The record-union., 1896-11-22

work of redemption, of Gods love. But
there Is really only one diSpenSation in
GODS dealings with men, and that is
the dispensation of love- Some appear
to have an indistinct notion that Goo
was once, away in the dim past, filled
with wrath toward US. Something
then occurred which changed his dispo-
sition toward us, his wrath was some
how appeased, and he has ceased to
treat US as enemies. The dispensation
Of wrath was succeeded by the dis
pensation of love. We do not believe at
all in this dspensation of wrath in
time. 1t may come after time shall
have been no more, If the future pun
ishment of the finally incorrigible may
be SO described. God is love; and what
God is now God was Man sinned at
the very beginning, and broke the in
innate relations which existed between
him and his Creator. But Gods atti-
He loved him still. The plan of recon-
ciliation was not an afterthought with
God. 1t was His thought, and His
thought alone; but He had it, according
to Scriptures, before the foundation of
the world. He knew that man. whom
He was to create, would sin, and He
had determined in His own counsels
that He would provide way by which
man might be saved Notwithstanding
his own willful disobedience.
Professor Briggs has been voted
down." says the Christian Leader"
CUniv) of Boston, land overwhelming
ly, by his Presbyterian brethren. But
elastic should get even a hearing, and
that though put down he is not de-
stroyed. The same may be said of
Professor H. P. Smith. Had it been
the i'll fortune of either of these gen
tlemen to have his day in 1910, the day
would have been very brief one. He
would have been not only put down,
but out, and this without the courtesy
of a hearing. The change at AndOver
is revolutionary, and this while its
creed is the most unique and rigidly
Calvinistic of any of in the Whole land.
And this means a great deal more than
a change on the part of the instructors.
Every year ministers go forth from the
school taking with them the spirit and
sentiments Of their teachers, which
they are not slow to impart to their
pupils, and not a few preachers from
the Andover school are settled in the
communities where Universalism has
little or no recognition. Yet again note
the attitude of the public press, almost
- : he
lister who, by some bold word, casts off
the old creed; while it is to be remem-
bered that the preacher taking the An
dover theology is uniformly sustained
by his people and by public sentiment.
Then go where we will, who in these
days ever hears the kind Of sermon
that made the staple of preaching a
generation ago."
"Tithing is carrying system into our
religious and benevolent business, u
says the Interior" Pres) of Chicago
land it produces the same good effect
there as elsewhere 1t makes the work
easier, pleasanter, more intelligent and
discriminating. and many times more
effective than unbusiness-like and dis
would conduct his business as he con-
ducts an UnsystematiZed benevolence
would go straight and sure into bank
ruptcy. Suppose when you go into
town, or down town, you should buy
what happened to please your fancy,
or affect your emotions of beauty, with
out regard to value or your own ability
how long would you have any money:
1t is just SO with impulsive, emotional
and inconsiderate giving. This dries
up benevolence. You give foolishly OF
unworthSy, condemn yourself. and ther
try to make even by refusing to give
where you ought to-pOssibly become
disguised with benevolence as a whole
Tithers are successful men, nearly al
ways. The Lord has promised pros
perity to those who thus give-not that
He proposes arbitrarily to more than
make good such gifts to the giver, but
because He would have us take notice
OF the laws of intellectual and moral
nature. 1t is the same with the law of
the Sabbath-as it is, indeed, with any
and all divine laws. There is nothing
arbitrary about God. He is no tyrant
no dictator. In His laws He tells us
what is best for us-that is all. He
says that tithing brings prosperity
and so it does"