SHY does
l God delay rle penalty of violated lAat HE
i -scl ls. man ples4mes upon Inls delay %
I 90 ou in slu- The lnt-Feuce IS, though TIE
7 penalty be- delayed. it eiu certainly be eK-
[ vcufel. Each VI these presents Is al inter
/ esllnE theme snd combined tile inquiry.
i the TACT aul the inference teach rs lessons
[ that are greatly needed ~ this day " ours,
I when il CHINA the opium trade Is receiving
/ a new Impetus. lu Ireland civil w.r y sadly
+ Imminent AMI iu our oNn fair land Auar-
I cnisls ana Socialists. the ignorant and the
F lnteuperale dell the laH and seem 20 10
/ uupQnlsled- Because sentence and evil.
[ How true tnat Is today Just as IN the days
0f solomon 2. 500 years ago.
Bat more directly % our subject. First
/ a. 10 the inquiry. " bv God DELAYS the pen
atty OF His violated law" Negatively, lee me
aas not been decided upon. Ia the divine
Iuind the exact character of every action Is
lKed and the exact degree Of all outlines
perceived. and the exact penalty of every
/ 9tieuse j. determined. This must be 50 II
God is both 0mniscient and OmnlpOtent.
/ Ilis must be 50 ID God Is a God II absolute
perfection. Absolute perfection knows no
/ Limitations. either Of knowledge or time,
therefore with Jehovah there is no future
/ and 40 resolution nov uniformed. We
await. with almost breathless anxiety, the
result OF the great trial DOw ln chicago
| We ask ourselves. VIII Spies and Parsons
and Neebe and Fiedeu 90 free, or Will they
| be sentenced Co the penitentlary for life or
viii their Improbable and dangerous hives
bc cut OIL No one knows The jury have
not decided Not 40 with the Judge OF all
the earth. His sentence, it Is true, Is not
speedily executed. Dat 10 IS announced
( In general terms the nature OF every human
offen.e and the character Of the meTited
punishment are published, by the Judge, IN
His Word: and the judgement day will
s | only reveal TO man that which God clearly
knOws-that which for ages has revolved in
HIS eternal, omniscient, infalli0le mind.
Sentence Is not speedily executed but
| not because that sentence has not been an
% | nOunced. lt Is announced here, and heav-
+ en- and earth shall pass away but not one
4 1t or title Of the law shall fail 70 be tut
| hiled.
Nor is il. secondly. because God is indif-
erent 10 His law and 10 the conduct of man.
}. His connection with His government IS
Glore intimate than Gladstone's with the
Kingdom Of Britain-His regard for HIS
law deeper and truer than that ever felt by
earthly Judge for the laws of his common
wealth. The latter's relation Is merely Of
u sicial: the formers is personal. The inter
:. est the reputation. the well-bel ~
- as
upon His fidelity in the min-
islration of justice; 0nt the very being
of the other-His very existence and life 1,
r involved The earthly judge has merely to
{. preserve the integrity OF the State, the other
u the integrity Of His nature. While, then
e God loves HimSeif-nOt 10 say aught OF His
4 government and laws-while He love:
4 Himself He must be intensely concerned
4 M human actions and must award the same
" with utmost fidelity and most rigid justice
e sentence is not speedily executed but
r. not because Of any indifference IN the
!. Judge.
Why. then. this delay" we ask. Three
answers suggest themselves. With Coo
there IS no need of speedy execution
Among men there is danger OF the prison
. ers escape But not SO with God. Sen
tence is not speedily executed '-because
Z with God is no haste. "One day with tn,
e Lord is as 000 years, aud 900 years a.
one day.
Fourth-By this delay men may be Led
+, to repentance. The slow execution of The
: penalty affords the opportunity of turning
! from sin and death 1T Is appointed unto
= men once % die and after that the Judg
I, ment Marx the phraseology after
I that" The Judgment virtually follows
= | Immediately upon the death As the tree
falls 80 eternally il lies. In the grave j:
no repentance-beyOnd the grave is n,
reformation he that is unjust, righteous
filthy and holy. Therefore, God, in infnit,
mercv averts the sentence OF His law. HI
y would give time for the operation of th'
"a scheme of salvation. He would have th'
Holy Spirit 20 forth and work upOr
human heart He would labor through
u His ministry and providence. he wOulC
give room % every possible means f0r th'
y reclamation Of the lost. he would have
2 His very delay % awaken the disposition
- 10 repentance. lie would startle men {,
y / thiuk-tO raise such questions as these
p WHY i not the threat executed? Why al
p ! this Gospel and Ordinances-this Opel
s Bible. feryent prayers, anxious entreaties
severe iufancfions-ail this wOndrOus dis
plag Of Infinite grace tie would have
tbem penetrated by deep sense OF shei
K guilt % hard must be your heart au,
= nerve. brother II in face Of All God good
< ness and our guilt. ve have not rent th
air wifh the cry Of David.
"A last reason for the DELAY.
II Fifh--Sen-e = not speedily executed for th
r benefit - people of God. Many are spare
lt .oug wbo never repent. AMI Who. lo'
be- knows. will never repent Bar If they 9ii
i- not accept COOL themselves Cod Vili maxi
them al east the unconscious instruments
Of zrod e. Others Christian labor with tn
imaeni-enf expands che --aces ~ the spirit
.f TIE trouois and persecution ~ larist tend
s tn Increase of humility and patience. 4h'