The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-06-12

ahnvOin0 them the heipht daIth and length.
and breadth OF their ownienorance. While
the radiant bow thrusts these self -conceited
philosophers with the Interrogation point,
thew nut the foreHnper Of the right hand TO
the temple as though TO start their thoughts
intomore yigor, and then they would wrinkle
their brows and then bv absolute silence or
IN positive words confess their incapacity to
answer the interrogatorv With any one OF
a hundred questions about theology. about
philosophy, about astronomy about time,
about eternity, He NAV have balked them,
disconcerted them. flung them fat Behold
the boy Christ asking questions, and listen
when your child asks questions. He has the
right to ask them. Alas for the stupidity Of
the child without inquisitiveness II is
Christ-like to ask questions. Answer them II
you can. Do not say; II can't be bothered
now.n 1t your place to be bothered with
questions. II you are not able to answer,
surrender, and confess your incapacity, as l
have no doubt did Rabbin Simeon and Hillei
and Shammai and the sons OF Betirah when
that splendid boy, sitting or standing there
with garment reaching from neck to
ankle, and girdled at the waist, put them
TO their very wits end. 1t Is no
disgrace TO say, 81 don't know" The
learned doctors who environed Christ that
day In the Temple did not know or they
would not have asked Him any questions.
The only being in the universe who never
needs TO say, 81 do not know is the Lord
Almighty. The fact that they did not know
sent Keppler and Cuvier and Columbus and
Humboldt and Herschel and Morse and Sir
| William Hamilton, and all the other OF the
worlds mightiest natures into their life long
explorations. Telescope and microscope
and stethoscope and electric battery, and all
the scientific apparatus Of all the ages are
only questions asked at the door Of mystery.
Behold this Nazarene lad asking questions,
giving everlasting dignity TO earnest inter-
rogation.
Butwhiio see the old theolopians stand
ine around the bov Christ. | am impressed
as never before with the fact that what the
olopy most wants "a more of childish sim
plicity. The world and the church have
built up immense systems of theology. Half
of them try to tell what God thought what
God MANNED what God did five hundred
million wears before the small star on
which we live was created. / have had
MANY a sound sleep rader sermons about
1
tion Of the Son. and discourses showing
who Melcbisedel, wasn't and give a
fair warning that II any minister ever
begins a sermon on such a subject in my
presence. I will nut nv head down on
the pew in front and 20 into the
deepest slumber | can reach. Wicked waste
Of time. this irving 10 scale the unscalable
and fatlom the unfathomable while the ma
tions want the bread Of life, and TO be told
how thew can Get rid Of their sins and their
sorroyys wbv should won and | perplex
ourselves abont the decrees of Godi Mind
vour oyvn business and God will take care Of
His In the conduct of the universe think
, He will somehow manage TO get along with
ont ne II Won {.ant IN love and serve God
. and be good and useful and get 10 Heaven
I warrant that nothing which occurred
! eight bundred ouintillion of wears ago
will hinder Won a minute. II is not thu
DEGREES OF God that do us any harm, II Il
= our own decrecs Of sin and folly. You neet
not 20 any further back in history thai
!. abeslt .S56 wears. You see this is the yea
= 1880. Christ died about thirty-three year
: OF age. You subtract thirty three fror
: 1880 and that makes II only 1886 years
: That Is as far back as you need TO e
: Something occurred on that day under a
: eclipsed sun that sets us all forever free,
: with our whole heart and life we accept tn
a tremendous proffer. Do not let the Presby
II terian church or the Methodist church
/; the Lutheran church or the Baptist churc
a or any Of the other evangelical churche
4 spend any time In trying to hx up oil
1. creeds, all Of them imperfect as every thin
y man does Is imperfect. move new cree
"a for all the evangelical churches Of christeI
"a dom, only three articles in the creed, an
no need of any more. II had all II
N consecrated people Of all denomination
of the earth on one great plain, and
|, had voice loud enough 10 put II to vo
that creed Of three articles would be adoptt
?. with a unanimous vote and thunderir
~ ave that would make the earth quake al
the heavens ring with hosanna. This is d
A. creed | propose forAll christendom;
q. Article First-"Iiod 40 loved the wor
!. that He gave His only beeotten Son tn
q vvhasoever believeth In Him should n
;, nerish hut have everlasting nfen
re Article secoad-"This is faithful sayi
10 and worthy os all acceptation that Chr
4. Jesus cameifto the world to save sinne
IS even the clief."
o. Article Th1rd-"Worthy Is the Lamb N
70 was slain tt receive blessing and riches a
m honor and glory and power, world witho
10 end. Amen"
10 But you 20 TO tinkering up your old cree
Is and patching fnd splicing and interllni
re and annnxing and subtracting and add
of and expainin and you will lose time a
" make yourself a target for earth and hell
" shoot az lei ns hnye creeds not fashion