The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-07

"
REV. II. T. sPANGLER. D. D.,
of Collegeville.
and all its oddies and retrogressions, Is
but the progress Of the divine purpose.
1t is the immanence of God in nature and
in history that gives stability to the world
and hope to the race. In 1.-The wreck of
matter and the crash of worlds man
would sink into hopeless despair without
the evidence and confidence of Gods SOW
erignty in nature. The tangled skein of
human history makes progress In unraV-
cling itself, only under the guiding hand
of the God of nations.
MAN is INSENSIBLE.
Man is insensible to Gods presence in
nature and in the world of men because
His relations to man and nature are con-
slant and invisible. And yet with the
unseen and ever-present Being every man
must deal not only with reference to his
eternal destiny, but in relation to His pres
ent life. At every turn In life man meets
the God who controls the forces of nature
and the hearts of men. In his efforts to
supply his bodily wants he is dependent
upon Gods providence. In his intercourse
with men he finds influences operating
In the conduct of his business he is con-
fronted by a tide in human affairs which
instinctively impels him to look to high
er power for protection and guidance.
.. In the second place. the presence of
God in the world Is a relation of grace
through His Son Jesus Christ. out of
Christ God Is a consuming fire. But the
world no longer stands in the relation or
nature to its Creator, for God is in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself. The
Eye that is upon us is not watching to
mark our iniquities, but to help our in
firmities. He from whose presence we
cannot flee is not an enemy. for while
We We're enemies He was reconciled unto
us by the death of His Son. We need not
fear Him though He has all power in
heaven and on earth. for God SO loved
the world that He gave His only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish but have everlasting
life"
If you say 81 do not know why He
should save me; l am not worthy to be
saved" that Is fact-you are not If you
to Him for salvation; have not done any
thing that should give me a claim on Him
for so great a blessing" that is true; you
have not. 1t is not because you deserve
divine mercies that you have a right to
expect them
To use a favorite illustration of Henry
Ward Beecher, take a dozen beggar boys
out of the street, and they say, II do not
know why you should like me: ] am un-
lovely, and there is nothing attractive
about me-" That is so. l take you that
you may become lovely. But | am filthy
and ragged" Yes, you are; i take you
that you may be washed and clothed.
But | am stupid and ignorant" So you
are: and take you to educate YOU. But
| am full of all manner of wickcdness.'
/ know that; and it is because you are so
wicked that l am determined, with Gods
help, to rescue you from the devil.
t.l..
we are so pure and sweet, so virtuous and
lovely. He takes us because He cannot
bear to see soul that is destined to i'm
mortality less than high and noble.
God is a God who loves out of His own
nature. and not on conditions. 1t Is not
needful that we should be beautiful in
order that He shall love us. He loves us
because of Himself. We are saved by
grace. We are redeemed by goodness. our
salvation does not depend upon what we
are, but upon what God Is.
g. In the third place, let us remember
that although with respect to His human
nature Christ Is no more on earth. "He
sends us His Spirit. as an earnest, by
are above where Christ sitteth at the
right hand of God, and not things
on the earth" 1t is by the pow
er of the Holy Ghost that we are
Holy Ghost works faith in our hearts by
the preaching of the Gospel. He enlisht-
ems and sanctiiies the children of God. He
unites their hearts in the bonds of Chris
tian fellowship. He broods over the ma
ton and makes those to know Him who
knew Him not. He is Christ's represent
tative on earth, and makes the govern
ment of our King felt everywhere, because
He is everywhere.
REAL AS SUNSHINE.
The doctrine of the almighty everything
presence of Christ by the Spirit is as in
disputabc as the doctrine of Christ Him
self The fact is as real as The sunshine,
as bereiicient as the air. In Him we live
and move and have our being us Chris
tans.
The only question is as to how we may
receive thc power of the Holy Ghost. The
Sift we have. TIE promise to the dis
Cipies was, .'ye shall receive pow, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon YOU"
The iromis" was fulfilled 10 them ana
the power was manifest. The olIv cNer-
SO SPEAK of it, was that ''thcy all con'in-
Gch with one accord in prayer and sup
plication, with the wonderland with His
brethren" tActs |, 1i)
a pastor in his visitation is said to have
inquired. after calling a family together
for worship, whether all of the housenoiG
were present. He was informed they
were, but felt prompted to repeat the in
qury, when he was informe! that all
were there except a servant who had not
vice. He insisted on her being called.
After prayer he requested her. until he
should come again, to pray every night
this prayer. Lord show me myself IN
his return he saw by her countenance that
the prayer was answered. Then he told
her to pray. Lord show me Thysef!"
When he came again the joy of sin for
given was written upon her face.
Oh, let each one of MS 20 into the In
nermost chamber of his heart and shut
to the door and pray these two wee pray
crs, Lord, show me myself" Lord,
show me Thyself!' and there shall come
down from heaven showers of blessing
which there will not be room to contain.
The convention was compelled to wait
a few minutes for Secretary Mcdonald.
The interim was filed with a prayer
led by Rev. Thomas Bell. of the Ply
mouth Congregational church. Jackson
street; singing by the choir and a talk
by Chairman Roads on earnestness In
evangelis.ic work.
Secretary Mcdonald arrived In due
time and was introduced as the best
state secretary in the union. During
the reading of his report he was fire.
quently applauded. The wait for Presi-
dent MeCrory was filled in with song
by Mr.. and Mrs. Lowe. President Nc
Crory gave his address as the final
event Of the evening" and then dis
missed the gathering with berediction.
He and all the other speakers were
given the Chautauqua salute
The programme was literally inter-