The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.
THE MYSTERY OF ExIsTENcE-sERMoN BY REV.
Z. H. CHAPLIN, d. d.


L. H. CHAPLIN d. d.
The Rev. L. H. Chaplin. ID. D., preached In the
Church OF the Divine Paternity. Fifth avenue and
Forty-fft street. his text being Ecclesastes vii
l7-"Then beheld all the work of God that o man
cannot find out the work that is done under the suns
because though man labor to seek 1t out. yet he
shall not find it; yea further though wise man
think to know it. yet shall he not be able to find it,"
For all ages said the preacher the human mind has
been exercised by the mystery of existence. The
sertion remains at this time, of old--''though
labor to seek it out. yet he shall
not find it," Any attempt to render o
satisfactory account of this mystery must be futile
If attempt is made to explain it by Anal causes
everything complicated there is solution
reached If. then, tie plan Of creation is taken up
and the welfare Of man considered. the point docs
not express the whole Of the absolute scheme. In
Offering the consideration that is superior al,
things rebuked at once. 1t does not follow
because man possesses mind he is the browning work
of God Is it not probable that the worlds we in
looking up through the night are to some extent
earth? Surely. explore our sphere of being.
the chief object seems to be mans good; but are
entitled to say that everything here points to that
end Who can believe this lite. with it's countless
uses, is the paramount end Wecannot say the mys-
terry of existence is explained in final causes. The
doctrine of human progress then presents itself.
Suppose say that man has advanced steadily in
5000 years. is that any reason that he will continue
to do so in the 5000 years to come VIII the i'm
provements that are being made all around us enable
man to keep the vantage ground
COMMON PROBLEMS
Civilization suggests many perplexing problems.
Some there has been progress. 1t seems to be
a law that corruption comes with refinement-that
with national greatness national decay. There
is lineal descent of good. and these problems Of
civilization are mysterious. Poverty, misery crime
and the cry of atheism are still in our midst. Man.
however, is made better by the sanctity Of his being
Are own institutions fixed Have in this
the problem of liberty go hand in hand with prog
The preacher thanked God that both sides
of the Atlantic at this time republics the
prosperous. Yet this fact does not solve the ques
Though Christianity sheds light all mysteries it
does not wholly satisfy the curious intellect. This
solution of the mystery Of existence In not the
point of life. In its very incomprehensibility there
is wisdom. The most learned are often compelled to
exclaim. II don't know" We are bathed in mystery
From infancy until the curtains of death surround
us there is little else than mystery. When at
tempt to solve the great plan of existence lost
The moment, however, we cross the line from the
speculative to the practical the way is clear. From
things First there is the development OF the human
mind Searching after truth is its greatest privilege
There is JOY that there is much known and greater
joy that there remains much to be found out. Follow
is life but to live There great deal left for u.s.
There the precepts and the life Of Jesus always
before Take my precepts and live up to them"
is the mandate 1t you do this and successful and
but until then the life and precepts of Jesus all
that needed. The mystery Of life Is fringed with
divine love. 1t IS inspiring and suggestive mys
terry. We cannot find out the things that are done
under the sun. but understand Jesus. Behold
ing Him we see the primal light OF heaven.