Evening journal., 1907-04-09
DOES THE LORD
HEAL DISEASE?
Sermon Preached by the Rev.
George h. Dole at New
Jerusalem Church

by the Rev. George Henry Dole, its
pastor. VINO took AS his topic. Does the /
Lord Heal Diseases?" Pastor Dole
found his text in that portion Of the
1OSd Psalm:
Bless the Lord o my SOUL and for
get not all His benefits. Who forgivest
an thine miquitles, who healeth all thy
diseases. who redeemeth thy life from
destruction, who crowneth thee with
loving kindness and tender mercies."
In part he said:
"The first verse Of the text ex-
presses the feeling that we should all
ways have toward the Lord, BLESS the
Lord O my soul"
Some people think that the Lord is
severe with them. They want many
things. but do not get them. They
suffer many things, but they do not
see why. They grow to be discon-
tented with their lot, and feel that they
are worthy Of better, and that the Lord
disregards them. Inwardly they do not
bless, but they curse the Lord.
1.-THE text describes the state into
which I'VE should strive to come, or the
relation that we may all sustain to the
Lord, a relation toward Him whereby
we feel IN our hearts that He blesses
us. From the inward feeling that He
blesses we are given 10 exclaim, Bless
the Lord. o my soul Then Il is added,
"and forget not all his benefits" If
we do not from our souls bless the
Lord, il is because we forget His bene-
fits. and dwell upon what we have not
obtained, or upon some minor thing.
There are many things over which
people grieve, worry, and fear; but
there is only one real scu-ce Of sor-
row, only one actual cause for fear
and that is our own sins. There is alb
solutely nothing that can hurt US, ex-
ccpt our own evils The Lord so gov
nns administering and guardian an
gels, in whose care we are. that no
matter what IS said to Us or done to
US. only good will come 60 us, IL we
are strong I'm temptation, and sin not.
And this is the strength that we may
be given from the Lord TO say in af-
Fiction and joy alike, BLESS the Lord
o my soul
What Of worth is there i'm character
that praises the Lord in success and
sunshine. but in adversely and sorrow
turns from Him. and finds fault? L.
II not evident that such want their own
way, and are unwilling TO walk with
the Lord or endure His oaptisin2 Does
He not say to such, "What can ye no;
watch with me one hour?"
when the storm is raging without,
we most value the shelter Of our houses.
! The cold bleak winds of winter give
the fireside its cheerful comfort. The
/ deepest joys of the soul come when
amidst ahiiction We feel the Divine
shelter. and can say within us. Bless
the Lord @ my soul" lngo this state
the spirit Of God flows giving the sou
| eternal life. and thence descending Z,
the body as it's health anu protection.
Il have sad that there Is but ont
thing for which any one should grieve
and that is his sins. And If we know
the nature and love of Goa. we viii
not grieve even over them. We vii
simply shun them. and rejoice because
when we cease 10 sin. the Lord for
gives all our iniquities.
There are some people who can nnt
nothing to rejoice over We an alik,
| have the greatest things TO give de-
light and comfort. Some Of them ar,
! expressed in our text, and this is one
that our iniquities may be forgiven
We nay rot be able to bless the Lort
for riches. or renown, or great talent
/ or glory; but what are all of these n
upon our conscience is the weight oi
sin. or II our hearts are impure or de-
filed? Here is the greatest thing. am
/ equally for all the Lords forgiveness,
whereby guilt IS removed, ard we ar,
given eternal life. This state of limo.
cence i'm the soul is an abiding place OF
the Lcrd's spirit, whereby the health.
ful life Of the soul is imYarted even {,
the body And so another reason foi
gratitude follows, "Who healeth az
thy diseases"
"Forgiving iniquities and healin;
diseases do not come together here b,
accident. Forgiving iniquities is the re-
moval Of disorders from the soul Heal
ing disease IS the removal Of disorder
from the body; and to-day I want 1,
emphasize the fact tina. Il is He VIII
fcrgivos iniquities. that heali
diseases. and that He whl
forgive iniquities viii heal disease
Do not put any limitation OF
the Lords power TO save YOU. Fo'
I He can ard viii. II you come into righ
! IEN1INUn 10 AAIiAlt save lWM lllA UAllN IINii
part, but from all your enemies.
1--WE would not make the chief thni
Of religion the healing OF diseases. Ou
great fear should not be for what kill
the body. but for sin that destroys tn
soul with evil desire ana lust for life
But we should not err in the opposit
direction by failing to realize that tn
Lord desires also to redeem us from
disease. In the bible 1re stated tn
laws OF disease and its cure. "If tho
wilt diligently hearl0en 20 the voice o
the Lord thy God, and wilt do tina
which is right in his sight. and vii
give ear 20 His commandments, am
keep all His statues. 1 will put none o
these diseases on thee, which / hav
brought upon the Egyptians, for l an
the Lord that healeth thee" This is I
say that disease does not exist insid
of Divine order. It takes ho'd wher
we are out cf order. Coming into Di
vine order removes us from the realr
of disease. for the Lord is Divine orde
Itself, and so He heals. if the huma
race for three or four generation:
should shun all evil desires and wron
thoughts. and cultivate affection 70
the pure end the holy. diseases woul
be banished from the earth; for a
diseases have their primary origin {
the states of affection and thought j
the soul. All things are under IN
Z power ana dominion OF the Lord. II
l permits diseases that they may act a
deterrents by Modifying tendencies 20
ward evil. But If society would com
| into such order as wOull render dis