The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28
OUR SERMON THIS WEEK.
"Some Principles Governing God In
Creation"

pies Governing God In Creation" Mr..
Hayward said it would be very inter-
esting and profitable to give the hour
to the consideration of what God had
created Or, again to how God Great
ed-whether in six days" of "a
hours; whether fashioning with his
own hands or willing into being or
posting in matter the conditions
from which coulds spring dependent
creatures. But, to the speaker, even
more interesting was the order of
creation, as revealed in the Scripture
and in geology.
He then gave a brief outline of the
order of creation, calling special at
tention to the fact that the third and
the sixth day gave activity in a dou-
BILE work, viz: The third day in out
lining land and water and in creating
the vegetable world. and the sixth day
IN creation of Mammals and the crea-
tion of man, and further pointed out
that the vegetable of the third day
was prophetic of and introduced the
organic Kingdom, and man OF the
sixth day was prophetic of and in
t.oduced the final-the spiritual
Kingdom to last forever.
Mr.. Hayward then proceed to his
real subject God created, governed
by what? God is Love. Love is the
only perfect action Love doeth no i'll
only good. God can create only
creatures, each of which will normal
ly work for the best good of all. This
must be potential at least in their
creaturehood He said, Give God time
and we will grant to J. S. Mill or any
other philosopher his claim that
Gods universe must be "as harmoni-
Gus as unity, as free as caprice and
as secure as fate
Harmonious-If only one being in
the universe, he may do as he pleases
and there is unanimity. If there Is
one being and his Creator, then he
must do as his Creator pleases in or
der to harmony. If multitude of
beings and their Creator are to exist,
then all must interact with the will of
their Creator or disharmony. What
can meet the demands? Love and
only love.
Freedom-Personality may well be
defined as self-determination Perfect
personality is perfect self-determina-
ton. This can be ascribed only to
God-the independent. Perfect depen-
dent personality is the highest inter-
action of finite with the infinite or
highest degree of self-determination
consistent with dependent persons or
creatures. What shall handle such a
problem? Only love is equal to the
awful strain.
Security-If any incidental or tenn
poral disharmonies should come in
the universe, what can be done? Only
love can answer, Il will have mercy
and not justice alone" Il, when
an lifted upon the cross will draw
all men unto me. Love never faileth.
But. said the speaker, some have
demanded that man should have been
made with perfect intelligence, but let
us see if this would have been bet
ter.
First-If any compulsion, then it
cannot issue in personal character
Moreover, it would not preclude self
ishness, for one can be just as selfish
and proud over great achievements
as over lesser. Then, too, 1t would
be just as liable to issue in fear
which Is a lesser good than love and
voluntary activity. Furthermore, what
finite mind could ever know all in
fnity?
Again, If such an one should fall
there would be less hope of recovery
greater guilt and encouragement
would be entailed upon him and far
greater injury would be done to all
the universe.
But, blessed be God, he has created
us at the lowest point of intelli-
gence and power, in. order that we
may the more readily be encouraged
and redeem ourselves, should we slip
and we shall do ourselves and the
entire universe the less harm, If we
fall and, best of all, we shall per
sonally enter into our own self
determined climb up the ladder oil
human excellency. If man put an
ambitious boy half way up ladder
he was anxious to climb it could be
said of the boy, You didn't clint
IL. NJOu pldtCu 10 at LiIC lOOI vi
the ladder of life and intends that we
shall make every round. II we fai
he is quickly at our side and says
BE not dismayed. You have not fall
en- from all heights. I4o, l am witt
you always. I will never leave mol
forsake you. Try it again and profit
by your mistakes. You shall yet fine
the glory of God in your glorious
creaturehood. Come up higher" Goo
sits expectant. Shall he be disap
pointed? Nay. Love never faileth."
Some of us need more of this love
Some of us think If we can only ge
in by the jamb Of the door into heav
en-, we will be all right. But has
God fence to keep people in heav
en-? No, no, only love can hold us
there or keep heaven from being hel
to US. Don't you love Him? Well
behold Him speaking from the cross
then try Him and l pledge you my
life and my all you will love Him Sc
YOU will hang around Him. with nc
fences, and there will be perfect har
mony You will be as free to go as
to remain, but you will stay all right
You will be as sure las fate" to stay
and heartily cooperate in the glor:
IT our God in the best good of all in {