Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-06-28
A LAY SERMON.
Thoughts for Sunday Meditation.

ligion and the theological novelties of
the times, our first sermon is dedi-
Gated to the honest class of people, who
neither have time nor talent for the
investigation of theological subjects.
The question has often been asked,
"How are the uneducated and simple
minded people to get to Heaven, if
they have got to comprehend these
sublime problems, that tax the
brain of the greatest intellects of the
world
We reply that it is not at all neces-
sary for anybody to understand the
peculiar doctrines of any church in
order TO get to Heaven, and by way of
parenthesis, we here remark that we
do not believe there is one member in
ten, in any of the churches that could
repeat the articles of faith in the
church to which they belong. Yet we
have no doubt great number of them
will be saved. People do not get to
Heaven by studying theology. The
way to Heaven is plain one, and
easy to find.
When the question was asked
"What shall l do to inherit eternal
life ~ the answer was always in es-
sence, and often in express terms, off
you would enter into life, keep the
Commandments
On this grand platform, established
by the Lord himself, the most stupid
and ignorant can go to Heaven just as
easy as the wisest. Indeed we believe
that with the great amount Of mys-
terry, which modern theology has
thrown around the teachings of the
Bible, the chance is in favor of the ig-
norant,man's getting to Heaven first.
Those matters that take the deepest
and tirmest hold on eternal life, are
often hid from the wise, and revealed
to the foolish-or "babes."
This principle prevails in nearly
ever fundamental thing. The scien-
fist who can explain all about the pro-
cess whereby the grain that is sown
becomes a harvest-how the different
qualities of the soil enter into the
composition Of the stalk and the grain,
and how the different temperatures of
the climate effect it, seldom produces
a better crop than his old neighbor
who never had q thought cross his
mind, about the anlysis of the soil
If from this day the world had to
depend upon scientific farmers for
bread the human race would perish in
q short time. Nevertheless scientific
farmers are very necessary and useful,
and should not be discouraged, but it
is the plain, old supplemented, work
ing farmers that the world depends
upon for food.
The same principle holds good in re-
ligious matters. We are not depend
ent on hair-splitting theologians for
our religious comfort, nor upon fine
spun theology for our relig Gus food
But in all simplicity, we can go to
Gods word and feed upon its mex
haustible fullness, and work out our
own salvation with no tools more COM
plicated nor difficult to obtain than
the Commandments. By this simple
process the soul will grow fat with
goodness. Even though we know no
more of the spiritual processes going
on in the soul than the old farmer
knows of the chemical process going
on in his crop, our spiritual growth
will be pure, genuine peace and joy.
Faith is mysterious instrument
when explained by the theologian;
but the simple know no more than to
take God at his word and Go what he
says, and are content with his reward.
But there is use for scientific theolo-
gians in the world, as well as scientific
farmers. There is great amount of
barren, rocky and marshy soil in the
world, that the uneducated old farmer
cannot reduce to state of agriculture,
because he does not understand the
internal tense of nature. But the sci
entific farmer, who comprehends the
internal nature of the soil and the laws
which preside over it, can turn q pes
tilential marsh into productive field,
and change an arid, barren soil, into a
fruitful orchard. 1t is so also in relig-
ious' matters. There are many hard
ened sinners upon whom no ordinary
arguments could make the least I'M
preston. With such men, science is
brought to aid in the Interpretation of
scripture, and he is made happy
convert-a fruitful Christian. Charity
is the grand and broad foundation
upon which the supplemented people
of this world build their hopes of
II aven. They Glove God because He
first loved Them" and in their estima-
ton, "Love is the fulfilling of the law"
and they are right.
But they are not so taught by mod
ern theology. The ministers never
cease to remind them that by "Faith
We are saved without the law" We
really wonder, with such teaching,
that there are so many good, honest,
loving souls in the world. But where
this love is once kindled in the heart,
it continues to burn III spite of all the
heretical teachings of the churches.
There is charm or power in the very
word when it falls Oh the ear, or comes
into the mind which makes one feel
brighter, warmer, better or at least
more peaceful. Though the deeds of
hate have been done under the cloak
of charity and mercy; yet through all
the dismal ages of this world, sicken-
ing to look back upon in their blind
ness, ard suffering; through them all
this word love, among all peoples, ma
tons and tongues, has embraced the
highest good, the widest wish of every
individual. Our love is our very life.
1t is what we love that we care and
long for, it is what we love that we
suffer for, and take joy in the suffering
for. With it humanity is angelic, and
the world is heavenly; without it
man is q devil and this world would
be n hell.
When charity, love, shall take
passion of theology, and fill every
pulpit, and faith is presented as a sub
ordinate attribute, (Which works by
love-" or by the direction of love, then