New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-14
STAGES OF REDEMPTION
DIR. BRIGGS SAYS THERE ARE THREE
THE PURPOSE OF GOD. THAT ALL THINGS -uoua

THE PURPOSE OF GOD THAT ALL THINGS rHoua
WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
| Professor Charles a. Briggs preached y.str,
morning at Association Hall TO a oongregata VIII.
thronged the place beyond even standing room M,
services were simple and conducted by DR. Ry,n
alone. The text proper was from Romans vim, AZ,
| "Moreover, whom lie did predestnate. them Ne Ala
called and whom lie called, them lie also lususs.
and whom lie justified, them lie also glonaes., /,
order that a clearer understanding OF the seoOe n
reasoning might be had. the preacher rad tbs two ~
| ceding verses: "And know that all thlnu yo,t
together for good to them that love God 10 then "A,
called according ~ His purpose. For whom lie a
foreknow He also did predesunate TO be CONFIRMED %
the image Of Ills Son.
"This passage said DIR. Briggs sets beton \,
clearly the fact that God has purpose and VIVA, NJ,
purpose is. 1t is that all things shall work tosus,
for good. 1t shows that God not only foresnOxs ha
| that lie foreknows something definite, Who arr ,Aox
for whom In the purposes OF God everything Is ~ xors
together for good II is first stated that thy an
those who love God, and In the second place nsz
who are called. Here We have the doctrine u ealing
Certainly no one can go 10 God and enjoy ass
blessings unless God calls him. Now. as to the ps
SONS to be called. We must go TO other passsses q
Scriptures for light on that subject St. John aysi
For God SO loved the world that He gave HIS oLy
begotten Son that wh0socver beieveth In Him SIOUX
not perish, but have everlasting lte.' Here Ne q.
cover that the love Of God taxes In the whole vxA
and not classes. The love OF God 10
coextensive with our entire universe. ni
the only condition for the recipiency d
Divine grace is faith In the Lord Jesus Christ. Tae
fore we can see that all those who believe In God ard
love Him win receive the blessings which God fore
| ordains.
"The grace OF God not confined 10 Judaism o.
Christianity, but extended all over the world. Jonr
says the light OF the eternal God shines for every
| We are told that God will not quench dim wick
sever entirely broken reed that may have been over
run and crushed down by the wild beasts And ~ le
| will lift man up and heal him. Gods purposes Of
| redemption with reference 10 man ere vastly moro
comprehensive than many imagine. He nnds me where
| man fails to see 1t. lie sees something uat ne oa
erect into God-like life where We do not see It,
There are three different stages OF redemption ne
first Is that all things work together for good uN
ond is that We are to he conformed 10 the image
Son. the third Is that we shall be glorited. We ns
! that the welfare OF man Is eondiuohed upon w
number OF complex relations. II depends upon G
birth. upon our parents, what our inheritance fOa
ancestors may have been. the circumstances and W
roundings OF childhood calling In life. our sssis
TONS the married relations into which We have ensae
All these things bear upon us to influence our iva
In the conventional complex relations OF modern No
men are but a. chips on the bosom OF mghv h'a
flowing onward to the sea.
There are only few men who can breast tho uss
and resist the current Even the greatest oil men
our times like Bismarck and Gladstone, are cast %sH
by the caprices OF monarch the iancies OF pOpa
| majority. Now all these things which are WofSNs
together are independent OF us. How shall We Ano'
/ whether we shall receive good or harm! II IS Sns
when we reach beyond this life into the future NE
the goal set before US, that shall see that al un"
work together for good our life Is an educauon f1
| the cradle TO the grave and our Heavenly fshd
| disciplining and moulding our character ana
| only when we come To judgment that we can "oA ~'
and behold that all things have worked togethef TOT v"
| own good. 1t Is not until the whole world hss g., ~
| tributed its share In all It's parts 10 the s'' ~
| blessedness Of man. ...,ao,
may form of the abstract purposes OF uv mi
not merely that We are 10 begin a Chlsdan n i-,s
| that We should go on until We gam the . sa - IA
Of that life through the saviour ana collon ay Ne
| image of Jesus Christ. From this point OF VIC s.sy
must consider that all our Affections even aea' o. ~
| are only the means which God employs iOt V~
denption. ,., - that mani
"The glory OF God may be regarded as thss AZ. 1.' 4
| festatiOn which appeals TO men IN various insdoI
beauty, Of grandeur, Of sublimlty. hen0s - no
| ton must follow sanctihcation. There ean Suur
| glorihcaton, no shining forth OF true oeaus,, iut
there has been sancthcati0n. Those "IVsn a, xead
| fes, they also shall be goriied: what yc n,eh We
be to US 70 get glimpse Of the Des sr 70 be mss
perfectly beautiful. But this Ideal canv' i've dis
| until the day Of Judgment. We ought " ,acb a, %
and hourly in view OF this ideal. Let IL &C., % %
bo patient in articulation and under rproof ~" wbs
forward steadily In holy aud ovin ,s.t all ulrJ
comfort and consolation IL Is u kn9" 'as ar,e ~
work together for our good and that us image and
| come when We shall attain " he peiAo''>
| likeness of Christi