The times., 1897-07-19
CONSULTATIONS OF GOD.
DR.. Dickey's Sermon on the Gre
ator's Iauy-Sided Character.


At the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church yesterday thc usual sumner serv-
ices were inauguTated, and in Lhc ab-
scnce ot Dr. Badclit1e, the ieguler pasJor,
the sermon was preached by Rev. CGc rles
r Dickey, D. D., of Bethany Chapel,
Philadelphia.
Or. Dickey VIII be remen bered here
for his strong and eloquent defense OF
pr. Briggs, whose trial for heresy was
the most sensational incident that had
occurred in the Presbyterian assembly
for years. His trial, which took place in
part here, attracted wide attention, and
was the cause of long and bitter struggle
between his partisans and those who
wished TO have him expelled.
Among his most ardent supporters was
DR.. Dickey, and his memora ble speech
here during the Presbyterian assembly in
defense OF the principles advocated by
DR.. Brigrs created one of the most pro
found impressions.
For his text yesterday DR.. Dickey Sc
lected job Nliiii:1 ] '.Are the consultations
Of God small with thee?" He said in
part:
Gods character is many-sided, and our
conceptions of Gods character are deter
minee by the side we approach. The con-
ceptions of later life and longer ex-
peTcnce are very different from the con-
ceptions OF early life aud limited expert
ence And yet, think, every Christian,
in the light of fuller knowledge and IN
the consciousness of deeper experience,
often longs for the rest and satisfaction
of the simple trust and faith of child
hood Religion is service indeed. But
it is likewise satisfaction. And while
we are to exhort ourselves with all faith
fulness to service, we are to stop at the
opened fountains and drink, and refresh
ourselves for work, with the consultations
OF God The consultations of God will
be hest appreciated in depressing con-
ditions Consolation is that which COM
forts, or alleviates misery. We want
consolation when the fountains of our
pleasure are dry, when our hearts are
sore, when orr friends are few or false,
when we are disappointed by the blight
OF cherished hopes.
I have not a desire to distress you I
would not borrow troubles from the future
to cloud the sunshine in which you rejoice
But, as you must know life, as you have
seen darkness suddenly settle down upon
those whose con ditions were as joyous
and whose learts were as glad as yours,
as you have seen some sailing as gaily
as you sail now, running into storms, do
you not think it Is wisdom To store up
the consultations of God.
The consultations of God are a com
mon fund. at the disposal of our faith
We can receive them in our own sorrow,
or we can minister them to others in their
sorrow. We want to learn them-we want
to be familiar with them, so that our own
sinking hearts may be sustained
The being OF God supplies a fact that
settles our souls in confidence, that fills
life with great satisfaction. The being of
God filleth all things and fixeth all things
1t is something tc which we can fasten the
hanging, ravelied ends of life. God fills
up that grea u dark, outlying I'm known that
is such dread to US. Gods being lights
up the darkness, and in rneasure solves
the mystery that envelops life. The geo
pie ought to be consoled. ught to be made
confident by the simple assurance, II
am." What depths of darkness, what
imnioveable griefs, what dreadful uncer.
tainly must crush a soul that rests not in
this belief?
Out In that strange shadow-land into
which the soul wanders away from these
familiar scenes, amidst which IL h as
pitched It's tent Of clay, how it relieves
the sense of loneliness to realize Gods
presence, to believe that he is, to be-
lieve that He controls all things by His