Morning journal and courier., 1888-06-18
FIRST CHURCH, rAlR HAVEN.

Rev. pr. Burdest Hart Yesterday
 Morning.
 Rev. Dr. Hart delivered sermon at the First church yesterday morning from Job 37:23: Touching the Almighty. He Is excellent in plenty and justice. The discourse was listened to by large con gregation and was entitled: tsThe excellence of the divine justice"
 Dr. Harts opening remarks were in refer ence to the downfall of ancient Greece from it's highest pinnacle of glory, which occurred when the administration of justice weakened and fell from the high standard which prevailed during the existence of the sublime Areopagus. When, men would ask for that which they prize most among their fellow men they ask for justice, and wrongs of injustice are not easily silensed. Some men have been surnamed 'tthe great" but when the Athenians would
 most honor Aristotle they surnamed him ttthe just" Justice is the parent of many virtues. It does not stand s1one. He who is thoroughly upright copaznands respect and esteem. It will overthrow the conspiracies of the powers of darkness, though they may for while prosper.
 It is excellent in God. It is an attribute that goes to make him the lovely being that he is What should we think of one at the head of the universe who had no sense of justice and no disposition to secure its endsa We should feel that the universe were in un- safe hands. We should tremble, at the thought of woes that might sweep over the world. It gives us sense of security and repose that our God is God of justice. We rank this attribute among the first that in- here in his nature. Even those who now dread the justice of God would dread the in justice of . caaleyolent being more. It isa comfort that with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity. Justice is an attribute essential to the com plete revelation of God. All who acknowl- edge that there is God recognize his power, wisdom, goodness, truth, mercy, everything | but his justice. This quality some men deny 1 to God. If they don't deny it they degrade l it. But why? Suppose that he were not just; suppose that he were either indifferent to right and wrong, or were wholly unjust Would he then be such being that his sub- iects would trust him and love him? Would even the unholy have any assurance that they would not be treated worse than deserve Would it that to promote order that all ! moral distinctions might be obiiterated at any time? Would not the power of God be- come terrible attribute, because 1t might be yielded for the subversion of the rights His | indifference to what is just would suggest and breed distrust and disaster.
 God is revealed to us as the king of the universe, as the judge of men. It was dis- honor to him to omit the quality of justice \ in any estimate of his character, in any esti- mate of his perfection, It was kingly con clusion uttered by king: He that ruleth men must be just"
 The first excellence in a judge is that he be | just We admire the passage in the life of Aristides in which, when he was just in a certain case and the accuser.began to tell oi | the wrongs the accused had done to Aristides, \ he interrupted him with the remark "Tell oi | the wrongs he has done you; for sit here to dispense justice to you and not to myself It is the glory of God as ruler and judge that
 he is infinitely just; that he administers his government with no respect of persons and with an undertaking regard to the principles | of eauity <
 Justice ministers to the greatest happiness of Gods subjects. It is source of comfort
 to every subject of human government that
 he is under dispensation of law and of jus tice. It must be so to subjects of the divine government. We have had nothing to feal except for ourselves. If we are right al | will be right. If we maintain the law ths law will maintain us, it will stand for us
 none of it's threatenings will be leveled agains us. It will be our palladium. We can re pose secretly under it. Therefore, thu
 ills of life. if such there be; therefore, tn'
 woes of the soul, if such there be, are com
 pensated for by the repose which we ever
 find in faith of God
 God is just. He has issued & just law harmonious with his character as an au- thoritative guide to men. Inasmuch as they have all broken their law, he has graciously devised, if we may say, plan of salvation
 while yet the law is sustained. Now if the,
 reject this plan, if they will not be savet
 through Christ, if they prefer to stand or ! the old base of the law, it only remains tha judgment shall be given by the law. It de mands perfect obedience. It imposes deatl
 as the penalty of sin. The law with it's an
 nounced penalty, God as a just God must b. sustained. The unbeliever in Christ mus
 therefore meet the penalty. There is no re
 course. Divine justice demy
 the punishment of the gufffy It will iahict upon no one nor
 than he deserves. Men feel, they wish t'
 feel, that they are to meet God of mercy
 They are to meet God of justice. Ever,
 day now they are meeting God of mercy
 With the tenderest solicitude he offers then
 salvation purchased at an infinite price. Blu
 Christ's great atonement is for our worlC
 only. Not solitary proof is there in nature
 in reason, in scripture that the Saviour offer
 his mediations beyond this world. They wht
 are not saved in this life go away into eterna l punishment.