The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-03-26

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or goal; not an eddying current. but
great Gulf Stream, flowing on with
gathering momentum and speed to-
ward a far on and divine event"
The history wSs progressive, evolu-
tionary. and the goal of evolution is
freedom in the Kingdom OF God.
The law"--what was that but the
necessary objective standard in the
old times OF compulsion and force,
but now in the freedom OF love alb
sorbed in Christ, who is the end OF
the law 10 every one that believeth.
and TO bring us 10 Christ. the law as
schoolmaster was ordained.
The prophets What were they
but the awakening OF visions as the
insuffciency OF law became manifest
and the declaring and promising on
divine authority a great incarnation
Of suffering, atoning love. who would
be the fulfilling of all the law and
the prophets? All the promises and
prophecies of Israels history are de-
clared fulfilled in the coming OF Jesus
Christ.
And now / arrive at the second
great proposition: >. Jesus Christ
is the centre OF human history. full
filing its law and prophecy, and fur
nishing the type-man and liberator
OF all humanity. Let me quote Or.
Martinsen: The perfect revelation
OF the woodworking Providence
OF God is presented in the incarnate
LoGos. in the world-redeeming soul
saving manifestation of God in Christ
Human history finds its centre. its
true meaning, in the revelation Of
Jesus Christ. II is only in the light
which comes from Him, that human
ity can look back upon a past which
is fun OF meaning can look forward
10 a future full OF promise. and can
contemplate its development as an
organic whole. Human history.
which moves on apart from Christ,
without desire for. or belief in Him,
knows neither beginning nor end-it
Is objectless, IL has no centre"
Now. we have been looking over
large areas and asserting vast cer-
eralizations. We have discovered
philosophy OF history. that IL has "A
purpose which IS redemptioual, that
il has goal which is freedom. that
II has centre and head which is
Christ, that is has a glorious coIsum-
nation in the future which is the
Kingdom Of Christ and God | want
now to remind YOU that God governs
the mass by governing the atom; that
He swings the currents of history as
He is able 10 control the individuals.
What we have read writ large in hu-
man history, can we not read in our
own individual lives? Is there not a
philosophy of your personal history?
May not some kew of sniritual sig
niiicance he aprlied ~ the uuzZling
experiences of "our life and unlock
the hidden meaning? AS the Gospel
is the revelation OF Gods redemption
Al purpose in history and as Christ is
It's centre, so the whole OF your life
will fail of meaning and interpreta-
tation until YOU view il in this light.
Were YOU born amid Bibles and Sun
day schools, and pastors and teach
ers? What for in Gods providence
but to learn of His will concerning
you? Were your first conscious
views centered i'm the starry eyes OF
mother. whose fair face neavened you
over as a starry armament? What
was il but to elicit your smile and to
teach you love? Have you struggled
with mystery and battled with pas
sion? What for but to develop your
strength? Have you been afflicted?
What for but TO scourge you back 10
God? Have you been defeated. and
has the burden OF sin rested like
load on your conscience? What for
but to drive YOU TO the cross of Christ,
where kneeling in penitence. His
blood washes your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God?
Have you been believed and have YOU
refused to be comforted? what does
II mean but that you should take that
lonely aching heart to Him who alone
can heal il and fill its depths which
He has reserved for Himself alone?
ITO you is the word Of this saliva
tion sent" This is my third point.
This salvation is for you. 1t inter
prets your past. it opens up your fut-
ure. 1t makes the past full of Gods
patient seeking and beckoning love
for your heart. Won't you embrace
Christ as your All in All this morn
ing, and find in Him remission OF all
your sins, and freedom from its pow
er? Whom the Son makes free is
free indeed" This battle against sin
is the greatest battle of all for free
dom, and Christ is it's Champion and
the Great Emancipator. II is through
Him and His loyal servants in his
tory that you have freedom of the
Gospel, freedom of conscience, OF
knowledge, of speech and of press, OF
body. of nation. Will you not accept
the great salvation with its inner per-
sonal freedom from the power of sin
and Satan? He is the Good Shepherd
and He is seeking you. He will seek
until He finds" Yes. and He desires
not only TO find you. but 10 carry you
with oil your Bruises and burdens,
and establish you in the fold, Of Ills
church, giving YOU relations 10 II and
fitting you into His eternal kingdom
which is the final contamination O.
ALL things