Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-06
Conceptions Of God.

IT is not to be supposed that God
manifests himself to all ages or to all
men of one age in the same manner
He speaks at sundry times and in
divers manners. He works by diver
sity in the domain of grace no less
than in the kingdom of nature. But
often the difference is more in us than
in Him. Though he is ever near and
waiting to be gracious, unbelief bars
Him from our hearts, and sin sepa-
rates Him from us. So we come to
judge, think and speak of him ac-
cording TO our experience.
To the patriarehs and prophets of
old, God was very near and familiar.
Enoch walked with God through a
long life, and then was translated to
heaven without dying. Abraham oft
communed with Jehovah, who re-
vealed to him the long future down to
Gospel times. Jacob wrestled with
the divine messenger till break Of day,
and would not let him go until he had
obtained the blessing. The psalmist's
theme ever rested on God and His
works, and regarded Him as the source
of every blessing. Augustine talked
to and with God as a familiar friend.
who enraptured his heart and sweet
ened all his experiences. Luther's
power arose from his close connection
with God and HIS truth. The heart
of President Edwards glowed with
heavenly love, and responded to the
divine voice, speaking to him through
all the voices of nature.
Are such exceptional cases. or mag
NATIVE or fanatical? Neither. Adj
hitting a personal Deity, and the real
lty OF religion, the exercises of devout
minds are no more than would be ex-
pected. If there is a Being who
created, upholds and governs the uni
verse, He must be omniscient and ON
nipresent, ready to hear our cry, to
help our intirmities and guide our
steps. He loves us and cares for us
He is God at hand, and not afar off.
The tendency of the present day is
to abstraction and isolation. There is
a pride of false philosophy that looks
upon practical religion as enthusiasm
and fanaticism. Nothing can be ad-
mitted as rational unless it can be
measured by the senses, and subjected
to all physical tests. Men must scru-
tinize, and analyze and classify to the
last degree of artitice and speculation.
Every principle must be a dogma
with its exact place III the system de
fined. All must proceed by rule and
order. BY subiecting not only the in
tellect, but also the emotions. to such
requirements, the spiritual nature is
restrained and the vitality of religion
endangered.
1t is our duty to listen to the de-
mands of the intellect, to be consis-
tent with reason, To guard against
every form of superstition. But in
doing this. there is no need of repress-
ing and denying the acquisitions of
our moral and spiritualpowers. These.
it is true. differ in individuals, circum-
stances and times; but they have
basis in all minds and reality. Those
are not necessarily the most correct
and reliable who are the most cool and
calculating. The moral instinct, the
glow of emotion and the impulse of
the heart are often more authoritative.
The warm heart Is As essential as the
cool lead.
The feelings and emotions are not to
be distrusted SO long as they are well
founded The conceptions can never
be too vivid. if their basis is truth.
Nature and revelation authorize the
belief IN God and His personal super
vision of all our affairs. and thus
!, i e
injustice to Him and ourselves if we
do not allow and cherish such concep-
tons. The tendency at present with
Christians is too much 10 doubt, indlf-
ference and GOODNESS: there is need of
more faith. more vivid conceptions of
the living God and the vital truths of
the gospel, more interest in the Bible,
more love 10 each other. more earnest
cooperation in doing good. Morning
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