Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-11
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
The Goodness Of God
ny j. 4. l.:mbnnk.

Hast thou marked the old way which
wicked men have ;roddcn? Which cut
down out or time whose foundation over
flown with nood: which said unto Cod
Depart from us: and what the Almiehty
10 for them? Vet. lie filled their houses
with good thinEs.-Joh xii. ISIS
Tho blind folly Of man and the goodn css
Of God are two thoughts that will force them
selves upon every one who CONSIDERABLY reads
the above text.
Tho antiquity Of tho book Of Job is beyond
dispute. The tradition Of the ancient Jews
ascrihcs tho book to the Patriarchal age. anu
regards 1t as substantially based on historic
incidents. Modern research has not disprovcd
this claim. II evidences a degree of .cicnt iHC
knowledge that appears remarkable to us who
are in the habit OF Gathering ourselves that
the greater portion Of such knowledge was
reserved to the twentieth century
The language OF the text Is that Of Eliphaz
t" his afflicted friend Job The question plain
~ indicates that every man, even in that earl
age Of tn" world. is supposed tn have learned
from the experience of the past that mon
who ignore the existence and ruling provi-
dcncc OF God. and have troddcn in the paths
OF tho wicked. are cut down out OF their time
and have the foundation upon which
they have huildcd ovcri,own with a food
As general statement that has been true
within the experience" Of all tho ages The
man who does not rise above matcrialitv in
his thoughts walks out OF harmony with uni
in tho outset they will encounter slippery
places and pitfalls which will hinder his prog
rcSs.
The man who recognizes that God is omn-
potent. "mniscicnt and omniprcscnr walks in
tho conscious knowledge Of a Sustaining Arm
al every step he takes and in that assurance
h" is enabled t" plant his feet upon tho solid
ground of eternal truth the controlling prin :
ciple Of all law
Heaven pity the poor man who hath said
in his heart What can the Almighty do for
me? He has deliberately shut out Of his
ire inc only inspiration that has raised man
KIND above the level OF the beasts of the field.
And yet those who thus reject the ovcrrllinr
providence OF God do in face OF the fact
that He nils their house with good things"
Hear the testimony as to His goodness OF
one who trusted Iiim 20 God OF our saliva
non. Thou visitcth tho earth and
watcrcst IT: Thou greatly enrichcst II with
'he river oil God which Is full Of water Thou
prcparcst them corn, when Thou hast so pro-
Fidcd Tor II Thou wat"rcst the ridges thereof
abundantiy: Thou settlcst tho burrows there
or: Thou inakcst ii soft with showers: Thou
blcssest the sprinEing thereof Thou cro,,,
est the year with Thy goodness: and ,rh,.
pains drop fa'n"ss They drop upon the pas
lures OF IN" Wilderness: and the little hills
WI 'N''N Sl'" The pastures arc
clothed with nocks: the valleys also orc c,.
ered over with corn; they shou, for joy. ,hcv
also sing" ~
"heh We think these things and ,c
knowledge IN" further conclusion-as va
must II we have Informed ourselvcs-,b,t
mere Is not IN all III" universe suffering from
lack OF tho blessings which support material
life that cannot be traced back 70 No a,
OF mahkind and no, To tho withhoIJir- Of
'o" noun,'"S. IN" truth Of ST rauls obscr-
'auon' I'm" very goodness of God con,
s'r"'"'lh us I" worship Him" should /, seems
to us, hnd responsive echo in every bu,,,
heart. '""
" W. "e'r INC clos" of this year so fun Of
the evidences Of Gods ronducss =, -,
kih"' ict us then, firmly resolve. wha,cver
else hetide, that we will not leave God nm,
OF our iires in any portion Of the future ,vbic,
may be allotted to us '''