The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-10-19
a. SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THF
REV. c. L. PALMER.
* Sbject: what tho Creation Hreans-only
tho Almighty Could Mako suoh a
Worid-There is No Riddle OF tho Uni
verse--The Answer is ImInnrtalItx


KINGSTON, N. " In the Reformed
Sunday morning, the Rev. G. Z. Palmer
preached, the following sermon, entitled
What the Creation Means" He took his
text from Psalm lO4;24, 80 Lord, how
Thou made them all, the earth is full of
Thy riches"
Won Humboldt says: "That this Psalm
represents the image Of the whole cosmos.
of such limited compass the entire uni.
verse, the heavens and the earth, sketched
with few bold touches. The calm and
toiIsome labor of man from the rising of
the sun to the setting of the same, when
his daily work is done, is here contrasted
with the moving life OF the elements of
nature. This contrast and generalization
is the conception of the mutual action of
natural phenomena, and this retrospectioIt,
OF an omnipotent and omnipresent invisi-
BILE power which can renew the earth or
crumble it to dust constitute solemn and
exalted. rather than glowing and gentle
form of poetic creation"
1t is thus hymn of creation. written by
whom we know not. In the Sept it is
ascribed to David, but is anonymous in
the Hebrew psalter. The phraseology and
spirit are not unlike David, and the sub
ject matter may have been &~ranged in his
day as well as at any time. In the author
lied edition of the English Bible the au-
thorshIp is accredited to David. The Eng
llsh and American editions of the Revised
Version made no mention of it's writer,
but many and potent are the reasons which
lead us to the conclusion that the hymn
ologist of Israel composed this song for the
people of God. 1t was fitting that it
should be used in the temple. and It ia
still consistent TO employ it, since it cx-
presses truth that time cannot change.
Unlike many, of the Psalms this one is
capable OF analysis, the natural and log-
cal plan being reproduction of the six
nprlOIS ic onl
to the careful reader, but is confirmed by
the most reliable sources. And this is not
unlmportant, since it is another argument
in favor of the unanimity of opinion con.
eerning the plan that God followed when
he created the universe. The work of the
first and second days, light, the sky. clouds,
winds, lightning, occupy verses Ia. The
originaI chaotic state, and the separation
OF land from water on the third day, verses
59. The third creative day continued that
which had been commenced on the proceed
ing: The growth of plants and trees.
which which implies irrigation by clouds, and
and creatures of the field and forest. which
do not appear in the Mosaic narrative un.
I'll much later, verses l4-lS. The worl, of
the fourth day, the sun and moon, but with
verses 1926. The poet having already wo.
ven into his sorg part of the work of the
NTH and sixth days, now returns to it, and
describes the sen with its living creatures
visible
ton IN absolute dependence upon God.
verses 2i-3o. In verses 3l.3J the PsalmisC
inal restored.
=, The text being the oath verse is a part of
the division inc.uding verses 1926, which
treat of the fourth days work when the
sun and moon were made but referring
particularly, to men and animals There
can be no doubt respecting the intcrprcta-
ton. because the literal translation reads:
y Lord, how manifold are Thy works, in
Wisdom bass Thou made them ALL the earth
81, Vfhy aca lures"
- 1. The Psalmist Recognizes God rs tho
Creator-"O Lord Thy works" Writima
by inspiration does not necessarily pre-
GUIDE the use OF ,provincialsm. provided
That such correctly describe facts And
they may be enlarged or modified in order
TO be accuRte The doctrine taught in
TINS Isa' IN str&t accord with notions
lrt'eFaIinsNe ttc time OF its cnmnosition
and since that there was time when on,y
GOD existed, and that there came Il time
when the universc was formed. 1t is the
teachng or aii the ancient faiths that th;.
universe did not spring into existence of
Its own voiition, but was made ont of moth. |
ing by Almighty God. Often. however. tho
conception Is vague and confused and even
meaningless, because destitute Of that light |
winch llghtcth every man coming into the |
world. IL Is the clear Implication of the |
scriptures that there was n time when
God was "!onc. and that the time came
power Il
the heavens and Che earth
Only the great God could conceive such a |
compilation and complication Of organic |
and inorganic matter. Since creation many |
wonderful thoughts have occupied the
minds of men. but none have suggested
themselves. They have been waited into |
and born, through the channel of human
thinking by the appearance OF some sug. |
gestlVc occurrence. We think our thoughts |
after God. 1t thus follows that we could |
not think of tie universe without SEEM
somcthIng to suggest it.
only the Almighty could design the uni. |
verse; Architecture is n science to be ac. |
CURED under the instruction Of one who |
mas mastered this branch of learning and !
ls therefore able to impart it to others !
Designing a dwelling is possible because
there are those who have been instructed |
IN the art. Designing the universe is nos. |
Sloie or e oniy to God, since no other has been
and grandeur. He holds the key which nm. ,
ton.
=, Granting for The sake of argument that
mere are minds OF adequate scope to com.
see any. advantage, since conception with
ou' aOilty to execute must remain dor
nant. For Moses who could smite a
lock and Joshua who could arrest the
create create a universe, Men have done great
thlngs' but God has done greater. Man
can S no more make designs for nature than
he can cause the grass 10 grow and the
flowers to bloom It is all within The ab;I.
Ky ity OF God and of Him alone. 90 Lord
> H. The Variety of Gods Creation--"O
Lord how manifold are Thy works. which
Is tIo Simply npy the biblical form. of expressing
handiwork. These are denominated KIM
doms. The mineral kingdom is constituted
Pt inorganic species. 1t has ever enlisted
tine labors Of the most brilliant intellects
and devoted students. Every decade Of
research has disclosed some relic OF the
ages, while even greater fields remain IN
explored. What will be disclosed in the
future future no one can tell. We cannot but be.
hheve that more remains concealed than
mas been discovered. 20 Lord how mani
fold are Thy works" mann
>, The vegetable kingdom is filed with life
FROM the smallest plant to the largest tree
arc arc varieties innumerable. This is another
neld IN which investigation has not been
wanting. Great numbers of grasses, flow
ers and herbs OF all kinds arc heinz dis