The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-04-30

lHls luVulIlnS as 10 now oOstsScu
various classes. At least Ave times
was the question asked in one form or
another.
The Troublesome "how"
That little word how" has been a
great troubler, II is often asked with
reference TO the actions OF God. The
Christian church, backed by the Word
OF God. teaches that God IN all-power.
full and ALLOWING Now comes some.
one and asks. How can you reconcile
that teaching with the fact OF so much
suffering on this earth and that on
fault OF their own" How can YOU
reconcile that with the doctrine OF
eternal punishment OF the wicked9"
How can you reconcile that with the
cruel death In the Cross OF Calvary"
How can the blood OF Jesus Christ
have any connection with the forgive.
ness OF "A mans sins2" How can sim.
pie trust in Jesus Christ result I'm sal.
vation?" Are such questions Justi.
fiedY
Be Sure OF the Fact.
In tho Scripture case the man had
been born blind and everybody knew
II. He met Jesus one day and I'm
very brief period OF time was made TO
see. n fact TO which there was no con.
tradlction. Now this Ia "A most impor.
tant matter In the application OF the
text TO moral or spiritual transforma.
tions. The genuineness OF these are
usually supported by some radical
change In "A person. and also by the
permanence OF the change. The per
manent change being established. no
one questions the fact. If II IN an In.
dividual that IL interested I'm this mat.
ter, he may simply ask himself the
question. Are things different from
what they were7" He can usually an.
swer that question with the greatest
positiveness. He knows what he now
loves, and what his life is as compared
with what II was. and he has hopes
for the future that give him n satisfac.
tion that he never knew before. In
short we can say. Tie knows that no
is saved, II liz "A fact" Job knew that
Alf iN'h''ul'l lNfbs bhl wan Iulll
persuaded that the good work had be.
gun In him. John knew that he and
other Christians had passed from
death unto life
AS 10 the outward steps that may
have To be taken. 'hey may be known.
as In the case OF the man born blind.
In most cases of genuine conversion
the outward steps can be seen, but so
much has been made OF these that
souls have been made TO believe that
unless they could see the steps In
their own conversion they had no
claim 20 be called children OF Cod The
books that have recently appeared
such as "Twlce.Born Men" by Harol1
Begbie. relating moral and spiritual
transformations. have left the impres.
sion on many that they must pass
through similar experiences. In short
they must know how"
In genuine spisitual Transformation
the work Is that OF tho Holy Spirit,
who works when and where and how
he pleases. IL must be kept in mind
that the Holy Spirit Is God. and God
has always reserved 20 himself the
right TO keep his purposes secret. and
as well his methods OF operation. and
II is more than foolish 20 try TO enter
where angels fear To tread
Why Not Ask "How7"
Cumming up these thoughts. we may
observe that the asking Of the ques
tion how" Is frequently mere quib
Bile. the avoiding OF the main proposi
ton. n rs oftentimes not sincere, the
purpose being other than getting an
answer for proper ends. In the case
before us the question was asked 10
involve Jesus IN some technical breach
OF tho Jewish Sabbath day
There Is great impertinence In ask.
Ing tho question for ~ may belong 10
the secret things ~ God. The physi.
clan does not ordinarily feel under any
obligation 10 tell the patient how the
medicine works.
Sometimes the answer Of the cues
tlon would be- the disturbing ~ the
comfort of the inquirer. and n Is mer
ciful In God 20 keep the process a 60.
cret
The asking o. the question and
awaiting an answer are not only a
waste o' time. but may be the taking
% some ~ Gods time for service,
for every moment OF The after life be.
"a