But is not God or his Providence in all these things ? Yes, certainly ; as with_ the falling sparrow. He does not kill the little bird ; he docs not iind the nugget of gold ; he does not strike down the swearer; he does not destroy the ship. Do you know any qualities or attributes in God that would do these things ? Ah, you know very well tb.it to carry out such .an idea you would make God the most absurdly contradictory Being that ever perplexed the thought of men, Kow, that God could prevent auy of these thing?, I should not like to say. Any more than that he could uot. Here we are wisely Agnostics. All we know is that he doea not. Tliey come to pass, as you veiy well sec—by easily explained causes and opera tions. And God is there, iv every one, watching with hia infinite heart of love, that great golden chain, whose links touch every created thing, making this Universe ouc great world of beauty and of worth. Watching it all, I say, to see that the sun shall rise on the evil and the good, and the rain fall ou the just and the unjust. But never to interfere witli human liberty, responsibility, activity. Is he there, then, as an idle spectator of what His Divine forces are effecting ? No, by no menus. But what do we know as to the qualities of God? Is Oca great mechanic or a Spiritxial Father? I think Ho allows the mighty forces that all

{Continued on fourth page.)

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY. MA^JB



T"\ IV IN E PROVIDENCE AND HUMAN IMPKOVIDiSNCE; OR, Rklioion Not Superstition. [A Sermon Preached by the Rev. S. Edoek, May 15.] Matthew X.. 29 and 30: " Are not two sparrows sold for a farthinf?] And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Hut the very haira of your head are all num bered." There are two occasions when the people generally are apt, as wo sometimes say, to lose their heads—times or. religious excite ment and occasions of groat (apparent) public calamities, coming suddenly. 