[May 3d, 1857.]
I. What is submission?
In general it is acquiescence in the teaching, the will, or acts of another.
Submission to God is,
- Acquiescence in his authority; a cordial recognition of his right to do what he will with us. It is an unresisting subjection to him and his authority, as manifested in all the dispensations of his providence, in his assigning us our position in the world, our talents, health, wealth, means of happiness. It stands opposed, a. To discontentment. b. To envying or repining at the good of others. c. And still more, to open murmuring and rebelling against the will of God. So much as concerns ourselves.
Submission, however, moreover implies acquiescence in the providential dispensations and arrangements of God, with regard to the ordering all events in the world and in the church. We are disposed to be disturbed at the course which things take in the state or in the church, and it is our duty to do what we can to give them a right direction; but if they are guided into other courses than such as we would choose, we must submit to the will of God, without repining or despondency.
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Submission includes the subjection not only of our will to the will of God, but of our reason to his instruction. That is, we must receive as true whatever he has revealed on the ground of his authority. We must be converted and become as little children. This is opposed, a. To ignoring the revelation of God. b. To refusing to receive what he has revealed because it clashes with our preconceived opinions. c. To the principle that we must understand whatever we are required to believe.
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So far as concerns the method of salvation, submission is, not a willing to be damned for the glory of God, which is contradictory and impossible; nor is it a mere submission to his authority, but it is a submission to the method of salvation which he has revealed. This includes, 1. A rejecting of our own righteousness and submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God. 2. A cordial acquiescence in the teaching of his word as to our helplessness and dependence, and a willingness to be saved in the way which he has prescribed, and for his glory.
II. Grounds of this submission.
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The infinite superiority of God. The fact that he is infinite in wisdom, power and goodness is reason enough why his will should be acquiesced in, why his teaching should be received, and why his plan of redemption should be received and acquiesced in, without debate or opposition.
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Opposition of our will to God’s, of our intellect to his, of our method of securing salvation to his, can only result in our destruction. If we oppose our will to his as to our external circumstances, how does that alter our condition? Will it give us health, wealth, or happiness? If we oppose our intellect to his, will that bring us to the knowledge of the truth? Has any system of philosophy ever stood the test of time? Or; if we insist on being saved in some other way than that revealed in the Bible, will our salvation be thereby secured? Do we obtain righteousness by refusing to submit to the righteousness of God? Do we gain grace by refusing to admit that God is a sovereign in the gift of his Spirit, by asserting our right to be converted, sanctified or saved?
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Our whole happiness and well-being depends on our submitting ourselves to God. If we are in harmony with him, with his will and purposes, and allow him to execute his plan, and rejoice in the sovereignty of his will, then all things will work together for our good, and the end to which infinite wisdom and love conducts all things, will include our supreme and everlasting blessedness. If we submit our reason to his teaching we shall be preserved from all fatal and hurtful error, and guided more and more into the knowledge of the truth. And if we are willing to acquiesce in his plan of salvation, then it will take effect in our case.
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