The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-29
THE TRUEST HARMONY.
BY REV. Il. l.. BENIN.

At the close OF an earnest sermon the text God
so loved the world, etc, member of the congrega
uon approached the minister and asked: what about
Gods eternal purpose?" The minister replied: 81
believe in Gods eternal purposes it is the great bul
wark of the Scriptures" well then" answered
the inquirer, IF everything is included in Gods eter
nal purpose and at all events are certain TO come t
pass as God has purposed they should come to
pass, where is there any place for human liberty 30
Many times, no doubt when the mind is enoaged
Win th1s NIGH mysterious doctrine this question has
suggested itself. What is there for human lib
ei'y III uods eternal purpose? There is the place
ana all the room, that God made for human Ilert,
when he put it in his eternal purpose How often
Is the question asked by a certain class of thinkers
haiey what place is there for prayer in world all
Slrded and bounded by national laws? The answer l.
e 10 just the place that God gave prayer when
he created the world and sent it forth ON IFS mis-;
sion according to law And there is lust the place
Tor human liberty which he has given if in his eterno
purpose Here is to be found the truest harmony
Inc same God that ordained all events ordained
liberty IN the midst of all events. The freedom of
our wills is as certainly in the purpose of God as anv
thnS else Is In his purpose He who seriously thinks
upon this vital matter must feel a thrill of or.+itud
lat thls Is the case For, having determined i'm his
aimlghty power and infinite wisdom that these mil
non million human wills shall keep their liberty I'M
der sovereignty, Gods eternal purpose inovt,bI,
makes their freedom sure that there is abso+oI,
hotmnS-man, angel nor devil, that can possibly take
that freedom away And yet certainty must not he
'ohiouhueu with necessity. Certainty is not neces
s,y' Certainty was not necessity when Herod and
fllate and the rabble crucilied Christ Certoin+,
mas never been necessity. Is it not true that tbaro
are times in almost every mans exnerence ,vh no
oces IN or acquesces to the sublime doctrine that
~ Iuies ana relgns, and not another 1t NAV be
'eu III the sermon and acknowledged in the PRAYER
Whch follows the sermon 1t NAV be denied in tboor
Wnen all Is well, but III the hour of weakness and
heplessness and great wrongs the heart owns - J
reJoices that The Lord God omnipotent reionetb ;,
iohh tie scriptures we learn that God is all-wise
ana alipowerful and ALLOWING, and that there is
iieeuom under sovereignty liberty amid certainty
certainty without necessity personal resnonsibifv
Withih dlvlne purpose and that lions of wills
10 thelr own wills under and in an e. nal pIace with
i"' more harmony than thousand orkmen volun-
CITY "ork OUT the purposes of gov. rning board in
on'e great industrial system, and with far more
regularity IMAM thousand thousand soldiers bar
nohiously act under the will of captain general
what transcendent harmony The truth is .C.od,
sovereignty embraces human liberty the ocean SIN,
rounds the island; it upholds human liberty sc +b
" uPhods the bird; it defends human liberty as the
authority of true king defends the liberty If bi
SUBJECTS. so the Scriptures reveal Gods eternal
purpose, and the awful truth contained in tbe text
tod so loved the world that he gave his only beoottep
Son that whosoever beeveth in him might not perish,
put nave everlasting life There is no contradiction
but rather, the highest harmony.
Inc eternal purpose of God i'm Christ is orr round
OF confidence and steadfastness and hone The dav i
coming when Satan shall perish when sin and strife
snail be no more, when sorrow and signing and taar
snail cease when Christ shall put all enemies under
MS feet and when God shall be all i'm all This i tb
reading aspect of the divine purpose and tho tid
that bears the world to that glorious end is to SOW
erignty of Cod" Wv 'o'
~ mighty river, strong eternal will
IN winch the streams of human good and i'll
Are onward swept, conflicting to the sea
Inc world is safe because it floats in Thee
Trenton Tenn