The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-05
THE SINNER THAT REPENTETH.
The Light OF Observation-Disclosures all
Important.
Ne,cs and Courier, March 20.

The Rev. R. J. Beattie, of Guelph,
Ontario, conducted the services in West
minister Presbyterian Church yesterday.
In the forenoon he chose as his text Ex-
odus 10, %: "But all the children Of
Israel had light in their dwellings," The
Christians light was the subject evolved
from the text and the discourse was help.
full and comforting to all present. In the
afternoon the text chosen was the Scrip
ture found in Luke xv, 10: Likewise
say unto you there is JOY in the presence
of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth."
The preacher said: All desire to look
into the future and learn what is for
them. This is true in temporal ard in
spiritual things. 1t is deep principle
inlaid in the immortal nature. Our
blessed Lord came from the unseen
realm, but did not lift men into revealed
fellowship with it or unfold in specific
terms what it WAS. While the SOULS in
terests were made clear and its awards
assured, it might be said that the rule
was to hide rather than to reveal.
There was deep meaning in this seem.
ing obscurity. The children of Israel
would have been in better position be.
fore God if they had not sent spies into
the promised land. There was much
truth in the report of these spies that
they could not harmonize with the un-
failing promises of God. 1t is better to
walk with God in the darkness than to
walk alone in what we call light. A few
revelations are given to rebrke human
pride and teach lessons as to life's mo-
mentous issues. We look, and lol Laz
arus is in Abraham's bosom and Dives is
in holl. We look again, and behold
there is joy in all the Courts of Heaven
over one repenting sinner.
The sinners return to God is source
ofjoy to angels and all in their presence,
hence We conclude that salvation is all.
important While it is said that this JOY
is in the presence of angels, the striking
language causes Us to believe that it is a
joy in which they have large share.
They desire to look into redemption's
work. They are wise in heart and live
in region of pure truth. Theirs is net
borrowed light such as we receive from
the moon. They live in the presence of
the central sun of the universe. They
are familiar with many deep things
which trouble us. Only Omniscience
can outdo their skill and knowledge.
They witnessed the creation of the world
and are called principalities and powers,
implying that they hold high and impor-
tant positions in Gods kingdom and the
affairs Of His government. Being so wise
and exalted they might have said: 1--WE
cannot come down. Greater interests
claim our attention" In truth this is the
fact to certain extent. Their visits as
revealed to men have been few and their
stay short. But here ne learn that
sinners return to God is of such Import
ance that it fills the angels with gladness.
It is over one soul that there is such
joy. Multiplicity makes up for the in
significance of individuals in our view.
Old Ocean never fails to impress us. Its
grandeur never dies out and its roar is
always music to our ears but it's sepa.
rate drops when held in our hands or
analyzed by our skill stir no deep emo.
tion within US. There is q charm in
great multitude, even when the individ.
uals are Insignificant. The psalmist
says that the sound of it is as the sound
of mighty waters. We could not be sur.
prised to see the angels rejoicing over the
great multitude of the redeemed. Isaiah
saw the nations flow to the light of the
Church and the multitude covered the
Heavens as thick cloud, and John saw
with rapture the great multitude, which
no man could number. But in the text
we have only one sinner, not the redeem
ed assembly or whole generation or
tribe, who affords joy to the angels and
all in their presence. The Syrians
fought neither with small not great, but
only with the King of Israel. To con.
quer and capture him was to vsnquish
the nation.
But here it is only one sinner. He
may be despised Zaccheus or Manas,
sch that nation would rejoice to see in
chains. 1t matters not, there is joy in
the presence of the angels of God when
that soul repents. There is this joy over
work just begun. When Lazarus died
angels carried him to Abraham's bosom.
They are doubtless performing the same
blessed ministry yet. The chariots of
God, which are twenty thousand, and
thousands of angels are waiting to drive
away to glory with spirits freed by death
from sin and it's state. There is nothing
surprising in our rejoicing over this. To
reach home after long journey is q
cause of gladness. But the joy of the
text is over one just starting out. He is
not safe in Canaan, but enters the wilder
ness with his face Canaanward. He is
not a justified man in his own house, but
smites upon his breast asking for mercy.
Why such joy? Because be acknowl'
edges that he is tired of the spiritual
Egypt. If he has not left Babylon he
weeps on its river banks.
To repent is to see the fever checked.
The patient must keep his bed, it may be
for many days, but his friends rejoice
over him with a rational joy and hope.
The noble ship has been stranded for
weary weeks; now the air is rent with
shout, not because the ship is out at sea,
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