The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16
OCCASIONAL SERMON.

Ventlon at Stryker, thursday, June Z,
Immediately following the communion
service. The text was Matt. V. IA.
"Ye are the light of the world"
In all reforms, religious, moral, polit-
ical or social, the reformer finds it diff
fcult to gain hearing
Paul evidently saw this obstacle to
advancement, for he said "Prove all
things and hold fast that which is
good" We encounter this difficulty
everywhere. Men close eye and ear and
heart against our teaching. Could we
secure such hearing as is willingly
accorded our partialist brethren, we
could sweep away the old dogmas and
superstitions of the past and present
in one generation.
But the true reformer never wearies.
His reform is uppermost with him.
Those less Jealous are not reformers at
all. They but write their reforms in
the ocean wave. They stamp their
lessons in the shifting sands, while he
with living fire, writes his truths in in
delible letters on immortal souls, and
the reform goes steadily forward.
Men refuse to hear their methods
condemned, and to see their errors ex-
posed, and when convinced, would
rather cripple along under the burden
of old relations and institutions than to
come boldly and unite with the reform
er. Ten lepers were healed but only
one returned to bless the hand that
healed him.
Hence the Universalist Church has
not grown as we so ardently desire it
should. In the beginning our reform,
like all others, must make it's influence
and power felt by the infusion and in
stiIlation of its principles into old insti-
tutions, rather than by the substitution
of a new organization. Our thought
has peImeated all other churches, chang,
ing or modifying their teachings and
their methods. Though but few openly
avow their faith in our teaching or es-
pouse our reform, Universalism has
almost silenced the preaching of Gods
wrath, or mans endless woe, and has
inscribed on the banner of almost every
church Gods love and goodness. God
the Father of all. Mankind a common
Brotherhood.
Let us not suppose we are the sun
moon and stars combined. We can moi
hope to have all the light. But let us
humbly thank God that we have enough
light to expose the hideousness and in
consistencies of the old dogmas and
creeds handed down to us from the dark
ages, and that we have enough oil tC
lend to our neighbors. They burn oul
Oil to light the pathway of life, and tc
dispel the darkness and gloom that
hovers over the grave of their loved
ones. By the light of our faith they
open up the misty future. They take
our oil and throw light into the flu,
ture, and like the changing scenes OF
Dreamland, sorrow changes to joy
sighs and groans into songs of gladness
despair becomes hope, tears and frowns
become smiles.
1t is not a mans convictions that
give light to the world, but his words
and deeds proving his convictions.
Thousands of men may have thought
the sale of indulgences wrong, but ter
thousand such would have done less tC
reform the church than one Martin
Luther.
1t was such as Giddings and Garri
son, Wendell Phillips and Mrs. Stowe
that poured a flood of light on the
slavery question, rather than the mass
es, who inwardly believed slavery wrong
but kept their peace.
Jesus said to the Jews,-"Ye builC
the sepulchres of the prophets and you
fathers killed them, and yet ye say
IF we had been in the days of our faith
ers, we would not have been partaker'
with them in the blood of the prophets.
So it is in every age. He who bears
light and truth to the world is perse
cuted-afterward honored and immor
taliZed. Think not that l am come
to send peace on earth; am not come
to send peace but sword" The light
of truth is constantly showing us er-
rors and vices in the world to be over
come, and as soon as one great moral
question is settled another opens up,
and new battle begins.
One by one these great questions
must be settled-and settled right, for
they are not settled at all until they are
settled right.
AS the light of the rising sun drives
the beasts of prey to their hiding
places, and the thief and the murderer
to their Ieueat. so VIII the hight Of
Gods truth drive out all evil iustitu-
tlOns.
Literally men do rot light candle
and put it under OusheI," but relig-
iously and morally men not Only hide
their light under a bushel, but creep
under thems, Ives, 10 hide from their
CONVICTIONS, or To conceal their opm-
ions.