Six Sermons on the Inquiry Is There Immortality in Sin and Suffering?

GOD’S WORKS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROGRESSIVE:

Or, as Tertullian says - “In the Creator’s universe all things occur in the order of gradual development, each in its proper place.” That is - Whatever God has accomplished, so far as known to us, has ever been by a gradual development and a steady accumulation from a lesser to a greater. The work of creation was not accomplished in a day; but, from the first movement of “the Spirit of God upon the face of the deep,” each succeeding day gave birth to some new development in the process of formation; every day increasing perfection; though every part of the work was perfect in its kind for the designed object or use. I stop not here to inquire whether the materials of which the earth was formed had been in a process of accumulation for untold ages prior to the Spirit moving upon the mass to bring order and arrangement out of that which was “without form and void,” it might have been so without at all affecting the accuracy of the Mosaic account of creation - but the fact that the actual production of the “heavens and the earth” was by a gradual process is undeniable. SSII 138.3

The revelation that God has seen fit to make to men has always been gradual and progressive: all was not revealed at once; and what has been communicated, as prophecy, has had a gradual and progressive development and accomplishment. Take Abraham as an example. First, he is called to “get out of” his “own country” - then he is shown “a land” that is promised him - a son of promise is presented to his mind, Isaac - he learns his seed is to be in bondage 400 years - after that to be brought into the land of Canaan - that from him was to proceed a seed in whom “all the families of the earth were to be blessed” - that his posterity should be as the stars of heaven for multitude, etc. All these things in their accomplishment were gradual and progressive, occupying many centuries, and are to have still further developments before the greatest perfection is attained contemplated in these providential works of God. SSII 139.1

What is true in the case just contemplated, is true in the general course of God’s dealings with men. The Fetus does not come to maturity to be ushered into the world in a day; and when the child is born how slow the process by which even its physical nature arrives at maturity; equally gradual and progressive is the development of its mind and mental energy. Improvements in the arts and sciences, on which side soever we look, and in all departments, are gradual. Many of those improvements are the work of ages; others are brought forward more rapidly. A single thought at first set the train in motion that has resulted in mighty developments, which have astonished, delighted, or benefitted mankind. It were easy to trace out a multitude of particulars, but to the reflecting mind this is unnecessary - it will readily call them up. SSII 140.1