Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-14
the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[OrlglnaI.J
MYSTERIOUS PROvIDENCEs.

GOQ mas revealed nlluSell W US Ill lIio
works and in his word. The works of God
are, usually, spoken Of as works OF crea-
ton and providence. The Bible teaches
US that God made all things out Of moth
ing, in the space Of six days. We learn,
from the same source, that the object
which God had in creating all things was
his own glory. If what the Bible teaches
concerning creation is not true, we KNOW,
and can know, absolutely nothing about
creation. It is folly to tell us that the
rocks and strata of the earth contradict
the Bible theory of creation. The rocks
and strata of the earth literally declare
thew were made and that their maker is
divine, but they are as silent as the grave
as to the time and manner of their crea-
ton. They teach no theory of creation.
The providence of God is that holy, wise
and preserving care and government
which he exercises over all his creatures,
and over all their actions. 1t is as evident
that God governs the world asst is that ne
made it. Those who deny that God made
the world may, consistently with them
selves, deny that he governs it. If the
world made itself, it certainly is able to
govern itself. The idea, however, of a
thing making itself is too absurd to be en-
tertained by a sane mind. Nothing can
be clearer than that all things are preserv-
ed in existence and governed bysome one.
We say, loosely, that all things are gov
erned BY law. This is true, but the exist
ence Of a law presupposes a law glver.
Law, whether it means a rule OF action,
or an order of sequence, must be estao-
lished. A rule of action has to be made
rule of action ; an order of sequence must
be established-it cannot establish Itself.
Trees grow out of the ground, rain falls
out of the clouds, heat and moisture cause
vegetables to grow. This, we say, IS the
law of nature, and so it is but VINO maze
this law of nature? Who controls that
thing we call the vital principle? Who
moves the winds that bear along the va
pors, which fall upon the earth, causing it
to bring forth food for man n beast :
God and God alone does these things. 1t
rains where and when he pleases. God
manages as he sees fit, all things.
Properly contemplated the providence
of God is calculated to beget within us
feelings of the most profound reverence.
There is something about all the provl-
dences of God which is dark and myste.
rious. These mysterious ~providences OF
God give US a clear and unmistakable dis
play of his sovereignty, and Gods sover-
eighty, properly contemplated, humbles us
in the very dust. 1t makes us feel our aD-
solute littleness.
We say, and say correctly, that God
works with means, or in the use OF means,
and without means. Thus he opens his
hand and supplies the wants of every thing
that lives. The young ravens cry unto
him, and he sends them food. The eyes OF
all things look up to him. In providing
food for his creatures he uses means. He
uses the strength of the horse and mule,
and the skill and experience of man IN
c%ultivating the soil. He waters the earth
with showers and he causes the SEED 10
vegetate and the plant to grow. Some
times God acts, and acts most promptly
and powerfully, and we can see no means.
The tree grows, but we know not now.
Our material bodies are affected by our
immaterial souls, and our lmmaterlal
souls are affected by our material bodies,
but how VIC do not know. All tina we
know about the growth of a tree or the
growth of our bodies, or the development
of our minds, is the fact. The vital prin-
ciple, as we call it, acts most powerfully
and promptly in both the animal and the
vegetable, but how it acts, or what 1T is,
we do not know. The physician tells us,
and probably correctly, that calomel acts
on the liver but calomel will not act on
the liver of a dead man. Tartar emetlc
vomits, but it will not v0mit a dead man.
These mysterious ~providences come un-
der our observation every day, and we, IN
almost every instance, lose sight or the
mystery. Strange things are seen by US
so often, that they become common. we
often conclude that we really underStand
what we know nothing at all about. All
Gods ways are mysterious. There IS a
law which underlies every event, but this
law the wisest philosopher can no more
discover than the newborn babe. 1t is
the invisible but o%mnipotent hand of AL
mighty God. We see what is done, but ne
who did it is unseen, andthe way in which
it was done is past finding out. We gath
err up a few Of the detached facts and hastl.
ly come to the conclusion we understand
the why'and the wherefore of everything
Many of Gods providences are SO dark
and mysterious that they seem to contra
dict all our ideas of his nature. They
seem to stand in terrible opposition to the
teachings Of his word, and to be in conflict
with his holy character. SO marvellous
are these providenceS that we are struck
with dumbness. We can reason respect
ing these dark providences neither from
experience nor observation. They are
new exhibitions of Gods sovereignty, and
fill us with indescribable feelings. Exam
pies of these dark and mysterious provi-
dences may be found in great numbers in
the Bible. So dark and mysterious were
Gods dealings with Jacob that he said
hastily, "All these are against me-"
Viewed from a human stand point they
did appear to be against the patriarch.
The famine wasin the land, his household
was clamoring for bread, and his sons were
involving him in heart-rendlng trouble
How often have Others been similarly sur
rounded. Troubles have come upon them
from all quarters. They too have felt that
all the ~providential dealings of God are
against them. Another example may be
found in Job. In one moment this man,
prominent for his wealth, and illustrious
for his wisdom and piety, is brought down
to poverty. His children all come to a
tragical end, and he himself is covered
with boils. In the depth Of his poverty,
and in the anguish of his heart, and in the
! bitterness of his bodily pain, he sits down
in ashes and scrapes himself with a pot
sherd. TO heighten, if possible, the agony
of his bleeding heart and increase the
%poignancy of his bodily pain, his three
friends rebuking him, trace all his misery
to his want OF trust III YOU. lHcAc thlee
friends described, with great accuracy, the
way of the wicked, and then made the APP
p~lication to Job.
We needno t go back to patriarchal times
to find examples of the mysterious provi-
dences of God. They can be found now,
and in every Christian community: To-
day, as long ago, the wicked flourish like
the green bay tree they are not troubled
as many of Gods people are, they have
more than their hearts desire, their eyes
stick out with fat, they have no bands in
their death. On the other hand, the most
! devoutly pious, SO far as human discern,
ment reaches, are often the sons and