Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-07-02

contempt. They come before us in
history with the air of novelty and
awaken our reverence. In this way
former days seem grand and glorious
compared with the tameness of the
present.
But let us turn to consider the
other side of the subject. What are
the positive grounds for hope in the
PRESENT. Why is it not the part OF
wisdom to think of former days as
better than these? | do not purpose
to enter into any examination of the
special signs of the times but simply
to remind you OF some of those
great truths, which should inspire us
with cheerful confidence in human
progress.
First OF all, let us remember that
God is ever present and active in the
affairs OF man. God is most intimate
ly concerned in everything that hap
pens. He has not simply made the
world and set in operation certain
laws, and endowed his creatures with
certain powers so that they act of
themselves like a clock with only an
occasional interference of His provi-
dence to guide and restrain rather
He is in all, He animates all, He is
ever shaping all to the fulhlment of
His own wise purposes. There is a
divine plan running through human
history, extending even to the smallest
events OF life. The good and the bad
alike are working out this plan in
one way or another, though it may be
ignorantly and unwillingly. Even the
wrath OF man shall praise Him.
The God whom we adore with
eyer-increasing reverence does not
dwell apart from his creatures in some
distant heaven but is ever with us
on this Sustained earth, the source of
all life and goodness. Modern
science has not, as some imagine,
banished God from Nature but rather
revealed more clearly to the devout
mind His all-peryading presence. We
may still see the glory OF God in the
heavens, in the setting sun, and in
the myriad stars OF night We may
still feel that He clothes with beauty
the lilies OF the field and cares for
the young ravens when they cry.
More especially may we trace His
footsteps in the changing scenes OF
human life and history. He is that
ever present power among men chat
makes for righteousness The judg-
ments OF the Lord are still abroad in
the earth; kingdoms rise and fall at
his command. We may recognize
His hand in all the benefcent forces
that are working in society. His
spirit does not appear in the world
only in seasons of revivals, or in the
gracious influences which are shed
down upon the heart OF the Chris
tan. Here He manfests himself in a
peculiar manner here he comes into
conscious communion with the indi-
vidual soul to quicken and to purify.
But the divine Spirit is abroad in the
earth everywhere. All good inhu-
ences, intellectual, social, political, as
well as religious, are the influences
of Gods spirit His providence is
not confined to the affairs OF the
Church this is indeed His especial
care, but His power and foresight is
extended to all the secular events of
life. From the Bible His truth radi-
ates with heavenly glory, but the
truth which comes from all other
sources is also His
Some appear reluctant to recog-
nize our present civilization as Chris
tan. They are disposed to regard
most OF the elements which enter
into it as springing from heather
sources that the Church is of God,
but the world Of the devil Unques-
tionably there is much that is imper-
feet and evil in modern civilization ;
but the notion that God has had no
shaping hand in It's development is as
false as it is depressing. Are not the
refinements Of art and the utilities of
science in the line of Gods gracious
purposes toward mankind' Are the
blessings OF law and government not
to be ascribed to Him from whom
cometh every good and perfect gift?
Let us learn to take a wide view of
the operations of Gods providence.
All that IS good in education, in social
customs, in civil liberty all the
knowledge OF science, all the culture
OF books, all the re6nements of art,
are divine in their origin. BY these
instrumentalities, as well as by the
benign influences of religion, God is
making men better and nobler, and
bringing IN the perfect day.
Another solid ground for hope in
the present is the confidence we may
have in the power of right. The
reign of might is fast passing away.
1t can flourish only when ignorance
and despotism prevail When a Deo-