The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
THE.VOlCE OF THE PULPIT
A SHORT SERMON ON MANS GREAT
NESS AND HIS LITTLENEss.
By the Late James Brand, ID. D., Twen-
ty-Five Years Pastor First COngre-
gational Church, Oberlin, o.

When I consider thy heavens, the work
of TEy fingers, the moon and the stars
which Thou hast ordained;
~ hat is man thai Tnou art mindful OF
him and the son of man that Thou visitest
him?
For Thou hast made him little lower
W WAN r dne a ana 13s NM So
There are times in every mans life when
his greatness and his littleness are brought
face to face, when he is humbled and
chastened by the one and exalted and en-
nobled by the other. What, then, shall be
the correct estimate Of his worth?
l. The estimate we make of mans place
in God S universe depends upon the criterion
by which We judge.
There Is a sense in which, viewed as
physical force in the world of matter, man
is as nothing Compared win the stu
pendous forces of nature or viewed from
the standpoint of duration or set in oppo-
siuon to the omnipotence OF God the phys
icaI man is insignincance Itself
When We consider how dependent ne Is
upon constant supplies of nourishment ana
sleep how easily ne is laid low by sickness,
weakened by suffering or excuses, UNI
nerved by calamity or overcome by shock
or stroke or accident-hoW easily comes
death itself, instant or Hngering-We are
appalled, by the frailty of these human
temples wherein We dwell.
IL. 1t becomes necessary. therefore, TO
measure mans place and Importance IN the
universe by altogether other standards
l. If we contemplate man simply as be-
ing of intelligence the scale begins TO turn.
him above sun, moon and stars. MINI Is
above matter. intelligence above force. II
be a matter of Importance chiefly because
Of its connection with and Its effect upon
intelligent minds.
mental 10 the moral that the importance
of in the universe Is greatly height
ened. 49,,
1.-TWO objects" said Kant, ''fill my soul
with ever increasing admiration and re-
spect-above US the starry heavens, VII Ml.n nf
the kingdom of spirits. He is capable OF vlr-
tue and OF sin. he is the offspring of God,
and in this lies his greatness. He Is free
being capable of self-improvementa ard self
destruc ion. He can contend with his Max
er. What is man that Thou art mindful
of him finds its answer here: Thou mast
made him to lack but little of divinity and
clothed him with glory and honor. :.
man is an immortal being. The planets are
eventually be extinct. Not so man. They
g. A suflerer is a being of importance in
therefore worthy OF Gods thought and
visitation. Wonderful are the New Tesla
rent pictures OF the divine compassion for
human suffering. Christ 8 ministry was run
OF tenderness for the afflicted and sorrow
ing, aboundinS in merciful offices for those
in trouble, pain or grief.
However feeble, as compared with the
stypepdous forces OF nature. however OBJ
an object Of the highest Importance in The
divine government. Hence the God of mercy
is mindful of him and sets His heart
upon him and visits him every day.
L. Man a sinner is of special impor-
tarce. A creature who sins always makes
himself with an importance he never had
before;- an offending member OF tami y
assumes a significance he did not have be-
fore. So with man as a member OF God s
family. Viewed simply as sinner, he looms
up in the divine government above the stars
He has lifted up the hand of e.ion
against God-he and he a-one. Angels veil
their faces and love and adore God. Man
alone lifts his guilty hand and defies Him.
Yet God made man but "a little lower than
the angels"
5. The browning proof of mans greatness
and worth in the divine government must
be taken from Cots own estimate; and that
! is found In the sacrifice that God has made
| TO restore man to the high place from which
he has fallen God created him ''in His own
end fell from that estate by SHINING against
| God In the divine plan restoration was
possible only by vicarious atonement, and and
only begotten Son" 10 be the ransom for
sin. in every age and race, that whosoever
b6eiieveth on III Him should not perish but
carnation and of the Cross that we see man
| crowned with glory and honor"
creation and an account of tbe on
| The story of the creation gives US an i'm
! preston OF the ease with which II was done.
| In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth" How different the account
! or the redemption. The moon and stars
| cost nothing-the redemption of the soul
cost Gods dearly beloved Son.
differences:
| !. We thus find the fact, and the reason
| ablenss of the fact that God is mindful of
| US. We have a place in Gods thought.
| The weakest and most unworthy of us all
engages the divine mind and is an object of
| interest and sOiicitude to the divine heart.
| 2. We see that the real greatness of man
| as sinner lies In his acceptance of Christ
| as his Savior-in his penitence, contrition.
| confession and discipleship. for that re-
| opens the way for the incoming and in
| dwelling of the divine spirit. Know We not
| that your bodies are the temples OF the
1 Holy Ghost?"
| g. If man is worth so much to God he
| surely ought to be of great value to him.
/ self. If God Is thus mindful of him, what
| madness for him TO be unminful of Godl
| 4. If man is so important creature as
| sufferer and sinner, how much more so as
| a Christian! When he becomes redeemed
| soul, sufferer healed a slave emancipated
| q restored and sanctified man, raised by the
| love of Christ and the indwelling of the
| spirit to think Gods thoughts, to walk in
| Gods fellowship and to be one Of God S
family-then he is, indeed. crowned with
| glory and honor"