The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-13
IA SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. c. L. PALMER
Subject: What the Creation Means-Only
the Almighty Could Make Such n
World-There IL No Riddle OF the Uni
verse-The Answer fs Immortality.

L
"What the Creation Means He took his
text from Psalm 1924, 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 tins Psalm
represents the image of the whole cosmos.
II u astonishing to find i'll q lyrical poem
I of such limited compass the entire uni.
verse. the heavens and the. earth, sketched
\ with lew bod touches. The calm and
toilsome labor OF man from the rising of
4 the sun 10 The setting Of the same, when
|: his daily work is done. Is here contrastcd
with the moving life of the elements Of
nature. Thtr- contrast and generalization
is the conception OF the mutual action of
natural phenomena, and this retrGspection
of an omnipotent and omnipresent invisi-
|, bic power which can renew the earth or
erumb.e it to- dust. constitute solemn and
exalted. rather than glowing aud gentle
|. form of poetic creation
1t is thus a, hymn of creation, written by
whom we Enow not. In. the Sept it is
J; ascrbed 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 well as Mt any time. In the author
lied edition. of the English Bibie the au-
lSh and American editions Of the Revised
Version made no. mention Of ifs writer.
but many and potent are the reasons which
lead us to the conclusion that the hymn
oiogist OF Israel composed this song for the
people of God 1t was fitting that it
should be used in. tile temple, and It is
still consistent to. employ it, since it eX-
presses % truth that time cannot change.
Unlike many OF tie 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 il is another argument
in favor OF the unanimity ei opinion con-
cerning 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
original chaotic state, and the separation
of land from water on the third day. verses
So The third creative day continued that
which had been commenced on the preced-
ing. The growth OF pants 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.
I til much later, verses l4-lS. The work OF
special reference to men and animals,
| verses 1926. 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 erea-
ton in absolute dependence upon God,
| verses 24-30. IH verses 3l-35 the Psalmist
describes his longing to sec the bright orig.
| inal restored.
The text being the 24th verse is 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 interpreta-
20 Lord, how manifold are Thy works, in
wisdom hast Thou made them all. the earth
is full of Thy creatures"
| !. The Psalmist Recognizes God as the
Creator-"O Lord Thy works" Writing
by inspiration does not necessarily pre-
clude the use of provincia,ism. provided
that such correctly describe facts. And
they may be enlarged or modified in order
to be accurate. The doctrine taught in
this Psalm is in strict accord with notions
prevailing at the time of its composition
and since that there was time wnen only
God existed, and that there came time
when the universe was formed. 1t Is the
teaching OF all the ancient faiths that the
universe did not. spring into existence OF
! its own voiition, 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. I: is the clear implication Of the
Scriptures that there was a time when
God was alone. ard that the time came
when He employed His power to fashion
the heavens and the earth.
Only the great God could conceive such q
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'
gestive occurrence. We think our thoughts
after God. 1t thus follows that we could
not think OF the universe without seeing
something to suggest 1t.
! Only the Almighty could design the uni
verse. Architecture is a science to be ac-
quired 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 abe to suggest plan of such scope
and grandeur He holds the key which un-
locks the mysteries OF this sublime concep-
ton.
{ Granting for the sake of argument that
there are minds of adequate scope to com
prehend the fact of universe. we cannot
see any advantage. since a conception with
out ability to execute must remain dor
mant. For Moses who could smite n
rock, and a Joshua who could arrest the
sun, would be bafsled in attempting to
create a universe. Men have done great
things, but God has done greater. Man
can no more make designs for nature than
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-"0
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 int elects
and devoted students. Every decade OF
research h2s disclosed some relic OF the
ages. while even greater fields remain un-
explored. What will be disclosed III the