Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-29

| ing perfect conviction in the writers. They do moi
state evidence like the charge of Judge TO a Jury
They declare the truth with calm and perfect as
surance. On the great question, for instance, does
God forgive sin not one of the of reasons fol
| and against are anywhere stated; hut we are told
that our Lord said TO man Thy sins are forgiven
| thee" On that point, then, there is know led &c
| So, again, Of prayer. There are difficulties
IN ,, either cbs,va sihrmins or Geny1g that ply
agency OF prayer. But not shut up 10 a con
| elusion based Oh a balance OF faculties. The
apostle most remarkable for plain good sense as
sures US that 1.-THE prayer OF faith shall save the
| sick The Scriptures assume to decide reli gious
questions and II they not competent to do that
| they must be discarded altogether. II not source
| Of knowledge they are Of no value as a means o,
opinion II the prophets and eyangslists may have
been mistaken iaise il Is OF consequence what
they have said. 1t is claimed that the human
| judgment may choose what to believe and what to
| reject in Scr pture which is TO say that the man
| may take the guide board under his arm and 90
where he pleases. The notion that God respect
| fully submits his revelation 20 the approval of
Matthew mold and other mortas Of a fallen race
is probably as udcrous an instance Of human con-
ceit as has ever been exhibited. Whether We
shall accept or reject His revelation is left to us
| but the idea that tod should submit the separate
statements OF Ills revelation to human criticism, is
boundless eirontery.
II. then, the Creator has not len his children
without knOwled ge, how much may we know ORE
| liginus truth The sufficient answer is we may
know God. Every human being who has the Scrip
lures may know God, il he will. II any man has
lost the knowledge OF God which Is the birthright
OF every man, ii is because he does not like 10 re-
| tain God in his knowledge. The extent OF mans
knowledge OF God is METER OF will. No man ever
knew so much or so little Of God, but he mi ghi
have known more. This is the most certain and
conclusive OF all our knOwledgc. As Malehranche
said: I'VE know all things IN Cod Whatever
we know, five know IL in its relations to God that
s rel gious knowledge, and If we do not know in
that relation, our knowledge is imperfect and like
ly to be false. II we study vegetable life till We
lesch the power which gave lie, our knowledge of
plants becomes religious. But il the simplicity Of
the cell ten pts US 10 dispense with Creator and
the magnihcenee OF the palm leads to say. "Se-
what cell can produce without 4 creator" there
is a fatal defect knowledge Of cell and ma Inn
and all between them. 30 he only knows man who
knows him as the son OF tod. lie only knows his
tory who sees in II the hand of God No fact or
section OF human thought is so minute or remote
that il may not enrich our knowledge Of God
Pope's Presume not Gui to scan-tha proper
study OF mankind is man. was the utterance Of a
deistical age. We, Of this age, believe that the
smallest insect, the iArihest star everything that
embOdies thought Of God and especially man be-
cause he is in COOS image, is the proper study of
mankind.
The object OF religious knowledge, therefore. is
not SO much abstract truth as a personal God. We
see him not nor does the highest archangel lie is
spirit, and we knew Him as spirit knows spirit.
We have cried to him in our weakness and grief,
and have been strengthened and com.orted We
know on whom we have believed
But as We are not all spirit, and as ID is hard for
US TO come into close Relationship with purely
spiritual beng, God has revealed himself to US in
Christ, the best known and most accessible OF be-
ings. No historical parsonage stands out TO the
world n so clear personality. Man may question
his rank in the 6oohead, but all agree 40 TO his
character and attributes and acts. Our knowled &c
Of HIM s certain-and to know Christ is to know
God. This thought was extended and elaborated
by the preacher The great source OF religious
knowledge is the living Christ. Since he brought
NE and immortality to light, Ile s-eat problems Of
Having thus considered the possibility, oh
ject and method U. religious knowledge,
President Buckham proceeded to consider
its results on the soul and character.
the assurance Of faith hope and peacc. Woe to the
man who in his emergency, does not know God,
and know that He is good. he Is never so real as
when we need HIN most Man can find peace only
in this knowledge. In thi, knowledge is power.
The man CT doubts is never leader. When the
evangelist comes there runs through all he says a
clear note OF divinity, winch We recognize because
we share the divine nature. He shall be leader
and king.
We have given but few of the many up
lifting thoughts and apt and beautiful illus
;rations of this very fine discourse. 1t was
strong in its clear simplicity. for it had the
power. born Of strong conviction, Of which
the speaker spoke. 1t was listened to with
the closest attention, by the largo audience.
1t closed with the usual address to the
graduating class. which the class rose to
eceiye.
ADDRESS TO THE CLASS.
