FATE AND THE BIBLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 534, 11 September 1915, Page 1

FATE AND THE BIBLE.

To Mr. John Norton. Sir,— Concerning tho Bible as "the Book of Fate for Christians." dealt with m your "Apotheostical Aftermath," No. H. :— . ■ As this subject is a very deep one, I think the best plan is to deal with the word "Fate" Itself first. If I refer to a dictionary, I may get this explanation: "Destiny; inevitable necessity."' Even if I get many more such words, I would be just as wise In the end, because it would still lie m the grip of what I may term a freo opinion mystery. I will change those words, without interfering with' their meaning. Fate is the divine decree, where there is no choice or will. I will now compare it with the Bible and see how it works out Romans 9th chapter, 17th verse, "For the Scripture salth unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power m thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all tho earth." Truly it was Fate m Pharaoh's case. The wholes of that chapter is very interesting, but as tho 20th and 21st verses are important, I will use them. 20th: Nay but, O man, who art thou that repllest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, "Why hast thou made me thus?" 21st: ''Hast not tho potter power over the clay, of the samo lump to make ono vessel into honor, and another into dishonor?" We can see by that that we are not all the same, while we are given tho honor of a choice. With many others In the past it 'was not so; but it was used by God for his own purposo and glory. Pharaoh and his host wero only a few seeds that helped to swell tho great harvest we read of ln the Revelations. I will also toko the caso of the blind man we read of m St. John 9th 2-3 ver. — 2. And his disciples asked him, saying, "Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he is born blind?" 3. Jesus answered: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but j that tho works of God should be made manifest In him." Prophets and thoso who are used by God are subject to divine decree. To visit the iniquity of the father on tho children Is not fate, for this reason, tho father has the choice: and It is a Law that strikes both ways— for good and evil, it Ih only just that tho man who makes uso of that Law for good Is rewarded more than tho man who abuses lt. If the children suffer, because a man violates that Law. It Is not divine decree, but man's choice. The warao may be said of "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he alao reap." Signs of tho times is also tho chOico of J tho people. But "what think yo of ! Christ?" Ho camo with a purposo, not j one aim only but many, it was divine

decree that He should bo the sacrifice, the Lamb, tho Innocent to dl© for tho guilty, but it must bo understood thai Ho had to provo Ho was tho Lamb, the Innocent, the Light of tho World, our Guide; and, for that special mission, Ho was given His own choice and will. To say that Christ could not sin Is to rob Him of His victory, when He overcame sin, death and the devil. Just fancy, the Devil tempting Christ, knowing Ho had no choice, and could not sin! Thanking you for your kindness and justico ln tho past and wishing you overy success In tho future — Yours, eta, GEORGE LITTEN. Darilnghurst (N.S.W.), Aagiurt 21.