The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-29

Greatest opportunity ~ .s,'+1a snhere
can There are no l rniss , - and do
or ones usefulness. 7 u9 !. - =
the right!i n
life's opportunity and national peace ai.u
prosperity. let us render thanks o, uiiso
God-not only in word. but by ille. -. ~ -.
mercy to each Of us is everlasting. - us
seech YOU therefore, brethren, " ar
mcrces Of Cod that you present yuu.
bodies a living sacrifice, holy. accep'lols
unto God which is your reasona PIE ser
vice Thus dc we best give thanks.
Or. Kerr's ,ocTmon.
The thanksgiving of{the :Presbyterians.
Of the CITY was held in the Second
byterian Church, the great auuitolI ~
of (which was filled. The services W.
participated in by all the Presos - ~. -,
pastors. The music was Inspiring. siii
the people Joining in the singing o. lnr.o
of the well-known hymns OF Tue n,l...n
An Offering was made for the fresoS 'e-
| rian Home for Ladies. n.,,..+
The sermon was by the fe.. 49,.
F. Kerr, D. D., pastor OF the fi!sl
byteran Church, and his suoJect Mas
THE Triumph Of God, from me ,, &c
All Thy Works Shal fiaise
Lord.'-Psalnl 14o: IT,
DR.. Kerr said in part: 70 praise eoo
is not only nor mainly to sing, but for
the creature. whether plant, BIRD, BEAST.
man, angel or star, to use God-SlEen
powers for God. The Faln1ist said all
Thy works shall praise Thee. because
some do not; but they all shaH. Davio
believed this because God was God. nc
made all things to praise him, ana lie
is able to see that they 90 II. Every
intelligent being will have his way
he can. and God can.
Some angels rebelled against GOD ana
refused to use their powers Tor him.
They made themselves Gods enemies
and SO were cast out OF heaven " INV
praise of Gods justice.
1.-THE thunders of hell declare that God
is God. AS soon as Adam and Eve
rebelled God offered pardon through
redeemer, whom He would send, ana the
benefits of His atonement were aVailablo
at once to every one who would repent.
We have reason to believe that the first
two sinners were saved. God began at
once the organization of a kingdom, az
forwards called the Church. OF whlch
His son, the Redeenler. should be King.
into which all who repented and believed
should find Il homo forever. And TINS
kingdom was to be the representative
Of God on earth. All who would come
into this kingdom should praise Gods
lleICS anu tiljOG elSi ''ii.|.'' '''AAS 49,
who refused should be given a place
with rebel angels, to the glory Of Gods
justice: butsGod ordained that, one way
or the other. all His works should praise
him
The kingdom started at once upon a
campaign of conquest. to continue to the
end OF time. At length the rebellious
race of man became so wicked God sent
a flood to destroy all but one family,
and the eight souls in the ark were the
Kingdom of God at that time.
| Later the Kingdom of God found it
self enslaved in Egypt. God sent
Moses to demand of Pharaoh the liberia
ton of His people. Pharaoh was en-
aged and demanded Who is the Lord
that I should obey him?'
He soon found out who was the Lord
to his sorrow. and witnessed the triumph
of God when he saw Israel march dry
shod across the sea. while the Egyptian
hosts were .engulfed in the waters.
"A similar history has been enacted
many times since. when men have tried
to destroy the Kingdom of God. Every
thing that sets itself against God must
Ibe destroyed. This is the explanation
OF all history.
s.. BLOW AGAINST GOD.
'.In our own time, and during this
wear, infdelltE,tiaat calls itself anarchy
killed the President Of this republic. 1t
was blow against God. His order. gov
eminent. law and kingdom. What was
the res,llt?W Failure? es, and more.
The death of Mr.. Mckinley showed all
mankind how a Christian can die and
strengthened the nation anu all Christian
order.
1t is Gods way said the President;
His will be done.
This shows that not only shall all
that oppose Gods Kingdom be DESTROYED,
but also that every attack strengthens
the Kingdom and all the powers of man
kind, used in one way or another, under
Gods rule for the advancement of His
purpose and the praise OF His Majesty.
This principle characterlzes all history,
and nothing has ever come to pass put
God has used it for the glory of His
name. We see God as man OF war.
conoueror of all His enemies, aEd the
end shall show the absolute triumph of
God. The dominant principle OF the
triumph of God has been mercy, not
Justice He has ever been reluctant to
punish, SLOW to anger; but ready to
forgive and pardon has never been re-
fused to those who sought it.
1--WE find the supreme characteristic
Of Gods conquest of the world in His
Acknowledgements plan that runs
through it all. He was to become man,
assume our human nature and the sins
of all mankind and bear them on the
cross in one infinite act OF self-sacri-
fee for men Christ was to let man
kill him that man might live. Did any
other sovereign ever do thing like this:
No, for it was not human-lt was Gil
vine-and the grandest thing that man
or angels know. 1t was greater than
crea tion-it was the miracle Of time.
con this Thanksgivng-DayI have ven
tured to turn aside from the usual theme
of such occasions, temporal blessings, ana
lead YOU to the greatest cause Tor thanks
giving. without which no other bles-
sings could bring deep. peace and lasting
Joy. Christ loves to conquer by the me-
thod Of His cross. and here we lind the
sign and principle of the triumph OF
God. for His chosen name is love-
MIR. Atkins Sermon.
A union Thanksgiving service was he!a
at Seventh-Street Christian Church' t,ie
sermon being preached by the EeH. n.
p. Atkins. He spoke in part as foilo"s'