The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-05
"THY WILL
Be DONE. :"
Sermon Preached by The
Rev. John Shape on
March 2, 1902.
iext--Matt. 8 10: "Thy will be
dona ~

Gods will in three-lold aspect:
His will OF purpose. his will Of de.
sire, and his will OF command. God s
will OF purpose is absolute and al
ways comes 10 pass whether in
heaven, earth or hell, but his will
OF desire, while always done per-
fectly in heaven does not always
come to pass on earth. For in
stance. it was His will that Jeru-
salem sLould'be saved Luke 1884, J
but .Ierns allen would not. He does
not desire that any should perish,
but that all should como to repent
anee or Pet 3-9,) but many will
not.
1t is Gods will Of command that
is so often and so hagan,ly dis.
obeyed. Few of us can exclaim
with David, u "ldeliyh yht 10 do thy will
| O nv God, yea, thy law is within
thy heart (ps. 40 :S.) Perhaps
more Of us may say with Jesus.
''My meat is TO do the will OF him
! that sent nc and finish his work. "
/ (jno. A.3t Most of us lift our
! hearts in wondcrmcnt at the simple
necessity in order to have any
/ spiritual relation to Jesus, (Matt.
J u: 50.
10 understand our relation 10
f, the will Of God is one OF the most
fruitful las it is one OF the nest
F.; searching) sources OF Biblical
! study.
There arc seven thugs that set
before US the ioterworkiag har.
mony OF The divine and human
wills. !, Christ's inlercession for
us is according 10 the will Of God,
(Romans s: 27) ?, BY Gods will
we are called to salvation. Matt. T.
2lD 2, And 10 service. Il Cor. IL
4, obedieuee to the will OF God is es-
sential TO knowledge OF the doctrine
OF God John 7-l7D 5, it is the
ground Of assurance for answered
PRAYER Il John 5-l2;) 6, the perlec.
tIon and completeness Of Christian
character are according to the will
Of God Il Thess. 4-30 :. il these
things are hard 10 accept and obey
we may be helped by the thought
Of Chrisls example (john 5 : 80;
6: So.)
Can We now pray this prayer?
Are we ready 10 say Thy will be
done with a conception OF lis
meaning asst gleanslrom the word
OF God? 10 do SO will involve ON
the Christians part three things.
Resignation. Resignation
permits trouble. 1t says. "Thy
will be done when there's moth |
ing else TO say. 1t breatbes the
lofty sentiment of this prayer
when it can t hei p 1t. Resignation
sits with folded hands and submis-
sive attitude saving "Well | could
not help l., | would have had it I
otherwise, bu. | will accept the in
evitabie without complaining 1t
is he picture OF isolated helnlcss-
ness and OF forced submission.
Resignation has this to commend
it II Is not reDeliious. does not
storm at God for troubIu sent.
"l;ccs not murmur nor complain,
Beneath the Christening rod. "
but is not quite ready 10 say "I'hy
rod and thy staff they comfort
me. y There may be about res,y-
nation much that is heshS man
may cast himself iato that SPIRIT
that enables him to say Thy will
be done whcD he means ''Therc's
No use fighting about it, Paul's
companions on his third missionary
journey afford u cool Illustration
OF this point. The prophet Agabus
has warned Paul OF the danger aud
death that awal. him at Jerusalem
and they Immediately fall on his
neck and with words aud tears
seek to persuade him against tie
Journey, and when they could not
move lEc brave apostle from his
purpose, they say. "'rEe Lords
will be douc.' That is so much
like us. We say a great many
o;her things before we say with
fullest significance The words Of the
Mornings text. Yes, resignation
may lead lis to say Thy will be
done but it is not the highest
idea whcI: the words convey.
ii Perseverance,. This is an
advance over the idea OF reslnna-
ton Tor il helps d man to say "rhv
will be done, aud | will hep TO
bring II to pass. Resignation
permits ,rolb!e: perseverance,
s'rusgies through It. Again Paul
illustrates the idea. 1t is alter the
signal gospel victory at l;phesus
are couiounded. books
and curos burned, the fear Of God
comes on the peorle and the word
,! God powerfully prevails, but the
most convincing proof OF the
marvellous sweep the gospe. is vet
take IN this-paul purposes TO
70 to Rome. lie had seen great
Auccesse he had met with dismal
alures. has been baked with hos
lie adherence, but he must preach
he gospel in he imperial city. 1t
Was his ndomuitable perseverance,
hat lays bare the secret oi his
~atchless power, and whlcn strikes
he keynote OF gospel domination
'ver the then known world
Perseverance 1t nerves the man :
o bear the brunt OF tudayS baltic
Ed Its him for tomorrow s struggle.
t faces. measures masters iilicuItles
'ccausc it acknowledges IL higher ;
'owcr than its rwn and copresses the ;
nadequacy Of the human will, un- y
nergized by the Divine. 1t does not =,
ycrock obstacles it overea ps them !,
+ works its way through them, with :
n undomnitabIc courage that pro.
laims, by its very progress, its belief T.
hat it IS tic will OF God that man J.
honld not rnpinc, nor helpless sit, !.
or faiI. "Thy will be DONE Is iron !
4 its b,ood that makes man Of iron u
man of clay, and all because lie !
iIlcd to be man Of God by Gods :,
ssistancc. Resignation is an old .
IAN with color'ess cheeks and palsied
and and helpless men sitting amid h,
lc debris OF bis failure or sorrow pl
nd presenting the pictuseof a brok. Il
hopclessness pltiAb,c indeed TO y
.e. Perseverance Is youth whose
right cheeks and flashing eyes and