The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-29
m. Impprt.np. j. Rirht nsli.s.

Nh. Cruzau announced on Sunday 4 series o
sermons on the fundamental truths Of Christi
anity, to Be delivered Sunday evenings beginning
with next Sunday. His sermon last Sunday even
ing ntroduetury to this series, and had foz -
theme The Importance of Right Belief" IN.
text chosen was from Hebrews l39, BE not carried
about with divers and strange doctrines for Il i
good thing that the heart Be established VIII
grace The substance Of the sermon vas a.
/ follows:
Men say, at makes no difference what a mar
thinks If be only acts right There is grain Of
truth n this saying hence Il is the more danger
GUS Here is the grain Of truth: mere senti.
rnent over against act weighs little. II is What
a man does, not what he thinks that meets The
demands of duty and benefits society. But the
saying contains this fatal error: II fails 10 pei
ceive the close connection between belisving and
doing Il ignores the fact that back Of every act as
its parent, is a thought belief, and that the
child is apt to be Of the same character as ne
father. Il will not do to say u do net care what
a man thinks when in fact II Is what man
thinks that decides how he will act
A few illustrations will show this truth very
clearly. Take merchant for example: His sole
ambition is TO get rich; he halts at nothing pro
vided II will bring him money and not break the
Law; he laughs at honesty, is sharp, shrevd and
selfish but restrained on one side BY public opn-
ion and on the other by fear Of the penitentary he
lives and dies legally honest. Now will that man s
belief make no diferencel Most assuredly. He
degrades business, he debauches public sentiment,
and lowers the tone Of public morals; such mer-
YOU see it does make a difference what man be-
iieves, If he be n merchant, for II he have false
principles he will not ..act rght."-Iake Judge
as another example: He Is a man Indifferent to
Justice, cares only for the emoluments and salary
of his office, is Embraced by any nice sense OF
official obligation. is politician foisted upon
the bench as a reward for political services by
some "bOss"-such Judges as some American cities
are cursed with. Will his opinions make no differ
ence in his administration Of Justicei wouldy
like TO risk fortune, reputation, or life, before
such Judge?-Iake for still another Illustration,
a husband: Let him be man who holds loose
views in regard TO the sacredness OF marriage, who
believes in affinity "free-love' and free mar
riage." viii it make no difference, 50 far as his
own wife and other mems wives, are concerned,
what such a husband thinkst-Ihis same truth
holds good of all men, in all places and relations
in life What man thinks decides, in great
measure, what man does. II is Of vast import
ance to the community that every person shonld
have proper views. Because in every community
that potent power, public opinion is made up OF
what men think IN that community. II the aggre-
gate thought of a community be pure, then society
there Will be pure but If 1T be corrupt then society
will be corrupt. II makes vast difference 10 the
WeIl-beinr Of this community what you think.
But, while all this may be true, does II make any
difference religiOusy what man thinksl Assur-
edly In no other thing does mans belief have
such a moulding power on his life. Upon no
other subject is ii so essential that man should
have right belief. Men differ radically IN their
views apon all the essential truths Of Christianity
Will it make no difference what man believesT
Take, for example, what is back of the unseen:
Materiaiistic science says It Is force law Herbert
Spencer SAYS, the Unknovable; my Bible says 1t is
God, the All Father. Viii It make no difference
what believe: Aye. If look through the seen,
aud stand in the presence of a living loving God,
my soul falls at His feet in adoring Worship If
sec there only force, or law, or The UnknOUable,
what care If-Take the personality Of Christ as
another example; Was He God with Us, or only
mani If He Wes simply man then the entire
significance of the New Testament is changed
from what it is if Chrst is God. II man, then
the Sermon on the Mount Is no more TO me than
any other mans sermon. If God, then / must
listen while He speaks and square my life by His
teachings-Take this Bible as another illustration:
Is il Gods word or only mansl Is it simply the
writings of fallbe men, a gathering up Of the
legends, traditions, and history of a peculiar
people or, were these men chosen and inspired by
God TO make clear for me the way out of sin into
holiness and Heaven Nov, how you believe
makes all the difference in the world as to the
authority of that Bible.-Iake as a last illustra-
ton, man himself: Is he a lost sinner2 or, is he
by nature pure and only needs development You
can see at a glance the effect Of profound belief
of either Of these opposing views. II you are not
lost sinner, then you will need no Savior; If you
are then you do, and should not delay your accept
ance of Him for a single hour.
How may ''the heart be established with grace',r
l. Realize the importance Of the truth, and search
for it. .. Open your heart to the aid of the Holy
Spirit in this important search. This is Gods
promise, that to every trusting soul the Spirit
shall come ito lead and guide into all truth
g. Live tho truth as fast as you lind IT. God says
that IF any man will do His will he shall know OF
the doctrine The truth-seeker, il he be honest,
is always the truth-doer. If any man fails to en-
body the truth which his brain has grasped, it soon
becomes vague and unreal