Year: 1873

Mr.. Beecher Absent-The Justice Of Cod


The Fall OF the ANGLICAN ExhortatiOn


to Justice and Mcrcy-An Unusually


Interesting Sermon by the Rev. MIR.


Murray.


Plymouth pulpit was occupied yesterday morn
ing by the Rev. Mr. Murray, OF Park street church,
Boston, Mr.. Beecher, for once, making an ex-
change. There seemed to be no falling or in the
attendance, Is usually the case in Mr. Beecher's
absence. Mr.. Murray delivered a very interest
ing discourse on the justice of God. His
text was Psalm lxxxix, fourteenth verse
sJustlce and judgment are the habita-
ton OF thy throne.n l wish to speak
to you this morning OF the justice of God or Divine
Justice Not lew say that the pupits are reticent
on this subject. l desire that none may say it OF
me. believe IN the fathersood OF God and In His
justice. No one can comprehend the greatness OF
Gods love who does not know that justice under
lies it. will separate my sermon into two heads
FIRST, the Justice of God to His people; second, the
justice OF God as the rule OF His conduct. God is
His own governor; no counselIors sit with Hin;
He has no opposition even in thought and before
the glory of the Invisible universe the highest
archangel hides his face, and to the authority OF
the one central viii everything is subject


SO You see the government OF God is God Himself.
ask you to inquire what would be the predomi-
mating principle, the corner stone, on which this
structure is laid. God has for His subjects two
classes, the just and the unjust We're all the sub
ects pure and rlghtmlnded the severer elements OF
Gods government would be hidden: for such
state where there would be nothing to restrain,
where nothing would occur to rufe the mind, love
would undoubtedly be in the ascendant; but 1t is
not SO. AS far back as the annals extend


EVIL HAS COMMENDED WITH GOOD.


win You consider, now, the fall of the angelsY
make no attempt to explain that most mysterious
event; how, being pure and far above the world,
they could fall; but such was the fact rs For once,
at least the chariot OF God has been forced TO
battle, and God stood victor on that awful field.
What did He do9 He showed no maudlin pity; He
paid no attention to their pleadings for mercy
their sin was unpardonablc; hell was the appro.
pirate place for them, and Into u they went faded
and fell, and Gods pure ones rcJoiced.


The next instance was Gods treatment OF our
progentor, Adam. Vast periods OF time had been
employed to create world worthy OF man, until
such a result was obtained that God pronounced it
good. AT last man, endowed with reason, was
placed ON the earth. Thus situated, endowed with
every blessing there was only one Injunction laid
upon him,


And what folowed2 THIS man, who yielded TO
temptation through love-this man. whose parent
age linked him to the celestial orders-must he
for this one slip, fall loreyera Would not God
free Here was golden opportunity for God TO
forgive: but here are facts, not theory. He did
what He said He would. The Justice OF God had
been tampered with: the penalty must drop. The
universe had heard His proclamation, and the
universe looked TO see II he would Keep HIS
word. Would He consign His favorite to dark
ness Calvary showed them how He loved JUS
ticc, and for the first time heaven felt the innex-
bility OF It's King and so lor the second time dld
God make revelation OF Himself.


At the coming OF the saviour q crisis had come;
man was losing his superiority to the beasts Of the
fields; the tendency was to grow more gross. Now,
II ever, something must be done. Lost and ruined
% they Gd @ mis- 20 e
pleading OF the angels do IT. Conld the love OF
God linsen2 Tue element Qllustce cApe lQgWaZ4