Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-07-20
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AM v0oo0l 2AttoQs
Rev. ROBT. LEsL1E-Baptist Church
"And the vessel that he made Of
clay was married In the hand Of the
potter; SO he made It again another
vessel, as seemed good to the potter
to make it."
This is what the prophet saw when
at the command Of the Lord he visited
the house of the potter in the land Of
Judah. In this significant way he was
given a message to his people: 70
house of Israel! cannot I do with you
as this potter, saith the Lord? Behold,
as the clay is in the potter's hand, so
are you in my hand, o house Of Israel"
The truth here taught and illustra-
ted by the history Of Israel is doubly
significant to us. Notice
First. The clay in the hands Of the
potter impresses me with Gods SOW
ereigty in redemption. Gods work in
the creation of man was not defective.
Man was created in the divine like
ness. His home was a paradise. He
stood as a beautiful vase ON the pedes-
tai of intelligent obedience. In
yielding to temptation he cast himself
down and shattered his happiness. God
was under no obligation to remedy this
ruin. 1t impresses mt with Gods grace
in redemption. What God was under
no obligation to do, in his sovereignty,
He chose to do. Redemption is no
mere repair. It is a recreation. Out
of a new mixture into which the grit of
divine grace enters as the character
istic element, redemption is the re-
creation of regeneration. 1t places the
redeemed man on a surer footing than
he had at the first. It takes him from
the horrible pit and the miry clay; it
establishes his feet upon the rock,
with the new song in his mouth.
Second. The vessel marred in the
hands of the potter impresses me with
the wisdom and patience of God in the
selection and preparation of his instru-
ments in the work of redemption.
As the piece of clay on the potter's
wheel is selected from the common
lump; SO the Lord choose Abraham
from the clayey banks of Mesopotania.
Upon the revolving wheel of time the
Lord prepared the man; then the fam
lily and then the nation. Israel was
willful and unyielding. Sadly married
in their history. How wisely and pa
tiently God dealt with them; yet though
marred. He made them such a vessel
as seemed best to him. This suggests:
Third. The high honor of the vessel
moulded and conformed willingly to
the divine will. Here is the practical
application of this to our nation, to us
as a people,. Israel, among the nations,
was given apre-eminence peculiar and
prolonged inasmuch al it symbolized
the church, as Gods chosen instru-
ment of blessing to the world. In the
study of history, the careful student
sees very clearly that Egypt, Assyria.
Persia, Greece and Rome we're given
supremacy rs they observed the
divine purpose. This principle has
had illustration all along the path OF
history. Civil and national govern.
ments are manifestly designed of God
to secure those conditions of society
that are favorable to the promotion of
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
ness. From false principles of govern
ment and misgovernment how the
people of the old world have been
married! What mendicancy do we see
in Italy! What Incidence in Spain!
What etfeminacy in Turkey! What
socialism in Germany! What despo-
tism in Russia! What poverty and
discomfort in Britain! The ship of
state that should be freighted only
with blessings, is in each of these lands,
a warlike corsair plundering industry
and commerce. Today, among the
nations, u W government has en-
joyed, and should still enjoy a grateful
pre-eminence. On the alluvial tide of
immigration, the detritus of the nations
is bornei in upon us. These movements,
like the migrations of the birds, are of
God. Our opportunity of blessing to the
oppressed and down trodden, is UMPIRE
cedented. On the wheel of providence,
God is disclosing His purpose concern
ing us. Are We seeking to serve His
purpose? Is not the vessel sadly
married? By violations of law and
equity? By oppressive combinations
of men of wealth, and by riotous com.
binations of miners and mechanics
combinations that fosterintemperance
dissipation, %iddleness, poverty, lawless.
ness, vice and crime? It is a serious
question whether, after all, we may
not be set aside.
The lesson to the church. In toe
manyinstances worldliness, philosophy
tradition, ambition, and unfaithfulness
have married the organization that the
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