The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-09

enlightened BY God or by man, and IS
d. omed and foredoomed ia ruin.
Not long ago l had the examination or
eight candidates Tor the gospel ministry 10
look after in behalf uf my plesbytery.
They were Ia be licensed 10 preach or or
dared to the ministry. In the prespEteIg
attd and seldom attended the meetings ~
the preShYtcry. He was a learned ihlu anu
had been a prince among preachers. ~,
seemed 10 a lifting thing tnil ne
should examine these candidates in theui-
ocy and give them some final couhset u,
behalf OF the church. Accordingly, ashtu
him by letter to meet with the piesnSttiH
ard examine these candidates. In reply II"
thanked me for courtesy and kindness 10 an
old man. but pleaded iniirmity of Voice an"
hearing as Il bar TO tile service. 1htH Ho
added. besides, do not know any theoloES
EXCEPT what | learned from my ilotheii
Sitting in the evening of HE. stuhS ai i
gathering earthly shadows but increSSiIti
spiritual light, this man who h.t6 Sdth'rtI
much more than usual of the learning anu
l.aht ~ the schools, was thankful that Zoe
hd lighted his candle and cnilSh'tn'u MS
darkness 10y the agency of his moth"';
''f:ut we need not depreciate the wisdom
Of the schools nor the learning OF The aS,'s.
All truth is BY God. BY whumsucver uis-
covered. eXpnunded and enforced, II Is Coz
message to the generations OF men Error
shall not stand. The accommodating htofss
of truth shall make for Righteousness The
truth shall be victorious and God enllghtels
us through those who hold and speak the
God gives us light by prov!dential
agencies. by the control and direction which
he gives to the experiences or our hres
and the course OF the world the wofid
j. getting to be- very full of knowledge ana
1 don-t know hut IL is getting 20 have a
great conceit OF Itself. But Il IL not hkeiy
10 come upon anything on that head oct
ter than that. God does preserve ana gov
crn ali his creatures and all their actions.
He does govern them in holiness ana Tor
wise ends and with an all powerful mana.
W. can believe that. even when we can
not STE ii all. II We will just wait patient
ly ana long enough God will light our cam
die by his providence and shine away our
darkness. Righteousness shall sNalt r ma
ton. Sin shall not only be a reproach 10
any people. but it shall he seen 10 be what
My dear friends. It Is well not to he in
too great a hurry regarding the providence
will clear up much beyond your present
thought. Mark that this promise Is 10 the
believer, TO the true child of God II Is
TO him who has made his own personal
covenant and argument with God that God
shall be his God. and he will be Gods own
child
God gives US light by verbal agency. He
gives to man his word. the oracles ~ the
living Cad. All these agencies mentioned.
material. human providentiai ar real;
They are means by which instruction and
light are conveyed and communicated 10
men. They are good. hut not sufficient.
That they are not sufficient is manifest
since God gave other means. The invisible
things ot God. even his eternal power and
gOdhead, are clearly seen. being understood
DN TIE Things that are made 80 God
speaking by Paul dihrms. That Is. nature
speaks Of natures God. The handiwork
shows the hand that works. creation shows
the creator. but how shall creation show
the Savior: When mans sin wrought
ruin what shall tell OF reparation and res
tora;ion? one who stood at the height
of ancient thought and philosophy said that
he did not see how God could forgive sin.
because God ought not 10 forgive sin. Sin
deserves penalty So redemption Is hardly
discoverable by the reason OF man. II Is
of free grace and that grace is clearly
revealed not by nature. but by the word OF
God.
I'm the ancient land of China nature has
sugges tiveneSs all these ages. Sages have
taught and there has been an extreme, even
religious veneration of ancestors. The
providence or God has been eVpryy here and
and much has been learned. Yet the WAY
OF salvation is not discovered. They still
sit in the valley Of the shadow Of death
and gross darkness covers the people. They
the word of God shall enter. shall the mil
lions or Chinese have the light of life.
'Sutely | need not dwell upon this
Thought important though IT b.. On the
things that come nearest the sou, and that
most patiently affect our eternal s.esti;iy.
one are in darkness without the bible. The
foolish heart IL darkened. Processing them
selves 10 he wise, men become fools and
went farther and farther from God. hu,i-
ness and heaven. II is Gods mercy that
he Fights our candle with the Bible: that
ho enlightens our darkness by the word.
Let the urStvcd. darhcr1ed soul com. to the
bible FOR the light he needs. Let Tire saint
continue TO hold TO il as a light to his feet
and a lamp To his pathway. Let the learned
come TO II for wisdom and the humble that
they may Know the way. Let tho states
cies and through ii let the earth be filled
With the knowledge Of the Lord