The Washington times., 1894-09-17
IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.
Not Exist in the scheme of Di.
vine Providence


Not Exist in the scheme of Di.
vine Providence
Impossible things" was the subject of a
sermon preached by DR.. Byron Sunderland at
the morning service in the First Presbyterian
Church yesterday. The pastor selected his
text from Luke viii:26-27-"AnG they that
heard it said Who then can be saved.
And Jesus answered and said, 'The things
that are impossible with man are possible
with God
Or. Sunderland proceeded to relate the
story OF the rich young ruler, who asked the
question What shall do 10 inherit eternal
lfeyn
He wanted eternal life. s. said the speaker.
but be was not anxious enough 10 have TO
strip himself Of all mis- earthly possessions.
What would you be willing 10 sacrifice TO
make il certain that you would have eternal
life, so that there would be no mistake about
it? That is a question we ought to answer
now and il should be settled at once. The
ruler did settle it. He preferred TO keep his
earthly possessions and honor rather than
have eternal life and happiness. Christ said
1t Is easier for camel 10 20 through the eve
OF needle than for n rich man 10 enter the
kingdom Of heaven who then can be
savedy asked the multitude. The answer
was quick but sure. The things which are
impossible with man are possible with God.
The terms possible and impossible" con-
tlnued the speaker. "are merely relative
Their meaning must be determined from the
nature Of the subject 10 which they relate
There are possibilities and impossibili.ies in
all departments OF the universe. WHAT'S pos
sible with one person or thing may be impos-
slbie with another, and what is possible with
one thing under certain circumstances may
be impossible with the same thing under diff
ferent circumstances. Infinite Providence
can ana does do all things that are proper.
He cannot and does not do uncertainties.
1T Is no reflection upon the omnipotence Of
God TO say that He cannot perform a certain
thing, the performance of which might vio-
late the law OF His own integrity. He can do
all things which are the proper objects of
power. The fact that there are some things
that are not the proper objects of power does
not detract from the perfection of His ON
impotence. il it is easier for camel TO go
through the eve Of a needle than for the rich
and favored classes to enter the kingdom Of
heaven, what is to become Of the unfavored
and poor classes? 1t is q serious problem
Christ did not solve it then and there, but He
gave them the only true solution. He said:
The things that are impossible with man are
possible with God He sharply contrasted
the impotence of mans being with the ON
impotence Of Gods power
Men aud women have no power over their
earthly propensities. They are simply drift
ing along, and viii sooner or later reach the
falls and plunge over. VINO then can be
saved? Who can serve self and renounce
self at the same time? Who can serve God
and man at the same time? Christ SAYS:
The things which are impossible with man
are possible with God He can and does
somehow keep men so that their natures and
dispositions shall be changed without doing
violence to any one constituent element OF
the human soul. He can change the heart OF
man toward his will, not by coercion. but by
an influence that will draw men to Him by a
sublime power working not against, but with
and in and through the will of man. He has
fixed plan for all this by redemption. He
sacrificed Christ for u.s.
This scheme follows the death on the cross
and the shedding OF His precious blood for
human sin. He died to save u.s. The blood
that streamed from the cross was the blood of
every nation, and the possibility of saving
every nation was there exemplifled
Christ on the cruel tree represented
humanity. God can destroy the fear
OF death. He can make it easy for US
to die by His sublime power. In the gloom
of death He can make US realize the beauties
Of the eternal life beyond He is omnipo-
tent"