The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-06-16
"LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS" "
A Scriptural Interpretation of the Recent
Calamities Which Have Overwhelmed
South Carolina.

Iheiah CIurcn OF the RoQeemer, IN 8
forceful sermon preached on Sunday
morning, spoke of the great calamities
which have recently overwhelmed oul
own and other States. The sermon was
peculiarly appropriate, and synopsis
is here given.
Mr.. Seabrook's theme was "Light
After Darkness, and his sermon was
based upon three texts: Genesis 1: 2-3
Psalms 119: 67;71.,
He said in part: "Clouds and dark
ness, stormy wind, flood and fire have
during the past month filled our land
with sorrow and the hearts ofmen with
questioning. In such time us this
| there is one great bed rock fact, which
should be recalled before all else; one
mighty, changeless, abiding Rock,
which stands fast amid all commotion.
THAT fact is grandly expressed by
the great Christian poet, Robert Brown
ing in "Paracelsus. He sums up all
his faith in one all comprehensive creed,
a creed from which all other true creeds
are derived
"God-Thou art Love, l build my
faith Oh that"
This is the fact before all facts.
The one thing that has been from all
| eternity is the love of God. Before
anything else, save God himself, was
the love of God. Before the world was
created, before the fall of man. 1t is
the ultimate fact of all facts. In its
light alone can we find answer to all
our questioning. With this foundation
truth in mind, we seek this morning the
answer to our questions in the word of
God. Another fundamental truth must
be remembered through all our consid-
GRAFTON of the morning theme. 1t is
the often repeated truth, familiar to all
men, but SO often forgotten-that the
life of man while beginning in time
ends not here; the earth and the things
OF earth pass, only those things toward
which man hastens abide. Remember
these two foundation truths and then
ask your questions: Why do clouds
lower? Why the storm wind break?
Why do Affections come? Why are hu-
man hopes so often wrecked? The ans
wer that human experience gives is in
harmony with the teaching of Gods
word. If the skies we're always fair;
II our storehouscs were always filled
with plenty; prosperity always smiled
upon man, we do not need the story of
the morning Gospel Luke 1G: 19--3D to
tell us that every man would be as Dives
OF the parable, living for SELF living
for this world only, destitute of all
sympathy for his fellowman. In the
joys of the present, he would give no
thought to the future, with him it would
always be as it was with friend of
mine who said, eff | only had health,
this world would be the only paradise
desire" All, that blessed 'if''. A
happy home was his, loving wife, affec-
tionate children, abundant wealth., high
honor and station among men, all that
was needed to turn the heart from God
and the eternal good, but the loving
hand Of affliction bears with heavy
weight upon him and he does not for
get.
"All the teaching of the word of God
is in harmony with the teaching of hu-
man experience. 1t is not only the
teaching of the morning Gospel, but of
the parable of that other rich man who
said Soul thou hast much goods laid
up for many doys, take thine ease eat,
drink, and be merry" 1t is the more
direct teaching of such passages of
Scripture as Ecc. 7: Id; Psalm 55: 10;
Isaiah 26: 9--16: Hosea S. Is, and the
words of our second and third texts.
'"The teaching of human life and of
Gods word leads to the conclusion that
those things which we call calamities
strange are both necessary and good
that men may remember (as was so
forcefully said in an editorial in one of
our town papers of the past week) that
God is, and may turn to Him and Him
only, casting away all confidence in self
and the strength of man.
1.-The word clearly teaches that God
sends affliction not because He delights
in the sorrows of men or desires to
cause them grief. 'Though he cause
grief, yet will he have compassion ac-
cording to the multitude of HIS mercies;
for He doth not afflict willingly, nor
greve the children Of men,"
"Men see only the present and their
ofliictions are not joyous but grievous.
God looks to the end and beholds the
peaceable fruits Of righteousness borne
by them that are exercised thereby.
"ln the beginning darkness was
upon the face of the deep" but the
Spirit of God was brooding over the face
| Of the waters, and at the Divine word
'Let there be Light" the light
streamed forth. God does not rejoice
in the darkness but in the light. He
sends not the darkness because he