The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-08
AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW.

A Belief i'm the Absolute and Perfect Gov
eminent of Coda Theory Which the
Infidel Can Not Have, and the Christian
Should Never Be without.
even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight" said the great
Teacher of mankind at the conclusion of
one of His addresses to God the Father,
On another occasion, when over
whelmed with the terrible anguish of
Gethsemane, and praying, with
strong crying and tears" He said: mot
My will, but Thine be done He taught
the world in the Lords Prayer to say:
'"Thy will be done in earth as it is in
Heaven" Paul says: ''And we know
that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to His purpose. "
These utterances, like many others in
the Bible, assume that the will of God,
as expressed in His moral and provi-
Dental government, is absolutely per-
feet.
The highest and best reason of the
race affirms that there is a God of inf
mite power, wisdom, goodness, holiness,
Justice and truth, who is not only the
Creator of all things, but also the
Supreme Ruler of this world and of all
worlds, and over all beings and events.
The Bible teaches the existence and
government Of such God, and reason,
when in its sober senses, never sees any
occasion to dissent from the truth of
the teaching. So far from denying the
doctrine, or wishing that it was other
wise, it rejoices in the truth, and is
ever ready to say with Jesus: Gwen
so, Father, for so it seemed good in
Thy sight" 1t is the fool that saith in
his heart: There is no God" The
fact that God either does thing Him
self or commands it to be done by
others, is the best of all possible
reasons for believing it to be right and
the best thing to be done. We may not
always understand hO1O it is right and
best; and in order to have this faith, it
is not necessary that we should have
this understanding. 1t is enough to be-
lieve that God knows what is best, and
trust His knowledge where ours fails.
The revelations and assurances of His
Word furnish an ample basis for such
trust at all times and in respect to all
events, even if the processes and work
ings of His providence seem to us mvs-
FERROUS and apparently adverse. No
n tho dot lie of hic life
ever knows beforehand what is really
best for him; and no one is competent
to say in respect to this or that event
that it was a mistake and that differ
ent event would have been wiser and
better, either for himself or the world.
The providence of God is too large and
complicated a scheme for mans full
comprehension, especially for his criti-
cism. 1t is not supposable that infinite
knowledge and infinite goodness should
ever make any mistakes, or need any
apology for what they appoint or per-
nit.
The best philosophy for the soul is,
then, that devout optimism of thought
and feeling which cheerfully accepts all
the appointments of Gods providence
whether in themselves pleasant or pain
full, in the firm belief that they are all
wisely and well made, and admit of no
Improvement. Such optimism believes
in the absolute and perfect government
of God, as a fundamental postulate, and
that under this government all things
are well ordered, alike in reference to
the glory of God and the good OF His
moral creatures. The great apostle to
the Gentiles was evidently a Christian
optimist, and hence in respect to him
self he was, as he declares, content in
whatever situation he might be placed.
1t was enough for him to believe that
all things were moving forward in sub
ordination to, and conformity with, the
plan of that great and good Being who
sits on the throne of providence, and
rules this world according to the coun-
sci of His own will, without any mis-
take, without any surprise or disap-
pointment by their course of events,
and without any after-thoughts by way
of correction. His life in the outward
sense was full of tempests and cross
winds; yet, from the day of his CONVEX
sion to his last breath on earth, that life
was one Of serene and mistaken conf
dence in the God who presides over all
things. He was perfectly satisfied to
have God at the helm. We never hear
any murmuring from his lips. His faith
rose too high and was too strong for
such marks of human weakness. He
was "strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might"
One, in order to be a truly happy
man, needs to be an optimist in the
Pauline and Christian sense. The man
who is constantly snarling at events,