The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-21
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
Rev. DIR. Cushman Talks Common
Sense TO "a Large Congregation.

Rev. DIR. Cushman Talks Common
Sense TO a Large Congregation.
AS previously stated by THE NEWS
Rev. II. i. Cushman, ID. d., pastor CT the
First Universalist Church. Is about to go
away, with his charming wife. for much
needed rest, so he took occasion previous
to yesterday forenoon's sermon to say
few words Of personal and special char-
acter TO the large congregation which had
assembled to listen TO his farewell Tor
the present discourse.
DIR. Cushmau repeated how heartily his
family and himself appreciate the kind
ness of the people which makes possible
the separation, and publicly thanked his
parishioners in behalf OF his wife and self.
He regretted that he was obliged TO accept
this kindness, particularly at this season,
the most important and active in churcn
work, but he has a confidence that his
people will do their utmost to maintain
| the work of the parish.
The pulpit will be regularly supplied
through the efforts Of a committee chosen
| for that purpose.
As his absence also covers the season OF
Lent, DIR. Cushman explained that he had
asked neighbors in the ministry
to serve, one each week, and
the cordiality with which they
have responded touches the PASTORS heart
deeply. Those who have SO far consented
to conduct the Tuesday evening meetings
during Lent are; Rsv. w. @. Seileck, Rev.
Herbert Mott, Rev. Floyd w. Tomkins,
Jr., Rev. Augustus M. Lord and Rev. DR..
Rugg.
The text for the eloquent common
sense sermon which followed these intro
ductory remarks was found in Psalm
cxxI; 7, 8: "The Lord shall preserve
thee from all evil; He shall preserve thy
soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going
out and thy coming in from this time
forth, and even forever more.'
DIR. Cushmsn began by stating that 1t
seemed that the circumstan ances and con-
ditions OF the meeting yesterday forenoon
seemed to favor the study OF he Chris
tian doctrine of divine providence.
What does it involve? First, God has
beneficent purpose and plan in human
| history and in human lives. This is an
essential thought connected with "divine
| providence" to be named among the AK
IONS OF our religion.
| Men OF science talk to us OF evolution;
| they talk about the survival OF the httest,
| and yet their science does not explain, be-
cause the 'sjudge of life" becomes in their
| development, now tree, now
| bird, now beast and now
man. When we look upon either,
| We believe there was q design in creation.
| The complete reality has been shown in
! the humanity of the Son of God. We do
| not sec indications to make each life like
every other, but to make each and all
partakers of the spirit of the Holy One.
We need to remem ber that time and place
| elements in the divine providence are
somewhat conditioned by human treat
ment. Study any branch Of natural his
| tory and see how true it is that the plant,
tree, or animal, in Heaven-appointed con-
ditions, thrives. Take them out OF those
conditions and how weak, sometimes how
ugly, they seem to be. 1t is something
| like this In human life.
We must not forget Gods interest in
| human history. The Reformation, the
| Puritan and Pilgrim movements, the birth
of our nation, and its new birth when
slavery was abolished, were harvest times
provided for and ushcred in by the Holy
| one.
When we tix our gaze upon the fitting
days OF human life we see that 1t is the
human will that brings about so many
hard things in life that obscure the
reality before us.
We must not infer from the doctrine OF
divine providence that whatever Is, Ia
Fight. Many lives never find their right
places here. So far as life on earth was
concerned, the life of Judas was failure,
but 1t does not follow that Gods
mission was to fail. We must
distinguish between man and his
mission. God will not let man go.
He may give the task into another's
hands, but God = trying to put every man
10 his right place. How ofton we see
young man starting out and for years dis
satisfied at every turn. AT length the
way opens; he finds his place and the
place finds him, aud we find that we did
not know how much there was in him.
That is the way the divine providence is
trying in spite Of human interference, to
put each man into the right place. God is
| interested to help each one TO make life
what He would like to have life
become. Sometimes we sec child
| in the midst OF the worst OF in
fiuences and 1t is hard to think
that the divine providence is not sus-
pended; but kind work is kindled into
| life and the child Is found. The divine
providence is never suspended In opera
t1On, even Wnou ~ svohS W oS'
What encouragement to CO. operate with
the divine processesl How eagerly we
ought to do oil we can while the day lasts
| TO remove hindrances.
As TO the personal use we ought to make
| OF the fact Of divine providence, IL Is
| blessed thing to think that each Of us is a
| special care TO the Heavenly Father; 1t is
| good to think with the psaimist, "The
| Lord shall preserve thee"
| What use ought we make OF 1t amid the
manifold experiences OF our transient
| lives? We ought always TO be listening
| for the divine hnrmonies, TO be looking
| for the good things God prepares for us in
each experiences, even though bitter.
| We should remember that GODS time ia
always our opportunity. Some member
| of our family whom we felt wecould not,
spare was called from our circle to God;
we should not turn from Him but to Him.