Catoctin clarion., 1904-03-24
AN ELOQUENT SERMON
"Why the Righteous Suffer and the UE-
godly Prosper"
God Permits Affections to Come Upon His
People as a Character Test

People as a Character Test.
KINGSTON, N. YIN the Reformed
Church of the Comforter on Sunday morn
ing the Rev. c. l.. Palmer preached
scholarly discourse entitled "Whv the
Righteous Suffer and the Ungod,y Pros
| per-" He took his text from Pam 13: 3:
"For was envious at the arrogant, when
| saw the prosperity Of the wicked"
The Sc, entythrd Psalm was probably
composed by Asaph, who was a plous jew,
and one of the leaders of the temple
chorus. The phrasco.ogy and contents IN
dicate that he was intelligent and spiritual,
and that in the course of his religious eX,
perience was exposed to the ravsges OF
doubt. However, upon matul' dehbera'
ton all doubt was overcome, and he be-
came strong in the faith.
The particular problem that confused
him was why the righteous suffer and the
ungodiv prosper. Why the most vicious
criminal should enjoy material prosperity
and consecrated disciples be subjected to
suffering. If God is perfectly righteous in
Himself, and supremely just in all li1s
dealings with men, why does lie allow the
ungodiy to succeed and the believer to
fail? why does He not obliterate every
does He permit the godly to pass through
SO many deep and raging seas OF aftictioa!
Why are many of the Christess so free
from human misery? These are questions
which nave been fresh in the mind of every
generation, ard the only satisfactory an
swer is the one that sutfced the psa,mist
Before undertaking to develop so impor-
tant a subject it is necessary that we dl'
vest our minds of one possible misconcep-
4. Tl,, NF ha ~
that all the wicked prosper, and that all
the righteous are afflicted. 1t Is not that
all the ungodIy prosper because they are
ungodly, or that all believers are afflicted
because they are believers. 1t Is not true
that all the worldly enjoy success, and all
the righteous are disContentCd, unhappy
and unsuccessful, The psa m'st WAS III
pcssimistic mood ct the time OF writing,
and describes condition from which he
was eventually cxtrcatcd. 1t is true that
some goddess men aud women seem to he
happy and prosperous, and that some de,
voted disciples are greatly afflicted. But
it is far from the natural deduction .ot
Scripture and experience that all the god y
are unsuccessful and the wicked prosper
Gus, though we do acknowledge that the
| ancient sentiment of the text IS not with
out its modern application. We still won
der why the unrighteous prosper and the
gody are afflicted.
l. WHY THE JNGODLY Enjoy TEN
PORAL PROSPERITY.
We cannot deny that many worldly peo-
p,e have an abundance of hfc's blessings
and that they appear to be quite free from
advcrsity 1t is well known that many OF
our most wealthy people seem to be indIi-
fcrent to religion. They spend their time
and means either in business or seeking
! n, -, but
! success or failure is not an infalhbe criter-
ion by which we are to justify or conderm
| the government OF God.
1t is not uncommon for goddess people TO
! inherit property. Nor is it Unusual for un-
| believing parents to leave an inheritance
to their children That while there has
| been utter indifference to Christianity
there has been no want OF concern IN the
accumulation of wealth. And many pos,
sess a disintercstCd temperament that pro-
| tects them from needless care and anxiety.
Unbccvers are often more shrewd than
| Christians. che children of this world
are wiser in their generation than the chll-
! dren Of light" A life of utter absorption
in the accumulation and management ct
| money develops an acumen, one who rcaI'
| iv discovers whatever will contribute to
| his personal and temporal Advancement
And since we are free moral agents 1t Is
possible for one to succeed IN the direction
| OF his ambition.
Cnbeevers are often less scrupuous
| They will do many things for temporal
comfort that others VIII not. goddess
! mortal will keep saloon or a gambhng
| den, from which the profits are very large.
! lie Will dcsecratc the sabbath or vio ate
any oi the divine laws without hesitation
so long AZ his persona! interest Is enColr-
aged His motto is eat, drink and be
| merry, for tomorrow we die. W ould n
reborn soul and heir oi the kingdom do
| the same a true disciple OF the Great
! Teacher would not consciously transgIeSs
any evil or Religious requirement, even il
| by such VOCATION he would increase his
means and comfort.
! The attention OF unhe,icvers is more
! concentrated on the accumulation OF
wealth and on personal comfort. it IS
about all many think of. They think about
money when they retire. They dream
about it at night. 1t is upon their minds
when they awake in the morning, and thcy
| labor for it during the day. 1t Is the oaIy
| desire they have, and it is not strange tnat
tn " should obtain it.
| Christians are unwilling to deprive them
se.vcs of the comfort and blessing OF CIV
| ing. Our churches are supported by the
professed followers OF Christ. All the PIN
! ,anthropc and charitable organizations are
| Largely sustained by those who bear the
| Christian name. The church has great rca-
| son to thank God for those who give 50
/ literally toward her support, wh,je the
word is either boarding or wasting its
means, they are applying their glttS TO the
social. intellectual, moral and eternal I'M
prpvement of others.
The long suffering of God is not to be
! ignored. God permits nngoty people to
! obtain the desire of their hearts he
! snecring lest Of Donysus, the younger, u
| ty.ant Of Sicily. when, after having robbed
| the Temple OF Syracuse, he had prosper
ons voyage with the piundcr is well known.
See you not, said he, to those who were
| with him, how the gods favor the sacri'es.
| iouS? The Interpretation of the incident
| was from the standpoint of heather.
God simply permitted him to escape.
| Doubtless the ungodiy are allowed to
| prosper, IN order to test and prove the
righteous. 1t is a test for the faithful but
| un fortunate to sec some goddess mortal
carried on the sea of prosperity. But it is
! "A test that we are abundantly abe to sus-
tain. Socrates. being asked what would be
veXatious to good men. replied, the pros
perty of the bad What would veX the
bad? the prosperity of the good. 1t is
not and cannot be made to appear in
| compatible with the perfection of God 5
government that the ungodly should have
measure of material prosperity.
III. WHY THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE AID.
NERSlTY
Having admitted that the ungodly often
enjoy temporal prosperity, 1t remains to