Young tSieHds on graduating class
You will have anticipated, in part. my aim in
presenting this subject, and the special APP
plicatiun Of it which have in mind. think you
will bear US. your instructors, witness that our
whole teaching has aimed to establish IN YOUR
minds the conviction that the truth is something
real and absolute, and that our apprehension OF
Of tha D. ftla tna frnf
may attain to the certainty OF knowledge. The time
has been when this small college stood almost alone
among the institutions OF the land in maintaining
this thesis and the philosophical and spiritual sys
TEN OF which it is the keystone. And although
the best thinkers Of the world now hold the doctrine
that the truths which we call religion are true
absolutely and not merely in relation to our
minds, and that We may have a knowledge
OF religion and not merely an opinion about It. yet
you will probably soon lind yourselves surrounded
| by social and literary atmosphere which is IN
friendly to this view. Not only in the twitter OF
the drawing room, but in the superficial thought
Of the merely literary circles. and even in the hasy
Judgment OF men who have profound views on sub
Jects which they have profoundly studied, you
will be beset It'll some form OF the old scept
cism, older than pyrrhO, that absolute truth is i'm
possible OF attainment and that as mere opinion IS
not worth wranglirg about, the whole subject may
well give place to something which has more solid
ground to rest upon. You will not have travelled
TAR from this your spiritual home before this lotus
fruit will be pressed upon you. IL has al insdous
beauty 10 the youthful eye. IL is sweet 10
the taste. But 1t will make you ior-
get all the traditions Of sound scholarship
and the precepts of spiritual philosophy. and with
these must 20 sll mental satisfaction and the in
most fibre OF character. II is very true that all
these great questions have two sides, with some
show OF truth ON both sides, and that as iairin nd
ed lovers OF truth. you are bound TO look at both
sides. 1t is also true that candid appreciation OF
n counter view is apt to ahate the courage Of con
yictinn. But indecision a vital question argues
intellectual weakness and he gets moral tesenerAcy
IL is the special burden laid on ouns and highly
educated mind, in our day, to lie Obliged 10 look all
the facts and counter facts all the science and all
the sciOlism, honestly in the face and to make a
decision sale To act on for this life and the next
Many who live to-day are out OF their time. Tney
should have Lived when knowledge was simple and
easy, and when there were no conius NJ lights
ihroNn on it from different directions. But he not
you weskings amid great opportunities Know
the truth 1t Is your blrthright 1t IS your glory
IL is the Of your peace and your power. Know
the truth Of tod know the truth rs il is IN jesus.
Then live the truth. Thea 20 forth and proclaim
the TRUTH and you snail see,and 1t Will be the
great Joy Of your Life 10 see-Othrr men gathering
10 you attracted by the ringing tones Of your con-
yiction, to receive knowledge At your hands.
As You and before US To day. the centre oi
interest to thi- assembly. and to the greater mum
her who look with interest on all things affecting
our beloved University, and 10 the still greater
number who place the hope OF the future IN
the educated youth Of Today our Interest
takes the form OF solicitude, "" try 4"
look along the coming year. We have
so.citude for you personally. may
you leave this college, the eyes OF hundreds oi
those who wish you well will he upon You. CO!
lcge graduate put out on the voyage 81 Iiie mol rs
a small skin pushes forth IRON some lonely beach
to be- lost from sight and memory long beiotr II
reaches the uffrg, but as a stately ship on which
many merchant have embarked their fortunes
and many friends the half Of their hearts, satIs ont
from goodly port amli the tears and blessings o.
thou sandH 0; spectators. Our hearts, our hopes
are all with you. But We anxious also "hput
what you will do. There is great work 10 he
dam nd LA t4iO, lew Will You FIl'er
into the work -; the world with con' 'ctl1ns
with enthusiasm. with conservation These
arc the question. which ia cur minds will att Ich
them to you from this day onward And to-day
meeting yvu iOT the last time here n tho house ol
God our solicitude Is all gathered up Ia the Iues-
ton, will theso he Christian lives Will your
work. 10 Whatever sphere performed, lie Christian
work :" Tint you may answer these questions
rightly, both now IN your purpose and 'ereaiter IN
your character and acts, We % nov, and We VIII
often Ia time to come. commend you {" the grac, 81
God be It your part 10 live ~ that re may thank
aod upon every remembrance Of you
The exercises closed with the hymn 20
Holy Saviour, Friend Unseen, sung 10y
choir and congregation to the tune Of
Flemming, AMI behedict:on by Mr.. Van
NOrden
The choir was thu Aricn Quartette, Of
Montpelier best nalc Iuartette in
Vermont and the singing. 1t u not neces-
siry to say, WAS very striking and superior.
The Anthem 1.-THE Lord is my Shepherd, y
which was sung without accompaniment,
was especially noticeable. Mr.. L. NJ. Read
presided skilfuly and sceeptably at the
organ.
THE SOCIETY FOR RELIGIOUS INQUIRY.
The address at the anniversary Of the So