The witness of harvest-times.
For the point as presented to a very different audience, see Romans 1:19, Romans 1:20; Acts 17:28. It has been remarked that the Greek words here used by the apostle are "so distinctly rhythmical that they suggest the thought that St. Paul quotes from some hymn of praise which he had heard in a harvest or vintage festival, and which, as with the altar to the Unknown God at Athens, he claims as due to him whom men ignorantly worshipped." A sentence from Neander may give the key-note to the sermon. He says, "The whole creation, as a revelation of God, especially of his almightiness and goodness, is designed to arouse the spirit of man to a perception of the inward revelation of God." Introduce the subject by a picture of the scene connected with it. An occasion was made for declaring the relations of nature with religion. Fix thought on the one nature-scene of harvest, and apply St. Paul's teaching; first showing how fully in harmony with his views this representation was, and what support Holy Scripture gives to it.
I. GOD MAY SPEAK TO HIS CREATURES BY THE VOICE OF NATURE, AND HE DOES THUS SPEAK TO THEM ALL.
1. God must use some agency in revealing his mind to his creatures.
2. The agency he uses must be in relation to our bodily senses.
3. It need not be fashioned into precise words, because man's heart can be reached through the eye, the ear, the taste, as well as by verbal statements. Illustrate the impressions of beautiful landscape, music of the waters, thunderstorms, etc. Any of the things that man can feel God can use to convey his mind and message to him. The voices of God in nature are translated for us by our poets, who are—if they fit into their true mission—ministers of God's will to men, or rather, ministers revealing God himself to men. See how the psalmist recognizes the universal witness of this nature-voice: "Their sound is gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world;" and apply especially to the harvest-time of earth, which knits the millions of earth together in the joyful recognition of God's loving care and providing mercies.
II. WHAT OF THIS NATURE-WITNESS TO GOD MAY ALL MEN RECEIVE?
1. The truth of the Divine unity; for it is plain to all that nature is a design—some one person's design. Its perfect harmonies suggest this. And increasing knowledge corrects the notion of two agents, which men have been tempted to accept, when impressed with the seemingly injurious forces working in nature. Science, in making more plain the perfect harmony of all nature-forces, is giving her testimony to the unity of God. And then comes on us this consideration: if there be but one God, our supreme concern is to be in right relations with him.
2. The truth that he is infinite in power; for nature shows us that he is infinite in resources.
3. The truth that he is infinitely good; for nature shows him to us fitting all things together to secure the general well-being. Nature suggests the attractiveness and beautifulness of God.
III. WHAT MORE THAN THIS CAN NATURE WITNESS OF GOD TO THE CHRISTIAN? The Christian man comes back upon nature with the illuminations of that higher and fuller revelation which has for a time absorbed him—from the vision of God, manifest in Christ Jesus, which was so glorious as for a while to occupy his thought and feeling wholly. But coming back with these new thoughts of God, he finds Nature has new voices and new messages, and her provisions tell him:
1. Of God's care.
2. Of God's long-suffering and mercy; for he knows now that man has no deserts upon which he might claim, and positive ill deserts which might reasonably lead to the removal of his common every-day mercies.
3. Of God's great love to man's soul, which seems shown by its overflow in God's gracious provision in nature for all the wants of his body.
4. Of God's faithfulness to all his promises, which are assured in his yearly fulfillment of that earliest promise that "seed-time and harvest … shall not cease." Press, in conclusion, how St. Paul urges that the proper influence of nature is a constant and mighty persuasion to turn from all our vanities to the loving and hearty service of the one living God, and to accept of the full salvation which he has provided in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.—R.T.