Untitled article by Mrs. Cynthia B. Bond

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 5, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 21

GOD'S PURPOSE, MAN'S FREE WILL.

By Mrs. Cynthia B. Bond

While this world's destiny is being wrought, A mighty fabric in the loom of time, The warp and woof designed by God's own thought, The pattern beautiful, the hue sublime; When in the exercise of our free will, Say, can we mar his plan if we do ill? And bring black woof when white he doth require Or sombre brown instead of gold or fire? The alchemist of whom we oft are told, Who by his art turned all he touched to gold, Was not so skillful in his art as he, Who in his wisdom marks our destiny, Yet leaves us in our choice to act so free. Whatever be the hue or shade we bring Into the common work-house of our king, Touched by the power of his eternal will, From black to white answers his purpose still. And thus he weaves our deeds into his plan, And thus he leaves free agency to man. More circumscribed in action we, than will, He makes the wrath of man to praise him still, And places sin in action less than will.

MRS. CYNTHIA B. BOND. Allegan, Mich., 1867.