Year: 1873

PREACHED n WILMINGTON DEL. JASY. 1sT, 1873


By 7. G. STEWART.


TExr.-And the people said unto joshua the
Lord our God will We serve and His voice Will We
oDey.-JosHUA, q; ~.


The existence Of God may be set down as a
First Truth to be comprehended by intuition.
AL men seem TO have in some degree belief
in a superior intelligence, to whom religious
reference is due.


Whether this intelligence is divided or unified
to it or them is assigned by human faith the gov
ernment of the world and man is seen in ali
stages OF civilization seeking intercourse and
friendship with a real or imaginary Diety. The
altar, the priest and the sacrifice are found
among all nations eyidencing the faith of the
people in the existence of God and in His super
intendence over what might be called human af
fairs. AL heathels and Christians invoke the
aid of their Gods on going into battle, the
highest display OF human valOr and might, and
azcribe to divine hand the glory Of victory.


And it is not strange that this faith and these
manifestations Of it should prevail so generally
when we consider that God has created man for
His own companionship and glory, and has en-
dowed him with capacity to know and enjoy Hin
forever and 2, that all nature stands before him
as an open book in which are printed in ocean.
river, sea, and gulf. in mountain, hill aud dale.
in forest, field ard meadow, fragments OF the
eternal biography of God.


Every man is supplied by Heaven with two
volumes of sound theology, the one within him,
the other around him, which fully accord with
each other and unite in proclaiming the exist
epce Of God and in testlfying to His Proyidcnce.
But to full comprehension OF the complex
idea Of Providence 1t is necessary TO add the tes
timony OF a third witness. The light that il
within man with all the teaching OF nature
around him, although sufficient to inspire ques-
tons and create shadowy ideas ofa superior con-
troll, is not clear enough to give uniformity IN
knowledge or faith, Hence those who attempt
to follow these lights alo 10 are divided into an
almost endless variety OF religions all contain.
ing some truth. bat all, much more OF error.


This vanity clearly shows that truth, simple
and pure, is not discovered, nor by the aid OF
these lights alone can it be. Truth always har-
monies with itself, and did all men see and
obey the whole truth on any subjec', there could
be no antagonism among them with regard TO it.
Truth can never be divided, nor can what is call
ed one truth ever oppose another truth. Truth
may oppose falsehood or fAlsehoOd may oppose
itself, but truth never can oppose itself.


The sacred scriptures being continued reve-
lauon Of God must cOmport with creation, ant
30 they do, with this exception, that they gC
much farther in the facts they communicate aud il
the clearness of detail. The giving Of the IN
splred word is like the rising Uf the sun among
the stars Of the morning. Although light j,
uniform, one and the same substance eyeryRhert
and can never oppose itself altl ough it is tht
same a. it twinkes from the tiniezt star a. wheI
poured fOuth by the powerful sun appears the
light Of the stars as the stars themselves is los
t9 view. The stars still remain and continue t
shine but have no glory BY reason OF the glor.
that eXcelleth


80 the light Of the sacred word oLseures bv it
Very brightness the din and uncertain light o
conscience and nature, although in no sense OF
posing 1t. And especially is this true with re
gard to Divine Providence. In this the scrip
tures far exceed the clearest vision Of the mos
enlightened heAthens, being more than the fu'
nilment OF the auxieties and dreams of Socrate
himself.


The IDEA OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE


Without attempting TO discuss the various nc
tions Of a providence which prevail among other,
lot Us first state the faith Of the Christian worl
upoa this Albject. think we can all agre,
that all things, the whole visible and inyiriUl
creation, are under the governing control OF I'll
God who created them.


That He Iules the Heavens and earth accordin
10 HIS own will, that there is but one will supe
intending the universe. 3. That this will
backed with power sufficient to fnlfl all its d
signs 20 that there can be no failure OF diyir
purpose from lack Of ability TO execute
That this government is exercised with tine ful
est regald for the nature and relation Of
creatures, or in other words that it is guided
infinite wisdom and ustit thus always ayoldiI
collision. 5, That earnest desire for the goI
OF all creatures or the perfection Of goodnez
leneyolence and love peryades the Divine a
mustratiOn insuisng to ali the largest pozsi6
happiness. In this sphe.e as in creation arc |
spiIat!on God is Love.


u.-PAoyIDEScE As RELArED To MAN.


We proceed to consider this subject as relat,
to man especially. We have said that in all Il
proyidences God recognizes to the fullest exte
the character aud relations Of the creatur
How then is man goyernedi How affected
this benign controlr Man is created. saith Il
Scripture, in the likeness and image of God.
the political image beca 1se st the mead Of cart
ly creatures, in the il telectuAl image becAu
endowed in finite degree with all the faeulti