The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-29

! it to earth is often travelled The kingdom of
heaven is to be founded here. Jesus decIar-
ed 1t and John saw it in his apocalyptic vision,
and he declares the gates of this Kingdom are
not to be shut. Not only is the future heaven
open, but the heaven here. This heaven is the
same as there. 1t is the love of God-purlty of
heart. tits for us as for David-for us as for
Paul. 10 every one there comes the announce
soul IS so constituted that the divine image can
| not be Obliterated
| This heaven which the revelator saw means
also truth in all its forms. First apply 1t to
science. Many scientific theories need re-
| statement but every investigation of scien,
| tific truth leads the soul nearer to God True
| science and religious truth can never conflict.
One goes beyond the other, but there is no con-
| fct. The sciences are divine, and reveal God.
| If science is ever irreligous it is as work and
! politics are irreligious, from those rho engage
| in it, The church imprisoned Gailee, and in
later years condemned geology; but the gates
| of the heaven, of science have not been shut.
Much may crumble away, but genuine science
| is the handmade of religion. Science is salts
| fled only by intuition verified by observation,
and the time will come when religion will
| be satisfied with nothing less. Though we
may admit the claims of the theories of OAR
win and Huxley, still we can say with the
Israelite '.In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth" Science should re-
member that she is not to travel all realms.
| To speak of a scientific religion is to bring to-
| gether two terms which cannot be combined
| unless we use science in an unusual and alb
strect sense. If you attempt to investigate re-
liglon on the plans OF science you will seek for
| that in one place which can only be found in
| another. No science has found God, analysed
the soul nor proved immortality.
| This kingdom Of heaven implies also spirit
ual and religious truth. 1t is not for any man
or class of men, but for all. We can accept
aid from another in directing US to the fountain
OF truth, but should reject that which promises
to bring rs all We need, diuting it as they deem
necessary. The Roman church has strven TO
build high walls about herself Said mem
Der of this church, l know you have reason for
your belief. Why not then declare it? Be-
cause the church declares the contrary. For
such to speek of religious liberty is FOB the
| prisoner to speak of freedom. Let no church.
limit the truth. 1t belongs to no one to shut
the gates of the kingdom, for God declares
they shall not be shut.
Every church that says it has all the truth
and needs no more, begins to die. If it rejects
every call to a new departure, already has
| spiritual paralysis seized upon it. We honor
the fathers by stepping ahead of them and de-
clarng the truth as boldly as they declared it.
How is it we have outgrown the old theology?
How Fave men come to declare larger hope?
Some time and somehow the Divine power
will reach down and save humanity for
his punishment is not doom, but a remedy
1t is because we have said, "Come, let US
reason together" The kingdom of God is
from God, and mot from ourselves. We can
only open our eyes and step forward Some
think because God has spoken to them from
other books than that which we reverence, we
| must shut its leaves. Not so. We must re-
ceive truth from every quarter. The gates are
not to b. shut.
Individually and socially humanity is to be
lifted up, and should declare in the words of
Paul, Forgetting the things that are behind,
press forward to the mark of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus
The preacher closed with an eloquent and
earnest appeal to press nearer to-, and per
chance to enter within the gates, by faithful
ness to all the calls of duty, and to the grand
opportunities around us.
Our brief end disjointed report does no JUS
tice to the elegant diction and finely finished
uttara ncae of tho prooobar