Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-07
Sunday Morning Talk
DOES GOD SEND TROUBLED

There are times when even plain
men turn theologians. One can hardly
live in this perplexing world and form
no theory as to the method of its gov
eminent What has God to do with our
human affairs, we ask ourselves. From
time to time the public or private
calamities that shock our minds bring
the problem nearer. The untold suf-
ferings in war-ridden Europe, the re-
cent steamboat horror in Chicago, the
almost daily record of cruel tragedies
on land or sea that fills the papers,
these present themselves to the think
ing person, anxious to believe that he
lives in a normal universe. and cause
much difficulty.
burden OF any kind of trouble on the
Almighty. They find a sort of conso-
lation in the belief that whatever
blows fall on men are sent by God In
the presence of calamity they lower
their eyes and speak of the sad event
as a dispensation of Providence. They
bow themselves to endure what they
regard as the divine will.
All of this may be thoroughly admir-
able in spirit but it does not always
reveal a clear understanding. Neither
Is it calculated to increase the love of
the average man for the Almighty. Be-
sort the primitive savage felt himself
surrounded by host of spiritual forces
malevolent at heart. forces that hate
the ways Of man and beast, despise
their pleasures and rejoice in their
pain. He lived in constant terror of
his gods. Can the modern man have a
sentiment essentially more tender than
this toward his deity if he must charge
up to Him the whole sorry tale of hu-
man disasters that SO wiring our
hearts?
am ono Of those who believe, not
that God sends, but that He only per-
mits trouble. He allows the great
natural laws to take their course. Eff
feet is suffered to follow cause with
unerring certainty. God does not
breaks a law of nature. Trouble comes
in this world in consequence of human
ignorance or disobedience but that is
by no means equivalent to saying that
God sends trouble.
We get sick because we are human
The body is part of the material order.
subject to those laws of physics, chem
iStry and mechanics that obtain every
where. When, through accident or dis
ease, the machine gets out of order
We suffer the consequences. We fail
in business or in domestic life because
we either cannot or will not fulfill the
conditions of success. Whatsoever a
| man soweth that shall he also reap.
We die because we are mortal. The hu-
man machine is made to last just about
so long and then it goes to pieces no
| matter what care we give to it.
But IF God does not send trouble,
why, at least. does he permit it? Only
a hint toward answer is vouchsafed
| to us but a hint that will, perhaps,
serve as clue to the labyrinth. 1t Is
that through the sharp discipline OF
pain man learns what he could learn
in no other way. Suffering is permit
| ted, but it is ordained that strength
may come out of the suffering.
God caused no member of that fam
+ lily circle to die in order that the other
members may be made more tender
| hearted and sympathetic. Our relative
| died because his physique was hope
/ lessly undermined and death came to
release him from an impossible sit
| uation. But now God can so overrule
| the bereavement as to make it reveal
| in us the peaceable fruits of righteous
ness, of sympathy, OF tender-hearted
/ consideration for others as We have
i never known before.
/ God sends ruin on no mans bust
/ ness. Ruin comes because OF some es-
/ sential weakness in that particular
mercantile arrangement But when
failure comes, be 1t from misjudg-
ments, from dishonest partnerships, or
/ from whatever cause. God puts be-
meath the defeated man the everlasting
arms of his love and shows him that
| there are some things in life ten times
better than gold. That one has a
hard time in this vale Of tears is no
| evidence that God is displeased with
| him. 1t means merely that he Is hav-
/ ing. some of the tougher lessons in the
/ school of life in order that finally, like
i the Captain of our Salvation, he may
be made perfect through suffering"
| THE PARSON