The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-09

The services at the First Presbyterian Church
were attended by large congregation, yesterday
morAing, to hear the pastor, Rev. NJ l.. Haines,
on "Providental Happenings" Gen. Harrison
was in his accustomed pew, accompanied by his
daughter and Mrs. Rebecca Strickle, of Dayton.
The discourse was based upon Ruth IL, 3. as
text: "And her hap was to light on part of the
field belonging unto Boaz" DIR. Hanes said
this set forth the presence OF divine interposi-
ton in all human undertakings in very strong
terms. Il was during harvest-time in southern
Palestine, he continued, when out from the gate
of the town of Bethlehem there came q woman
But few days before she and her mother-in-
law had reached the city, after sad journey,
for across the Jordan. over In Moab, were two
newly made graves. These women were Naomi
and Ruth. To their desolate grief was added
bitter poverty, and their presence now In
the fields was In accordance with the kind
custom that was then preyalens of allowing the
poor to come into the fields after the reapers
and binders and gather up the scattered hand
fuls of grain. Ruth Is in quandary as to
which field TO enter, but "her hap was to light
on part of that belonging to Boaz. This would
seem to be a mere chance, but the Scriptures
teach that 1t was more.
The Book Of Ruth is usually regarded, said
the preacher. q tale OF home life Of wondrous
simplicity and charm-a love story of exquisite
all the ages because it reveals the working OF
Divine providence. 1t shows how tina. wise and
holy providence OF the Heavenly Father includes
what are called the chance events OF life. Ruth's
entire life was changed by the hap that led her
into the felcs OF Boaz for there she met the
owner, he falls in love with her. makes her his
wife. she becomes the mother of Obed, who was
in turn the fathe; Of Jesse, and Jesse the
was thus brought into the royal
line whence Christ sprang. Chance is depend
emit upon the workings of God. Charles Oar
win said, am inclined to look at everything as
resulting from designed laws, with the details
lefs TO what we call chance" But Darwin's life
close would seem TO indicate more than the mere
result of the co-working OF tie unintelligeut
laws. and uncertain chances. The Bible idea
of Providence is very broad and deep. It includes
and recognizes the existence and workings Of
the great forces and laws of nature 1t includes
also the free actions o. moral beings.
The great error that the word of God has got
to meet with in our time is not so much a total
disbelief In Providence, but partial beliefs and
superstitious, distorted views concerning IT,
the mechanical or Deistical idea of providence
They believe IN Supreme being.
they believe He made the earth, but
they conceive of it as one mighty machine, regu-
lated by divine hand The practical result of
such belief is to put God very far back in the
worlds history. 1t is not entirely false but in
complete IL is shallow view that car ascribe
events solely to chance and leave out of view
Him who holds the winds and the waves in Hls
hand. Gods providence is by means incom-
patible in the existence of fixed laws. In His
providential government be accompishes His
designs by means of. and rot by incessant inter
ference with, tue laws of nature. Every event
is In reality providence, whetherit comes under
the operation of general laws or not. There
seems to be no logical stopping ground between
admitting that Jehovah has something to do with
the providential government of the world and
the belief that He exercises control over
everything in il.
The union services in the evening were not
largely attended on account Of the rain. Rev.
John BaltzIy preached an able sermon from
Matt. xii, IL: Then saith he to the man,
stretch forth thine hand"