Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-02
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD.

The following sermon was delivered
by Rev. z. V. Stevens in the South
church Glover, Nov. IL.
Ephesians Iv-6. Zone God and
Father of all, who is above all and
through all and in you ALL"
These words might be termed the
specification of the unity of the Cos
pei. One body, one spirit, one hope,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism and
one God and Father of all. Seven
unities, and the climax of the thought
is the Father, God, who is above all
and through all and in all. In fact
this is the pivotal point about which
revolves the entire Christian religion.
And to establish this mighty truth in
mems hearts, to reveal the Father
hood of God, His nature and character,
does the New Testament seem to be
largely devoted. To this duty should
the church turn with ready heart and
hand. Especially is this true of our
beloved branch of the church. The
events of the last few months in state
anu boAIOh DC 90 III IN WAN ~
large point to this duty as the next
thing to be accomplished. Only in
view of the F~atherhood of God, a
the great questions of the day be
solved. And because world problems
demand solution should the all solving
truth of the larger hope be sounded
with clarion tongue. In the first
groupings of primitive minds for a
monotheistic religion that should be
able to reveal the fact that all the
universe was the creation of one
God instead of many; that not only
this world but all the worlds of illim-
liable space and all that in them is,
was harmonious and not chaotic: that
ram. and all the elements and infuen-
ces, passions, appetites, loves hopes
and aspirations, were working to-
gether for good, not discord or dis
order, because they we're ali God
given, can we see the sequential out
come of this thought.
Nothing but unity and harmony a
from monOtheism worked out
and proven. But not u1til Jesus pro-
claimed the Father of Love did the
world comprehend what monotheism
translated into terms of eternal affec-
ton really means. AS the Jew had
fixed the matter in his W mind, this
deity was the one God; above all and
through all yet lacked the essential
characteristics that Jesus revealed.
We see in the 10th Psalm how
the imminence of God impressed it
,elf upon David. And the symbol of
his Gods mighty power was found in
he thunder and the earthquake in
The irresistible tides of the sea-.
They also reached same conception of
God as a Ruler and Judge but not hat
government or His justice would
ever be characterized by the tender
compassion of a Fathers love. This
vas left for the Son of Man to sweetly
in His life and sacrifice. In
view of this can we see the force of
Phillips Brooks declarations: "To re-
assert the Fatherhood and childhood
Is an unlost truth and to ~reestablish
is power as the central fact of life;
tell men that they were and to
make them actually be the sons of
sod, that was the purpose of the COM
of Jesus, and the shaping power
his fact we must see that it has not
even yet to be fully accepted.
Because in the face of it all some say
are not all the children of God, we
ire not all brethren. And these same
people see they must desert either
tradition Or the other. If there is
one God and he is transcendent, then
conclusion must be true as to hu-
nan destiny. And just so far as men
ire coming to believe Jesus spoke the
just so far are they coming to
rust the larger hope. This, however
s not the only phase of the thought
attention. The problems,
economic, Industrial, and
that are daily arising would
,e unsolvable were it not that GOD,
all, through all and in all is a
who loveth His children, and
Ill that He does and brings upon them
8 because He loves them and is work
ng out for them His, divine plan.
Does a stronger and O enlightened
lation have any obligation toward a
neighbor? Most certainly, if
Ill men are brethren, zone whatever
f some are children of the devil.
But to be concrete, let us mention
pome of the present day problems
hat are to be solved alone in the