The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-04

uOb ali liho bHdL Ouo uCCOuub VI OO-
seph and his brethren; his being sold
into Egypt, into perpetual bondage9
Read that history, and then read what
Joseph said of those who had dealt
thus treacherously with him: I've
sent me not hither, but God" 1t
were we'll if we could see God in all
the provisions that occur, and in all
the history of the world; in all great
catastrophes, and in all smallest in
cidents; in the upheaval of king
doms, and the falling of sparrows.
Pope had it right:
ITO him no high, no low, no great, no
small;
He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals
| all"
To cut certain events or facts out
of the whole of things, and under
take to demonstrate that they are
particular instances of special provi-
dence, while the rest of events are
left to pursue course as marked out
by no higher wisdom than their own
natural tendency, is doubtless to pro-
coed without authority. Who of us
is entitled to say, "here is the finger
of God, and there not, or, here is i'm
mediate divine energy, and there only
intermediate" No, the genius of the
| f., Of
tempt at overthrowing all it's rules;
and true religious feeling processes,
that "Of God, and through him and
to him, are all things" And if every
thing is of God, and through him,
how can there be any special, only
as everything is special and particu-
lar from being involved in the gener-
al and universal?
Everythingis rooted and grounded
in God, as the great source and orr
gin of it, and as deriving its being
from the efficacy of the divine being.
We must acknowledge that the only
reasona bic and scriptural view to be
taken of our subject is, that every
thing derives its efficacy, and all
events their accomplishment, from
God. Everything flows forth from
him, as the active presence of the in
finite spirit. He is in a word that
godly force, or power itself, that lives
and acts in all things. Even all our
workings depend upon the working
of God. There is no strength in us
but what is of him, and we cannot
act at all only by his direction, and
as deriving our sole power from him.
Our very life is included in his life,
and his being comprises our own. We
could not even be at all, only as the
self-sustaining life of all things i'm
parted to us life. And we no more
live to day by the life that came to
us yesterday, than we see by the light
that came to us yesterday. We see
always by the light that comes to us
at the instant, and we live by the life
coming to us from the source of life
at the moment of our possessing it, as
the continual, unceasing, ever-con
slant action of the ever-creating, and
ever-upholding God. Just as the
light and heat flows from the sun to
impart life to nature, SO God is the
great life-force in us, and in all things,
he flowing into us and them, and so
becoming the life of our life, and the
life of all life.
We have no power but what is of
God. He not only maintains the
being, but the force and energy also
of all created intelligences, without
which maintenance they could not be
sustained single moment, or were
able to turn themselves to this or
that, or in any direction.
1t is we'll for US to keep in mind
that the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth" that he has the motions
of all creatures in his hands, directing
their steps, and turning them with
ersoever he will. 1t is the popularity
of religion, and the style of the
scriptures throughout, to trace all
things directly to God.
Even the Saviour acknowledged in
more instances than one, that he
could "do nothing of himself" The
Father who dwelt in him did the
work" And when Plate boosted
that he had "power to cruelty him,
and power to release him." he was an
swered by the words, Thou hast no
power at all except it were given thee
from above" Nebuchadnezzar was
in like condition when in his pride
he exclaimed, SIS not this great
Babylon that | have built by the
might OF my power, and for the honor
of my majesty'" And while the
words were yet in his mouth, the
voice told him that he should be
driven from among men, and have
his dwelling among the beasts of