The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-13

so many pictures of beauty in the world,
a scientific mind would ever deny the
divine existence.
There is nothing strange in the fact
that Newton, the great student in math-
ematical astronomy, was impelled by
his Investigations to say, IAN undevout
astronomer is mad" The wonder is
far greater that any man in the free and
pure exercise of his mind can turn from
the study of the starry deeps and DELHI
erately say, ''There is no God"
There is no marvel in the fact that
men of the most elevated minds in all
ages have regarded the visible creation
as but the objective determination, or
form, so to speak, through which the
one infinite Mind asserts existence-de-
clares being. The marvel is much
greater that any are ever led by diff
ferent thought to account for the exist
ence of things visible, by the assump-
ton of bare fortuitous concurrence of
atoms, or a concurrence utterly with
out thought. But few, in fact, are athe-
lists, because dependent mind-fnite
intelligence cannot satisfactorily to it.
self dispute its own origin in mind, or
deny that there must be an infinite self
subsistent Intelligence from which its
own capability of thought is derived.
The question is, indeed, whether there
is such character as an absolute athe-
ist among men of broad intelligence;
for though many such, without the least
hesitation, reject the prevailing ideas
concerning God, and deny the existence
of any such being as the theologies of
the world set forth for God, they still,
in some way, acknowledge the infinite
Soul, and in some way worship or rev.
erence that living, mysterious and aw-
full Presence in all nature, before which
all in spirit are constrained 70 bow.
The sincere student of nature finds
himself ever in the presence of the su-
preme Soul. He always yields the
homage of his heart to the invisible and
eternal One, as near and ever with him
with him, though intangible to the
outward sense; as inspiring his mind
and speaking to his heart, though no
outward voice nor sound is heard.
The reason why men often fail to
find God is, doubtless, because they
look for him as too far away; search
for him outwardly; look beyond the
abode of his presence, and expect him
to be revealed as an object of outward
contemplation.
What we need is, to practically I'M
derstand that God is much nearer to
our hearts-to our very life-than any
thing that is merely material can posi-
bly, be; that his spirit is ever with our
spirit, and that his voice of love is al
ways addressing our inmost ear. When
we understand this, how joyful are all
our thoughts of God. What a delight
full sense we have of his nearness to us.
For this we must look within, not call
upon a distant Lord to come down to
us and visit US with his mercy. He is
not far from us. He is even now in the
temple of our heart /; and if we look
purely within for him we shall find
him as present with us. When we
cease to look abroad for God, when we
enter the sanctuary of our own being,
where are found those principles of
which outward things are the signs,
then we realize that our spirit is owned
and blessed by the supreme Spirit.
Then we know that we have life and
peace and joy through the union of our
heart with the eternal Reality.
Why should we still wander in search
of God2 Why not now learn to find
him in the very place where he is al
ways waiting for u.s. waiting for as to
unC erstand him and own him as the
eternal life, love, joy and Lord of our
being? JIM.