Now you may understand me more plainly as I read from the Scriptures. I don't mean to establish the idea of predestination, that is, that some are born to be saved and others to be lost. But I would establish this fact, that God predestinated a way whereby all could be saved and wills that none should be lost.

God as a King...

We'll now consider God's position as a King. Turn with me while I read some portion of the 47th Psalm: "Oh, clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph: for the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth...Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praise unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth...God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness."

Here we learn that God is King of the whole earth. He reigneth over the heathen, and since this is true, tell me, who rules over the vile and wicked sinners of America? Are they beneath the heathen? Are they without a God? Have they no power or guide but themselves to pilot them through life? Ah! yea, they have a God who is a great King and he rules in earth and sky---they've not hid themselves from his presence; he knoweth the way that they take. God rules in the very lives and hearts of wicked men so that you can know for yourselves that no man can live independently of God, for his's a great King. As it's written, "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandeth my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me...Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." Psa. 139:1-12.

So plainly and so emphatically do these scriptures assure us that no man can flee from the presence of God, for if he should take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, there the Lord would behold him. So to the sinner, whither shall you flee from the presence of the Lord? Indeed, if you repent not, in the last great day you'll call for the rocks and mountains to fall upon you and hide you from the presence of his glory; but even all this shall be in vain: for he's a great king who rules in earth and sky. This language may sound strange to some of you now, but the apostle Paul declares that "at the appearance of Jesus Christ he shall show who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords." 1 Tim. 6:14. Moreover it's written that there's not any creature that's not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Heb. 4:13.

Because of the mercy of God in sparing wicked men, and withholding from them his judgment against their evil they have become hard-hearted through the deceitfulness of their sin, until some would even dare say there's no God. Were this so, what do you suppose might happen unto us and to this old world in a moment's time? The God who holds the sea in his bounds holds also the planets of his own creation in their order, so that according to his word we have the rising of the sun for a light by day; and the moon for a light by night. God still sits upon his throne, and rules in earth and sky. All creation, and nature itself, is subject unto the law of his will. ALL, I say, is subject unto his will save poor sinful mortal man; and though he forsake the law of the will of his Lord yet he's not without a law and a rule to reign over him.

Fulfilment of Prophecy...

As we look back over the annals of time, and call to remembrance the words of the prophets that a Savior would appear who would save his people from their sins, and then we see how definitely it came to pass, we're made to imagine that God is still ruling in the midst of his people. It was said that this man Jesus would be cut off from the land of the living, and it truly came to pass. It was written that on the third day he would rise again, and this you yourselves already believe. The dark ages, in which millions of the true saints of God were martyred for the gospel's sake, have come and gone, and that according to their appointed time as it was spoken by the prophets. The cloudy and dark day appeared in its time, and then broke forth the true light of the gospel in the evening of time according to the word of the Lord. Now, where is he who imagines that God's not the ruler of the whole universe? Indeed, my brethren, "He rules in earth and sky." He's still the same Lord and King as he was when great King Nebuchadnezzar was subdued by him and learned for the first time that he was indeed a great King who ruled not only in heaven but also in the kingdoms of men. And now I say, does it not look as though he were indeed a great King, ruling over all the universe, when we see the minds of men subdued by his great power in order to so accurately fulfil all that he has spoken by the mouthes of the prophets? Ah! all creation is still in the hand of God, and if we'll not submit ourselves unreservedly unto his will for his glory and our own good, then let's bear in mind that whatsoever we sow that shall we also reap.

"In a great house [God's great universe] there's not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor: If a man, therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." 2 Tim. 2:21. Since it's the privilege of man to be submissive in the hand of God as clay in the hand of the potter, he may lay himself pliable unto all the will of God that he may be formed by the hand of the great King into a vessel of honor. But if he won't yield submissively, he shall be fashioned into a vessel of dishonor.

Consider the deplorable condition of the heathen, and how it all come upon them. Let's now read, that we may more clearly understand why such darkness and misery has befallen them. Turn with ne to Romans 1, beginning at the 19th verse:
"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts."

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, malicousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

"Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

"Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful."

Just think of such a great catalog of evil, and how it has all come about---just because they didn't like to retain God in their knowledge. Doubtless had they harkened unto him they'd have been fashioned into vessels of great honor. But they chose their own way, and then God gave them over to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, because of their purposed disobedience, regardless of what they knew to be the law and will of the Lord.

Oh, how men ought to fear God! This's the whole duty of man; fear God and keep his commandments. When I behold a poor sinner at the close of life...just about to reap his eternal reward, my heart is filled with great sorrow, and I would to God that I could get this lesson before us in such a way that it might never be forgotten.

The Wicked Fulfil God's Word...

To prove from the Scriptures some of the strong, and perhaps strange, assertions I've made, especially such as the fact that God rules the mind of the wicked, even as he does that of the humble and contrite in spirit: Do you know that the lives of wicked men have often increased my confidence and faith in the Word of God? I mean this: I've seen them in their wickedness and hatefulness fulfilling portions of the Scriptures which often I'd read. So now I've reached what to me appears as a strong point in my discourse, and surely it's the climax or crowning thought of my whole lesson; the fact that both the good people, and also the wicked ones, are constantly busy fulfilling the Word of God.

Those who are saved are inspiried by the Spirit of the Lord to fulfil such portions as will bring to themselves, at the last day, a rich reward for all they've done. They're being fashioned into vessels of honor in the great house of God. But sad indeed is it to say, that those who won't submit themselves to the will of God are just as busy as the saints of God, fulfilling such portions as will bring upon themselves a just recompense of reward for their evil deeds in the last great day. Being self-willed and stubborn, they could only be fashioned into vessels of dishonor. So I say, they who are spiritual can clearly behold the fulfilling of all the Word of God; every one according to the condition of his heart...fulfilling such portions as will bring upon himself that which the righteous Judge shall count just, according to their works.

