Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
SOME LESSONS OF THE
+. EARTHQUAKE AT MESSINA
BIZ BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER

serious on hand. The severity bears a
look of principle and law, and the I'm
sparing rigors, hedging us about, tell of
a divine purpose and authority that re-
spect high reasons and are able to be inn
lnovably faithful in their vindica ton. In
this manner pain changes the whole i'm
port and expression of our moral sphere.
Every pain strikes in touching the quick
of our remorse, and giving 1t practical
sanction. We cannot look about upon
such a spectacle Of grooming, writhfng
members of the world exhibits and think
Of it as being any way reconeilable with
Gods perfect fatherhood, without precev-
ing that there is a moral frame about
the picture, that it means eternal govern
ment and responsibility to God"
The suffering Saviour is the solution of
all suffering among men. The writer of |
the Epistle to the Hebrews touches the
very heart of the subject when he says,
1T became Him. for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory to make the
Captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings." If to bring sons unto glory
Christ did not disdain TO endure the ago.
MES of Gethsemane and Calvary, such
sonship we may be sure is more precious
than painlessness and cannot be secured
without heartbrealking distress.
We can trust Him to lay no needless
agonies on the race of man, or upon IN
dividuals of the race, when we know He
has endured far more for US men in His
own body on the tree. without that di-
vine Sufferer hanging in excruciating pain
and unterrified love in the midst Of his
tory l know not how we could face the
appalling facts of human history; but
when we know that all the processes OF
nature and the ongoings of Providence pro-
coed from the Crucifed One, that at the
heart of the universe is Sufferer touched
with infinite compassion for us, we may
rest confident of His love even when we
can not foresee the elimination OF His
plans nor discern clearly the way He
takes. The shaking, trembling earth Is
rocked by his hands which were pierced
for us, and hence we refuse TO lave mis-
givings about His tenderness though the
most untoward events come to pass.
Therefore win not we fear. though the
earth be removed, and though the noun
tains be carried into the midst of the sea;
though the waters thereof roar and be
troubled. though the mountain shake with
the swelling thereof" Psaims Xvi: 2, -.
Love which dehed all that pain and death
could do to it can never henceforth be dis
trusted. He that spared not His own
Son, but delivered Him up for US all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give
US all things. CRomans VII: S29.
II we stood at the end OF eafth's his
tory. and saw now the elimination OF the
divine purpose, we should doubtless dis
Germ how even these terrible earthquakes
have been essential parts Of great move
ment of mercy. We know thaE all the
forces of nature are servants of spirit
uaI kingdom and that all Of them throb
in response TO the spiritual purpose which
they serve When Jesus died on Calvary
the record is, ''tIle earth did quake and
the rocks rent" AS the end draws near
He forewarns His servants that there
shall be famines and pestilences and
earthquakes in divers places" Matthew
xxiv: .. We may not from these words
speculate about 1.-THE times and the sea
sons which the Father hath put in His
, own power beyond all our scrutiny; but
we may assuredly gather from them that
all the forces of nature, even It's convul-
l'sive forces, keep step with the movement
of Gods kingdom Of grace and are SUD
seryfent to It. AS an earthquakes marked
the crucffxion of the Son Of God earth
quakes in divers places viii 'precede His
coronation. gl
Standing in human WEAKNESS amid these
mighty, terrible forces in motion all
around us. we are not affrighted: for our
Lord is Master of them ALL If they
should hit us they could not really harm
us our hearts being true to Him. Nobody
but obstinate and 'incurable sinners have
suffered really in the earthquake at Mes
sina: for the children Of God who have
died there have on the upheaval been INT
cd into their eternal home. None but SIN
ners ever can meet real harm In the uni
verse and they hurt themselves. For
the rest of men who love and serve God,
ALI things are theirs 1.-The world, life,
death. things present, and things to come
Ian are theirs; for they are Christ's and
Christ is Gods.