Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-12-16
Sunday in the Churches.
UNITARIAN CHURCH

The human mind never la, been satisfied
with it, attaiumcnt~ Each Triumph over dif-
firulii,., and discovery Of truth stimulate. il %
greater efori-. This continual longing fIr
truth j. the life of progress in Ill human A.
fair, Prosre,. in the msterial world i the
passing out OF u condition OF poverty and
wretchetines. into a condition Of greater COM
fort anil pros erity. The mind progre>>t-
when 1t passes from the ics- truthful concep-
lion. TO more truthful ones from less reason
able to more reasonable views Of those thing.
that touch upon or concern human lives. Past
theories have usually been Liz" many stcp-
in human progress. They have been supports
10 the mind in H. struggle after knowledge
OF the truth often containing truthful idea,
which have become permanent fea. urr In the
living thought OF all times. Truth j. she great
est acquisition of the mind of man. Every
new discovery of truth j. an element of power
added to human life. II i natural .for the
.oul 10 grow a. il is for the body The ae-
QUESTION Of knowledge is the condition OF the
soul's growth. knowledge and successful re-
gious effort are closely connected. Religion
is a realizing sense Of Il relationship between
the soul and a supreme power upon which all
humanity i dependent. Religious endeavor
is the effort Of the world TO adjust itself to thi,
infinite relationship. The world has ALWAYS
been deeply religious but its religion. efforts
have been carried on in the darkness and
fear of ignorance Many are the sad and hor.
wing deeds committed in the worlds efforts
10 comply with what it believed religion de-
manded. Truth il essential 10 sue -es,fu re-
lgious endeavor. and it is the worlds duty TO
disspate the ignorant and uniruthful notions
that have come from the past and pat true
ideas in their places. Science make, progress
possible and enables the world to put forth the
best possible efforts TO adjust itself to the
highest relationship OF which we know any
thing.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Text-Job. %; "a. "Oh. that l knew
where might find him, that | might come
even to his seat. I would order my cause be-
fore him, and fill my mouth with arguments"
The book Of job is the first attempt in liter
ature to solve the problem of Gods dealing
with men. II were better TO be ignorant of
the writings OF Milton. Shakespeare. Homer
or Dante, than of the book of Job. The wall
ing of Job over his sufferings is still echoing
In the pessimistic grooming of the present day.
job il the prince of despair in this drama of
woe. He cannot see the reasons why he should
endure such sufferings. His three friends fail
to convince him that they are the result of helm
Gus sins on his part The advice of his
wife to ..crrse God and die" fails to afford him
~, tbf.
symphony OF despair-there is no doubt OF
Gods existence expressed. Job cries out
against his sufferings, his friends cry out
against Job and his wife cries out against
God, vet neither cry, There is no God
That is the modern Interpretation OF in
serutable providences. Because men cannot
understand the reason of Gods dealing. they
say there is no God. and events are only the
fortuitous combination OF atoms. Such a
thing was unknown in the time of Job. and
his story teaches two things: /. Belief OF
Gods existence is natural to the human soul.
2. 1t Is also natural for the soul to eek after
God. The lament OF job. "Oh. that knew
where might find him. Is the lament Of the
ages. Moses in the wilderness prays. Il be-
seech thee shew me Thy glory''-and Philip in
later days exclaims, "Shew US the Father and
it suficeth u.s. The ills Job suffered only
strengthened his belief in God. To-day men
see Gods ways but do not understand them,
and they take refuge in agnosticism. which is
nothing but systematized ignorance. Because
the intellect cannot grasp all knowledge, the
agnostic says, nothing can be known, and
agnosticism, becomes In fact, the consummate
flower and fruit Of knowledge. Neither to
deny nor doubt God is the practical lesson for
us. For LIST. we cannot know God perfectly.
aud the fact that God Is larger than our know
ledge should be source Of comfort. II the
finite could grasp the infinite. he would be