Now to prove these sayings let's turn to John 15:24. In reading this, we learn that after Jesus spoke to the people, they hated him. Doubtless this hatred was in their hearts before they manifested it. But for what reason did they hate him? Of a truth they had no cause to hate him, and Jesus was addressing them for their own welfare, but they rejected his counsel, and God seeing they wouldn't obey that which was good, could only use them to fulfil that which was evil. So he allowed that hatred to remain in their hearts. Just think, He allowed it---the God of heaven allowed it---and that for a purpose. But now you may wonder for what purpose he did allow it. Well, perhaps for more than one reason. In the first place, man's a free moral agent. They wouldn't give up their hatred, so God just let it remain, that in them might be fulfilled the portion of the Scriptures which saith, "They hated me without a cause." Just think, what a sad thing these poor people have done---fulfilled the Word of God against themselves unto their own condemnation, moved by hatred; yet we can't imagine they were conscious of what they were doing.

But did their evil shop here? No. As long as they had hatred in their hearts their evil continued, and God saw to it that they kept on fulfilling some portion of his Word. We read that the result of this hatred was that Jesus was arrested, and Pilate, willing to release him, spake again to them, but they in their blindness, cried out,"Crucify him, crucify him," not knowing that they were now fulfilling the words of their own prophets who had said, "He shall be cut off from among the living." Doubtless they just spoke out their minds, as they supposed, according to what seemed to be their better hudgment, not knowing that One who was mightier than they was allowing their action. Pilate then said unto them, "Take ye him and judge him according to your law." But they cried out again, saying, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." See how in their hatred they desired the Son of God to be put to death. But the question now arises, Why say they this? This saying by them was permitted that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spake signifying what death he should die. (Read John 18:32.) But like all sinners, these poor men weren't conscious of what they were doing; for Jesus himself said in his prayer for them, "Father, they know not what they do." So I want to say to you, poor lost souls, take heed lest you know not what you're doing.

I want to show you still more plainly from the Scriptures how completely these wicked men who rejected the Word of God were used in fulfilling the same. We read that after Jesus was crucified, some wicked soldiers came along and, seeing his garments, they wondered what they might do with them; then they decided to divide them among themselves; but when they came to his coat, they found it was without seam, woven from the top throughout. Now comes the question, what shall they do with it? Shall they tear it up, or shall one of them claim it as his own? Do you suppose God has anything to do with the counsel of such wicked men?---doubtless a band of thieves taking that which doesn't belong unto them? Yes, God was present. He was in their midst, and in a moment's time He fashinged one of their minds to cry out and say, 'Let's not rend it, but cast losts whose it shall be,' and immediately they all consented. But be it understood that all this came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled which saith, "They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots." See how wonderfully accurate, though they were wicked at heart, they have fulfilled these scriptures; nor did they cease here.

As the bodies of those who were crucified with Jesus hung on the cross, the Jews remembered that it was not good that they should remain there over the Sabbath, that being an high day, so they besought Pilate that their legs should be broken, and that they should be taken down. The soldiers came to the place where they were, and break the legs of the first, and of the other which was crudified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they break not his legs. How strange this might seem to some. They were sent to break the legs of them all; why now do they not do as they were commanded? However, as they stand there looking, one of them takes a notion in his mind, as he supposed, to pierce the side of Jesus with a spear. So with his cruel hand he performs the wicked act. His heart is full of hatred. He may be one of the rabble that cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him," but now he's being used in fulfilling the Word of the Lord which he himself vehemently rejected. Now in all they break not his legs, but they pierced his side; and this all came to pass that the Scriptures should be fulfilled, which testified that " a bone of him should not be broken." Again another Scripture saith, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

"Now, after hearing these truths, aren't you made to wonder at how God is ruling this universe of his? Doesn't fear take hold of our souls as we see how he's fashioning every life to fulfil his Word, according to the attitude of heart which it holds toward his will? When I behold by the light of God's Word his majesty and power, I'm made to fear and to wonder if some who have been listening this afternoon, might by their own choice, by necessity, be fashioned to fulfil such portions of Scripture as will result in their own condemnation in the last great day.

Take Heed...

Take heed that none of you hate the Lord, and that without a cause. It's a serious matter to turn away from that which we know to be right unto that which we deliberately know to be wrong. It's a dreadful condition, and if we could see and know the result of such an act, there might not be one soul here today that would trun against the God of heaven who so much loves us all.

Now, in conclusion, turn with me to 2 Timothy 3rd chapter. I'm going to read here about certain things which the Scriptures determine will come to pass in the last days. I sincerely hope that none of us who are present this afternoon may be used in fulfilling such portions of prophecy. I'm persuaded that God wants us to know these things, for the apostle begins the chapter with these words: "This know also, that in the last days...men shall be lovers of their own selves." Dear saints, would we like to fulfil such as this? We say no. Well, neither need we do so.

It's also written here that men would be covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, without natural affection, false accusers, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Moreover, the Lord himself has told us that because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Now I want to impress upon our minds that these words, "shall wax cold," are words of prophecy; and by whom shall they be fulfilled? Shall it be the lot of any who have listened this afternoon? My soul is made to say, "God forbid." Nevertheless, it shall come to pass, yet not by the desire of God, but by men's own free will.

May God enable us to never forget these words of truth. Let's bear in mind that all men are busy fulfilling the Word of God, either unto their own eternal welfare, or else unto their own eternal damnation; the Lord is a great King over all the earth. [ The End ]