The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-08-28

not God love man till theng Did God
mot till then purpose MANS salvation?
Surely Gods loving purpose OF saliva
| ton has been from all eternity, even
Ebefore the earth and the world were
made.
why then, did Christ not come
sooner?
Because the world was not ready
sooner. 1t took ages to get the world
| into condition for the coming OF Christ
From the very beginning the Spirit
of God had been brooding over the
world, working among all nations of
men.
From the beginning. He had been
seeking to lead men more and more
into the TRUTH
But humanity in the mass Is like the
individual. A nation as unit is like
the individual Just as each individ-
ual passes through the several stages
of his career from infancy. through
| childhood and youth to maturity; so
each nation passes through its period
of infancy and childhood and youth,
before it can stand forth in the
strength and wisdom of it's maturity.
pass through these several stages be-
fore II can take its place as a mature,
self governing member of the family
of nations
And just AS the child must have the
firm though loving hand of parents,
first to control, then to guide his activ-
ity till he reaches the years Of discre-
ton and ability to govern himself;
H..
archs iron hani, though gloyed in vel
vet, to rule them till they, as a race or
nation, develop that self control and
wisdom that will enable them to be-
come self governing republic in the
sisterhood of republics that shall be
here on earth.
We, Americans, should constantly
thank God that our nation has entered
upon its stages of self-control. And
we should pray that the sister nations
of the world may soon be all fitted for
such form of government.
But we can not help looking upon.
the efforts of our sister state OF Mex
leo with feelings of mingled hope and
fear, curious whether she still needs a
monarchs hand to give her stable
government, peace and prosperity.
And so we look across the Atlantic,
we feel no hesitation in saying that
the time has come when the enlighten-
ed peoples OF Europe should assert
their manhood and womanhood and
throw off the monarch's yoke and de-
clare their ability to govern themselves.
England, today. is practically repub-
lie. For did you not read of the re-
sentiment and almost open revolt when
recently her king attempted to advise
her policy in certain recent crises?
And why should other enlightened peo-
pies on the continent be less self-gov-
erning? And why should any of them,
II self-governing. maintain the hollow
mask OF a monarchical form Of gov
eminent? May II not be that the hour
is near at hand when the intelligent,
industrious, European shall snap the
leading strings of their imperial mas
ters? Or are these peoples still in
their racial infancy?
And Just as individuals, just as ma
tons and tribes of men must pass
Through these stages, just so the human
race as whole is advancing from its
infancy towards its manhood's estate.
And because of this fact, il took ages
for mankind to become ready for the
coming Of the Christ.
From creation, Gods spirit has been
working with humanity, seeking to
guide each tribe and nation in it's de-
velopment.
But not all have equally yielded to
that Spirit Not all have equally aided
the onward march of Gods purpose.
Some have been more instrumental
than others in working out Gods plan
on earth. And just as certain individ-
uaIs are better qualified for certain
kinds OF work than others, so 1t has
been with nations. Therefore, as we
look back over the ages, we can see
how that some have contributed more
and some less to the forming OF the
most suitable time for the coming of
the Christ; and of those that have con-
tributed most, some have aided In one
way, and others in another.
The greatest share in contributing
to 1.-THE fullness of time" for Christ's
coming was made by three nations OF
antiquity: the Jews, the Greeks and
the Romans.
or these, the Jews contributed the
religious element. The Hebrew nature
was essentially religious, Though
tenacious of opinion, yet II once II
grasped truth the Hebrew DISPOSE
ton never gave it up. Though stiff
necked, yet steadfast to the ideas &C
cepted. And under the guidance of
Gods Spirit. Israel rose to the con-
ception OF one God. We who have all
our lives been familiar with no other
doctrine than that there is only one
God, can not conceive the terrible con-
trast where they have many gods. II
was a great victory for true religion
when the doctrine of the unity of God
became firmly held.
Another great victory for religion
was when the Israelites, by the Spirit
of God, were lead to conception of
Gods righteousness and holiness. And
though there was much that was re-
peIlant in their picture Of that right
eousness, yet it marked great adj
vance toward the true religion. And
even the awfulness Of Israel's picture
of Gods holiness resulted in a keener
sense OF the sinfulness Of sin, con-
seriousness of the awfulness of sin by
contrast with their awful picture of a
Hold God (Cf. Is. 9. lie; Ps. SO. 81.
And in their dire distress, In the
sinners fear of a holy God. they caught
a glimpse Of Divine mercy that could