The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-02
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. c. L. PALMER.
subject: What the Creation Means-Only
the Almighty Could Make such a
world-There is No Riddle of the UNI
yerse-The Answer is Immortality.

world-There is No Riddle of the Uni
yerse-The Answer is Immortality.
KINGSTON, N. Yin the Reformed
Sunday morning, the Rev. G. /. Palmer
preached the following sermon, entitled
what the Creation Means" He took his
text from Psalm lO4:24, 20 Lord, how
manifold are Thy works, in wisdom hast
Thou made them all. the earth is full OF
Thy riches"
Won Humboldt says: ''That this Psalm
represents the image of the whole cosmos.
1t is astonishing to find in a lyrical poem
of such limited compass the entire UNI,
with a few bold touches. The calm and
toilsome 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 retrospectlon
of an o%mnipotent and omnipresent invisl-
Bile power which can renew the earth OF
crumble it to dust, constitute n solemn and
exalted, rather than a glowing and gentle
form Of poetic creation"
1t is thus a 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 arranged in his
day as we'll as at any time. In the author
lied edition of the English Bible the au-
thorship is accredited to David. The Eng.
lish and American editions of the Revised
Version made no mention of its 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 is
still consistent to employ it, since it ex-
presses a truth that time cannot change.
Unlike many of the Psalms this one is
capable of analysis, the natural and logi-
cal plan being a reproduction of the six
creative periods. This is not only evident
to the careful reader, but is confirmed by
the most reliable sources. And this is not
unimportant, since it Is another argument
in favor of the unanimity of opinion con-
corning the plan that God followed when
He created the universe. The work of the
irat and second days, light, the sky, clouds,
winds, lightning, occupy verses IA. The
original chaotic state, and the separation
of land from water on the third day, verses
80. The third creative day continued that
which had been commenced on the preced-
ing. The growth of plants and trees,
which implies irrigation by clouds and
streams. Here the poet introduces birds
and creatures of the field and forest, which
do not appear in the Mosaic narrative un.
til much later. verses l4-l8. The work Of
the fourth day, the sun and moon, but with
verses 1925. The poet having already wo-
ven into his song part of the work of the
fifth and sixth days, now returns to it, and
describes the sea with its living creatures,
these with all else, the whole visible crea-
ton IN absolute dependence upon God,
verses 24-30. In verses 3l-35 the Psalmlst
describes his longing to see the bright orig
inal restored.
The text being the oath verse is a part of
the division including 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, interpreter
tion, because the literal translation reads:
10 Lord, how manifold are Thy works, in
wisdom hast Thou made them all, the earth
is full of Thy creatures"
l. The Psalmist Recognizes God as the
Creator-"O Lord Thy works." Writing
by inspiration does not necessarily pre-.
clude the use of provincialism, provided
that such correctly describe facts. And
they may be enlarged or modified in order
TO De accurate. lHe uOcIrIue IduRHC Ill
this Psalm is in strict accord with notions
prevailing at the time of its composition
Ind since that there was a time when only
God existed, and that there came q time
when the universe was formed. 1t is the
teaching of all the ancient faiths that the
universe did not spring into existence of
It's own v~oiition, but was made out OF moth
Ing by Almighty God. Often, however, the
conception is vague and confused and even
meaningless, because destitute of that light
which lighteth every man coming into the
world. 1t is the clear implication of the
Scriptures that there was a. time when
when He employed His power to fashion
che heavens and the 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 appel rance of some sug-
gestive occurrence. We think our thoughts
after God. 1t thus follows that we could
not think of the universe without seeing
something to suggest it.
Only the Almighty could design the uni
verse. Architecture is a science to be ac-
luired under the instruction Of one who
has mastered this branch of learning and
is 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 pos
sible only to God, since no other has been
or is able to suggest a plan of such scope
and grandeur. He holds the key which un-
locks the mysteries OF this sublime concep-
ton.
Gront;po Gov III Gala &c o,o,,,oot That
there are minds of adequate scope to COM
prehend the fact of a universe, We cannot
see any advantage, since a conception with
out ability to execute must remain DOR
mant. For a Moses who could smite a
rock, and a Joshua who could arrest the
Sun, would be bafled in attempting to
create a universe. Men have done great
things, but God has done grea :er. Man
can no more make designs for n;.tnre chan
he can cause the grass to grow and the
flowers to bloom. 1t is all within the abil-
ity of God and Of Him alone. 20 Lord
Thy works"
III. The Variety Of Gods Creation-"O
Lord how manifold are Thy works" which
is simply the biblical form of expressing
the many organized types of the Creators
handiwork. These are denominated king
doms. The mineral kingdom is constituted
of inorganic species. 1t has ever enlisted
the 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 I'M
explored. What will be disclosed in the
future no one can tell. We cannot but be-
lieve that more remains concealed than
has been discovered. 90 Lord how mani
fold are Thy works"
The vegetable kingdom is filled with life.
From the smallest plant to the largest tree
are varieties innumerable. This is another
field in which investigation has not been
wanting. Great numbers of grasses, flow
ers and herbs of all kinds are being dis.
nn,,arad Tho ~ nnni,ro onllnnkion L. a n,,nn4..