The times., 1897-07-26
ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD.
Rev. George b. Smiths Sermon at
metropolitan NJ. L. Church.

Metropolitan NJ. L. Church.
| President Mckinley, unaccompanied, at
| tended the morning service at the Metro
| politan ". E. Church yesterday.
In the absence of the pastor, Rev. Hugh
| Johnston, d. D., the pulpit was filled by
| Rev. George b. Smith, ID. D., OF Massilon,
| Ohio he was assisted by Rev. Mr.Dan-
| iels. of Columbia, S. c., and Rev. Dr.
| Baker CT this city.
| The subject OF Rev. Smiths discourse
was Working" and the text was taken
| from the first part of the twenty eighth
| verse of the eighth chapter OF Paul's let
ter to the Romans. And We know that all
! things work together for good for them
| that love God"
! lie said, in part:
Il think we all agree that activity is
/ the law OF the universe, and, SO far as we
| are acquainted, that labor is a necessity
| among raen 1t is not less true that elee-
/ tricity, light, heat and forces of nature
illustrate the fact that action is great and
| universal. Matter is in itself world OF
| action, so much so that we are astonished
at every revelation or activity OF movement
| made hy the world of science.
| we dIt du Oh al eItdt
moving more than 25, 600 miles every TWEEN
| ty-four hours. Certainly we have reason to
believe .ha. we live in an active world.
| All things work, not only in nature, but I'm
men by virtue OF their relation to the Su
prerne Ruler OF the universe Jesus said.
| MY Father is a worker, and / work
| He worked, the saints worked all worked.
when We go little farther with the
ale n
rot only told that all things work, bur
that ell work together. 1t is said, truly,
that there is not q current of air but
has counter-current, and there is not
| an ocean stream but has its eounIer-stream
| VERY often some enterprise to which
| you have given all your energies does
| not succeed. 1t is because your wor king
has been apart and not together If you
have ever seen any of the rope ferry
boats Of the Missouri you will know how
a little change OF angle viii, with the
| force Of the current, carry the boat to
! the other shore and back, if required.
The current and facts which you first
| observe and think to be against the work
ing OF the ferry, you later learn To be
with it, We often have Ms, and those
| that seem to be against US are for US.
| l1tit VIC nave dit IiluStIGtlOH OF uluGu
| that occurs. We see the beginning We
see the end. We don't know what that
| viii be until the thing has been done.
'.All things work together. We admit
that there is a great deal Of activity
Are things working together for good or
for evil?
| I'VE ask is there any good in the de-
stIuctive earthquake the tornado aying
!
| we may 20 further and ask is there any
good in yoltaire when writing against
the good book, or still further can there
be good done when Turkey with her i'm
pious hand Stays Christians? We cannot
understand how good can come out of
these things bit more than We can coIl-
| ctive that there can be good come out
OF locomotive. But II IL were not for
such forces and energies, such movements
OF air and manifestations Of electricity
this earth would be dead and IifeIess.
What about the writing of infamous
books? 1t has led to REORGANIZATION OF
the Word CT God We understand Chris
tanity better toda y because men have at
tempted to answer such writers as Vol
taire, showing that all the sophistry OF
writers who may have the most seductive
| Pc"NiS iitAo hO pOHtA 70 the
| book.
What about our wars? They have
overthrown slavery and cemented the
Union. I pray that peace Will come, bur
IL it doesn't come until guns blow oopres-
sion from Turkey or free the suffering in
Cuba, let war come to bring blessings to
Europe aud to our western world.
Slavery and |. martyrdom have proven
| n a Of no oh
persecution and martyrdom. so long as
they exist, win raise of their ashes the
churc hes.
We can't see how good win come To
every one. He hasn't said that only that
all things work for the good of the good
God is doing his best for every man, Civ
ing every one the best opportunities pos
sible. There was a boy in the parable who
went out OF his fathers home, and the
father was against him when he went
wrong, and only favored him " hen he went
right An things work together for good
for them that love God. This is q maxim.
for every age and land. II Moses had
considered he would probably have
said, L would have preferred to stay at
the court of rharoah in luxury But Moses
went into the wilderness ard became the
matchless leader of the Israelites
$50 we might run along the line of the
races and al all tirnes find men who through
activity won elevation to WELD power
which they could not have won otherwise
ITO my mind Abraham Lincoln was Il
most unlikely boy. and while he was not
received in the polite society OF this CITY
as other Presidents had been. we recognize
the factnow that hisvery awkw ardness was
his power. He was the greatest ruler
the world has ever seen.
"By loss and hardship man becomes
nobler, truer and purer. Some day when
You stand before the throne of God Won
viii see then that these things have
worked for your good, And we shall then
know that all things work for good for
those who love God"
SUICIDE A MORTAL SIN.