"THEOLOGY FOR THE PEOPLE."

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 191, 14 August 1899, Page 2

"THEOLOGY FOR THE PEOPLE."

In his sixth address of the "Theology for the People" series, Pastor Clark, at the Tabernacle, selected as his text Romans x. 20, 21. He said: — "This text will I think best serve us to study the important doctrine of free-will. Last* Lord's Day morning we considered Diviue Sovereignty, and 1 think in the majority of minds there is not a little perplexity concerning the agreement of the two doctrines. But you cannot deal with the one without the other. Fritz, a great German theologian, went as far as to say that in the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of Romans there was a strong antithesis, and that Paul's reasoning faculties were defective. That was a bold statement to make of one who was so logical and powerful in argument. Another eminent German thinks, however, that it was distinctly and deliberately designed to show that there are two sides to this great problem. That, to me, seems the true position. Some years since I passed through a great mental conflict on this question, and I wish to give you, my young friends particularly, what help I can from the benefit, T derived from that struggle. We need always to keep clearly in the mind the difference between sovereign will and subordinate will. Upon the former you can put no bound, but you may put great limitations on the latter. T submit that it is absurd that the Omnipotent and Almighty should stand before one of his creatures defeated. I have heard men whose teaching trends in that, direction. The thing is unthinkable. The consequences of such a defeat would be simply terrible. God would be dethroned and the world would be filled with tyrants. One old writer has sarcastically said: —

Snatch from His hand the balance and the rod; Rejudge His justice; be the God of Gods. That is exactly what man would be if his will could defy the King of kings. Man is free in a qualified sense, and to a certain limit is a responsible agent, to feel, think, and act. But we deny man's ability to obey Divine law independent of supernatural grace. The Omnipotent has pledged Himself to give that blessing to all who shall ask it. Man is a free agent, and only such are accountable for their conduct. His responsibility is measured by his freedom, and that freedom is limited. You cannot do what you like in this world, though within bounds, Godgiven, you are free. Take the Garden of Eden, for instance. 'Thou shalt not do this, but thou mayst do everything else." There was a circumscribed area, and yet there was sufficient room for freedom of will and movement within that limit. Man may have different power and environment. One fills a greater space and occupies a greater sphere. God has supreme control. We are within given limits, and always subject to that supreme will. What is sin? Scripture says 'Sin is the transgression of the law,' that is, man's will against the Lord's will. Man's will is in the downward direction, whereas God's is in the upward. I am anxious to show that for the teaching of Scripture we ought to be exceedingly thankful. We are what we are by the grace of God. The Deity in His great love has so made and moulded and provided for us that not a soul need be lost. His tender mercy is over all His works. If God be absolutely Sovereign, and this is His will, am I to assume that He will do that which will be for my eternal ruin? Ezekiel xxxiii.ll: "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." ■, God has made universal promises, and I the Scriptures are full of them, as | they are of passages indicating man's ! freedom of choice. Joshua said to the i assembled Israelites, 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve.'' In Rev. xxii. 17 we have, 'Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.' God laments when man makes a bad choice. God appeals to man as a rational being. He is not therefore without blame if he neglects God's offers. Some to-day are urging a | larger liberty for the creature. Man has been on his trial all through the ages, and what has history proved? i He had great freedom in the clays of Noah, and became insufferably wicked. Greece, most cultured and scholarly, was given to abandoned profligacy. Rome in the days .of the" Caesars was filled with violence and murder. Man all along the line has shown himself incapable of using extreme liberty. Beware, brethren, i of these advocates of free love and free living. Look upon them as your . bitterest foe, monsters to be shunned. We have seen that sin exists in the world by the abuse of free will. Our text says, "All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." If man disregards the loving appeals of God, and will not have the will of the Divine Lord to govern him, his state is most hopeless, for he is a responsible being, with sufficient free-will to secure .the blessing, but uses that will against himself. May the Lord deliver us from that end, and give us grace to own His Sovereign will, for Christ's sake." ,