The Newtown bee., 1898-01-07
The Homo Circle.
The Divine Plan of Life.
SERMON BY REV 0, o. WRIGHT, RECTOR
OF ST JOHNS CHURCH, SANDY HOOK

Text, Romans % (R. W, "And we know
that to them that love God all things work to-
get or for good, even to them that are called
according to His purpose"
st Paul speaks with the greatest assur-
ance. There is no doubt in his mind. He
is not guessing at it. 1t is no mere theory
based upon philosophical speculations.
lie knows by his own observation the
truth OF what he is saying,-better than
that even, he speaks from personal ex-
perience. And we know" he says;
eve know chat to them that love Gcd
all things work together for good"
This is the expression of real, intelli-
gent faith. He evidently knew for him
self the certainty of the truth whereof he
was speaking. He was not simply as
senting to proposition which he could
see was logical and reasonable which
must therefore be accepted; but he had
tried It, and proved it, and speaks of it
as a fact which can be easily demonstrat-
ed and verified. Having real faith in
God he knows that there must be di
vine plan of human life. So sure as there
ia a Creator there must be some plan and
purpose In creation. The works Of God
as seen In the material world teach US
the power supreme, the infinite wisdom
and the goodness of the Creator.
THE INTELLIGENCE OF MAN RESPONDS
to the knowledge and wisdom of the Su-
preme Head which is over the world.
But st Paul's faith was born of the re-
vealed love Of God through Jesus Christ.
1t was more than faith in q Creator, IL
was faith in the Father Of Heaven who
so loved the world that He sent His Only
Begotten Son that the world might be
saved and perfected and made fit for the
life eternal. st Paul's faith was not on
ly a real, Intelligent perception of Goo
but it was that vital, personal faith tina
works by love. And it is by this low
which Is born In US, by the love Of tn
Father, revealed to us in the Son tina
we can best know God, and best under
stand the divine plan Of our own life. l
Is with the heart that we believe unit
righteousness. To know God is to Low
Him and to be assured that He loves US
And this is what we mean by a real, in
telligent faith, faith that works by Low
and that knows enough to trust Co
come what may. 1t Is not that we know
enough to understand what is best for US
not that we should lay out our own plan
OF life and insist upon followingsour ow
course In the world; not that we are abb
to direct our own steps; but it ia to
fully assured in our own hearts an
minds that as God is infinite in power
wisdom and love it must be best for as
always, and in all things, to do his will
SO sure as God Is there must be a d.
vine plan and purpose in our human life
SO sure as there ia divine plan Of lif
for us iC must be best for as to live az
cordIng to that plan. It cannot be tina
the creature can do better for himsel
than his Creator can do for himl 1t
not reasonable that the Unite should b
wiser than the Infinitel
now SIMPLE AND REASONABLE
1T il then for the Christian faith to expires
Itself With all the assurance Of st Paul
1--WE know that to them that love Got
all things work together for good"
Now what does he mean9 How doe