Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-13
neither ear for prayer nor arm to save

sovereign disposer of all things" Mans
goiLgs are of the Lord" He putteth
down one and setteth up another" But if
we follow this line of thought to the ex-
clusion OF all others, we will soon be led
into fatalism. Yes, my friends, here is
where We doubt and wonder and become
mystitied. How much of God and how
much of man is in our doing, living efforts?
But we must be on our guard lest by pre-
Stunning that the hand OF Providence is
large enough to cover all possible emergen-
cies in human life, we may venture to re-
lax human effort and drift about. Let US
not forget that God made man with power
to choose, and that that very power 10
chose makes him one thing or the other,
and that 1t is the very process of building
his manhood up or tearing it down; and
mans freedom OF action is Just as conspicu-
GUS in scripture as the sovereignty of God.
God hardened Pharoah's heart" No.
God allowed Pharaoh to harden his own
heart, just as, from the constitution of our
nature, we can do the same thing to- day.
In st. Johns Gospel we read: mo man
can come unto me except the Father
draw him." Yet, in Revelation the same
Jesus appears to st. John and says, "Whoso-
ever will, let him come" Both facts are true,
Man can and God can. God responds to
mans effort. God influences and man must
respond to those influences 1t is for US to
recognize both causes, both sides and act
accordingly Just how it works we do not
know, but we know that with Divine
Sovereignty there is human responsibility,
and we believe the former includes the
latter. II is the sovereign will OF God that
mans will shall be free
You may ask what has this to do with a
proyidential shaping and controlling of the
affairs of this world? Very much, every
way 1t shows US first that in a certain
great measure every one is providence to
himself. In the second place it warns US
against lacking many of these providences
to the petty details of individual life and
action. And does God provide for US now?
Yes, but we can rest assured that Proyi-
dence will not do for US what we can do
for ourselves. Mans necessity is alone
Gods opportunity, and that too, more es-
pecially in moral and spiritual directions
Providence never was and never will be
sort of compromising power for impru-
dence, Ignorance, prodigality or laziness.
Heather or Christian, there is no differ
ence. THE drunkard and the glulton shall
come to poverty and drowsiness shall
clothe man in rags" Dear knows there
are many who do little enough of their part
now and would willingly let Providence do
the whole of it. But will not God provide?
Yes; but for whom? For the industrious,
the prudent, the thrifty, the good and
energetic! 1t is very easy to sing, I'm
some way or other the Lord will provide"
but He means at the same time our work
shall go with it
So, too, with a tinge of superstition many
are prone to ascribe events to mysterious
Providence, which upon little inyestiga-
ton can be shown to be reasonable and
natural A church gallery fell some
time ago, number fell with it, and
were killed or injured. 1t was the provi-
dence of God, said the solemn wiseacres.
But the carpenters said weak timbers
caused the disaster.
A malignant fever broke out some years
ago at q certain college. A noted minister
said it was the providence of God sent to
teach them humility and more thorough
conservation, but the doctor said it was de-
fective drainage. Let US not lay at the
door of Providence our own neglects or
ignorance. Providence is not disturbing
element in human life. 1t is but another
name for God providing the means and op
portunities acting as a regulator between
human trust and human industry and
effort.
And so many speak of the providences
Vi OOQ 6CllDS oDtCidl Caoto duu al
unexpected junctures, whereas it is unceas-
ing and general. A man hurries but
misses a train which on its journey runs
off the track and all on board are killed or
injured. What a proyidential miss"
Yes, but what of those who did not miss
it? Think you that God in his special
care of that one overlooked all the others
Let US try to grasp the idea of how God
works and how man can work with him.
Do you believe in special providence?
Yes, but let US be careful in saying which
is special and which is not SO. I'm him
we live and move and have our being"
That is enough for you and me. We
know that we are free to make ourselves,
yet that God is ever ready and willing to
help US. Mans course is briet and fitful;
Gods course is long and chaugeless. Man
provides for the individual; God provides
for the whole race of mankind. Man pro-
vides for a few years; God provides for
ages ard millenniums. What may ap-
pear to us as failures and disasters
may only be GIBBS and flows in the
tide of Gods great ocean of love and good
ness. We now see only a little arc in Gods
great cycle of existence, but after while
if we can grasp tive will see that
droughts and famines, storms and disas-
tiers IS we'll as the alternate rains and sun
shine that make the valleys laugh and
crown the hills with fairness, are embraced
10 the fostering care of Him who sees the
end from the beginning.
You may ask how can the existence of
so much evil in the world-the pains and
sutferings of man and beast-be compatible
with the love of such a one as Him of
whom you speak? Think of the long ago
when flood and flame in their seeming
work of death depopuiated and distigured
this world over and over again. Yet out
of it all this fair earth arose in its peerless
order ard beauty. God is not responsible
for existing evil, but even out of evil he
often good produces. But the end is not
yet. We are only on the verge OF the
wilderness, and as we stand on the green
sward we can turn our eyes Canaanward.
Perhaps in the long perspective and amid
the grand medley of lights and shadows
flash of its meaning may shine upon us.
II in the world of Nature the needs of
man were anticipated and provided for
ages before he came, may we not reason
ably presume that for coming generations
ample provision has been made for man
kind? And we have every reason for be-
lieving that the end will not be until these
supplies are exhausted. And we have
reason. too, for believing that lit will be
better farther on" for in Nature, as well as
in grace the divine movement is by grad
ual steps onward toward perfection. And
this assurance that the material necessities
are amply provided for is prophecy and
intimaticn of that larger love which has
made provision for the wants OF man
spiritual and immortal. My friends,
God SAYS sail things work together for good
to them that love Him." II will send my
angel before thee to keep thee in the wsy."
Thy pathway may seem crooked, perplex-
ing and mysterious; unknown dangers may
beset and new experiences await thee, but
"fear not, am with thee"
There are many things in connection
with the providence of God l do not grasp
4 cannot fathom. But why should |
wish to know them ? All the light l need
for my welfare, comfort and guidance is
given me The aim and purpose of God
in nature, in civilization, is clear and evil
dent. Will God be less wise, less loving
and benevolent in your life and my
life? God never works in vain-never
works aimlessly in material nature. Can
you net grasp his purpose in your creation
and existence, progress. growth, develop
ment mental, moral, spiritual? This
thought of Gods providence is to me some
thing vastly more than phllosophic n.y.
pothesis It brings before US the sublime
spectacle of an eternal and personal God
moving among men and holding the des-
TIMES Of nations and kingdoms; and in this
ovuard and rr0pressiye movement there is