Homilist Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength… I. TRUE RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE IS A THING IMPARTED TO MAN. It is that "which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us." It is not inbred nor discovered. Without denying that man has a capacity to discover God as the Creator, all history shows that he has never done so; and as to His redeeming capacity, that, in the nature of the case, transcends all human conceptions. As sinners, this is the knowledge of God we require, and it involves the former. And we have it, not by intuition or discovery, but by impartation. It has been transmitted to us through many generations. 1. They have handed it down to us by inspired documents. 2. They have handed it down to us by their own teaching. II. TRUE RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE IS IMPARTED TO US, NOT TO MONOPOLIZE, BUT TO TRANSMIT (vers. 5-8). The transmittory arrangement implies — 1. That the children of every generation have a capacity for receiving this knowledge. There is no danger of teaching religion boo soon. 2. That the children of every generation will require this knowledge. Coming generations may not require our philosophies, poetries, and governments; they may out-grow our sciences, and despise our civilization, but they will require our religion. Though they may not require our lamps, they will need our sun. 3. The eternal harmony of all God's operations. The Eternal does not contradict Himself. The first Divine act on earth's theatre will harmonize with the last. The whole will form one great anthem filling eternity with music. III. TRUE RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE IS TO BE THUS TRANSMITTED IN ORDER TO ELEVATE POSTERITY. 1. The grand result aimed at is threefold — (1) Rightness of intellect. "Not forget the works of God." A constant recognition of Divine agency. (2) Rightness of heart. "That they might set their hope in God," and "set their heart aright"; the heart fixed on God as the supreme Good. (3) Rightness of conduct. "Keep His commandments." To bring immortal man to this sublime rightness — this rightness in thought, feeling, and action, is the grand and ultimate end of all this teaching. Glorious end! 2. It is coming slowly but surely. Humanity is rising, and every true thought arid virtuous act helps it on. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. |
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