The Helena independent., 1894-08-13
GODS ETERNAL PURPOSE.
lis Mans Redemption and In
oludss an 0nsr OF Saliva
lion to All.
Tho Laws OF Divine Providence
as Manifested In the
World.
su,Jset OF an Eloquent sermon BY Itsv
Dr. ,. o. uarissii, Of cinoinnAt.
nj ~. Paui's.

Riw DR.. ]. @. Hartzeli, OF Cincinnati
Ohio. occupied The Iupit morning and
evening" al 81, Paups Methodist church
Yesterday. and spoke TO large audisnosa.
He is the corresponding secretary OF the
educational work In the southern states Of
tho great church be represents. The theme
of hls discourse In ths morning was "GoPs
Eternal Pu'poss." Hls tes, WAS Romans
s,2s; And We kuov that all things work
together for good 10 them that love Goi,
10 them who ars called according 10 bis
purpose" The thems OF the bGok Of
Romans, the speaker said, is 'the just shall
live by faith" The Jews we're prediatina-
rians. They snld; 1--WE have Abraham for
ou' Father," ana considered their saliva
tion assured. Paups whole argumennt 10
to show that salvation could only como
by the exercise OF individual faith Ia Christ.
The doctrine known As oslvinism had no
place In the early Christian church for 800
yeHTI. the aTehker said. ST. Augustine wha
the fiHt 10 teaoh IL and late Calvin am
pli1sd IL. Strange to say this book Of Ro-
mans. written 10 disprove the Fundamental
idea OF that doctrine. has been depended
upon by the Cslviuists 10 maintain IL.
"First-Wha, is Co.'s purpose ss re-
lntsd 10 mans salvationi" said the doctor.
IN is eternal. Christ was the lamb slain
4 ON tho foundation OF the world Ia the
iuGnits pnst Christ as the worlds 10
deemsr was in tho thought OF God. Gods
purpose is based upon divine foreknowl-
edge. To forsknow and 70 predestinnts
a two distinct and separate things. One
10 an essential factor In Coils natare. ths
other Ia an action OF his will. The former
Ireceder. but In no way necessitstes the
later. Gods purpose hatmonizes perfectly
with mans free moral assncf. Other
wse man is in no way responsible
for his moral character. Tho text de-
cares that oil things work together for
good TO tbom that love God. Love Ia q
wiling service. ID cannot bs othe wise.
Now, with this oht inter atetation take the
vs ses which follow; Moreover. whom he
did fo,eknow. them he also did predesti-
uate; whom he did predestinate. them he
also called; aud whom he called, them he
also justihei; aud whom he justified, them
lie also Rloriled.' Now. who was ID b.
foreknsw, etc.2 Was IL not thoss whom he
saw flom all eternity would ACCEPT aud
love him2 The offer and oall was. aud Ia.
TO ALL but only those who In tho exercise
of q free will nccspt and love him are
called aud Justified and 'glorifed.' Such
IA the nature Of Gods purposs-eiernA.
bfsed on divine TOR knowledge, and in per-
iect harmony with mans flee moral
agency
the redemption OF man. Practically ID in
cludes In some 70 m an Offer OF salvation
10 all. The law Of equation, of probation
10 absolute. No man Is lost without fair
chance. Why ofeate man with possibility !
of being lost at aliY This 10 equivalent 10
asking had man bette been created with a
mo nj nature at alii Heaven moans possi-
bility OF be |. Probation is universal law.
It means praotic,. This world Ia n moral
school or p aciics ouni where souls are
rrActiced Tor higher things This 10 rea-
.onable. Creation implies turposs and
that purpose includes the highest osSible
destiny OF tho thing created. Ths physical
universe 10 tho embodiment OF ideas.
teamship, are not built to rot In the
docks, but to sail from continent 20 conti-
nent. The sou'-the sub,imast GREAT ion In
The aniverst-was made for salvation in
time and eternity. That Il Gods IDEAL
hi, purl ose, and for this he plans mud in
spires. HIS words are come ask seek,
wo H. aud 'whososvsr will.
The law OF divine Providsncs as mani
icst 10 the world indicates Gods purpose.
Tho law Ia the survival OF the fttest to-
lAy, on which TO buill batter to- morrow
that the end may be the bect. Pessiinism
has no place in Gods kingdom. Nations
grow. serve their puri oss anl die. Their
real mission is TO benefit individual man
mood. We love America not because Of
vast territory. population, or commercial
interest, but because Of tho blessings II
brinys 10 individual homes aud hearts. 80
Aitu birth, growth and decndance OF
system of philosophy Each is betts than
~ redSo.sB Y. Thus clearer and broade
VIEWS uf God md hIa love toward man are
had by each succeeding gene ation.
Thu plan OF salvation na unfoldrd Ia
iLe bible domonstrates the object OF. God.
urpose. What marvellous patience ou the
pat of God 10 here manifest II took 1, 50C
years TO write the bible. which is GoI's
loys letter TO man. The pAtriirohal dis
God ooutendel with false Rodp. Then
came tue Jewish dispsns ition. one OF Law
anu inairuction. Now We have the dia.
pensation of love. Trace Goa's dealings
with men through ali these thousands ol
yoaTs and We see underneath ana through
all ono unwaveriDg purpose to np ift and
redeem man. The great hindrsuce is man'r
pefvsrss aud obdufhte will.
"All this IL n matter of experience. The
text sage. we know No man can blsmt
Goi for his mofnl degradation. no matter
what IL may be. Col gives moral naturs,
with distinctions bstvesn right and
wrong; he givea conscience, whieh aanc.
lions right and disapproyes wrong; be
crowds mans pathway with every possible
motive 10 do right; he works In man both
TO will md TO co of his good pleasure;' b,
does oil that infinite love and patience car
do to lead the soul into the paths of virtue
and eternal life. Bot Ia spite OF all. the
will can say no. This IL probation. There
can DO no mo al growth without overeom-
ing evil. we know this.
when the will submits and welcomes
tho prom ptiuR Of the spirit OF God. theE
comes repentance. faith and salvation
Gods purpose thus reaches its Nppointe.
ond in the salvation Of the injividua
soul. salvatiou Is nothing N not sfnit,
and undivided. IL God cannot caro- for thi
individual soul then ho IL nothing 20 man
Ia Ia because the individual grain OF sane
IL held in the grip Of physical law that ",
know that Gods laws are universal In th,
physical universe. Augustine said IL TO
qui cd all tho phy sieAl universe with ehol
revolving world as wheel to weave tn
beauty OF the violet. III ouRb Gods etsr
nal purpose all things' concentrate for th
uplifting Of tho humble. faithful and ODE.
dient soul"
The speaker illustrated the latter portion
of his discourse by personal incidents IL
ba own life and that OF otbsr,. A lare
number wont iorwald and thanked th