Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
REVELATION A FACT.
Another Of the Inferences From the
Existence of a Creator.
TRUTHS WE CANNOT DISCOVER.
GODS Chosen People Learned Gradually,
Not in Single Hour.
TESTIMONY OF THE OLD PROPHETS


man. The conclusion was that there is a
first cause, and that an examination of its
effects as seen in nature and in man shows
that this first cause is intelligent, self-ie-
termining, personal and righteous. For the
effects of cause are contained in the cause.
Such an effect as personality argues person
ality in the cause.
Then we took up three great difficulties
which lie in the way OF this argument:
First the difficulty which is urged by the
materialists, and which centers about the
doctrine of evolution; then, the diff Guilty
which is urged by the agnostics, and which
centers about the Limitation of human
thought; and finally, the difficulty which is
urged by the pessimists, and which cee -
about the problem of pain. These difficulties
we examined; and found in them more help
than hindrance. The stumbling blocks were
discovered to be stepping-stones. Evolution
was seen to emphasize the argument for
God by revealing God as ever-present and
ever-acting in the worlds history. Agnos-
ticism was seen to mphasize the argumentfo for
God by uplifting our conception o: God,
and revealing Him as one who is all the
best that we can conceive of, and infinitely
more. Pain, even, was seen to emphasize
the argument for God, BY revealing Gods
righteous, wise and loving purpose even in
those events in human life which tempt US
into doubt.
THE THREE INFERENCES.
Finally we studied the differences which
follow from the fact OF Gods existence.
First, the inference as to prayers; then the
inierences as to miracles, and finally coming
to our subject for to-day, the inference as to
revelation. Prayer we showed to be natural,
helpful and effectual. Miracles we showed
to be not only possible and probable, but
actually Getting one eminent instance) veri-
fable. Our studies in this subject are to-
day with the inference as to revelation.
Revelation is the communication to a man
of truth which he either did not or could
not find out for himself. There are two ways
by which we get knowledge Of truth. by
discovery and by revelation. The differ
ence is in the person of the messenger who
brings the truth. In discovery we are the
messengers. In revelation somebody else
is. Discovery is what we find out by our
own senses. Revelation is what somebody
tells us.
Now, revelation in the senses in which it is
used in theology means truth which is COM
municated not only to an individual, but to
the race, which no man could have found
out. Apart from all speculation, reasoning,
philosophy, discovery, are certain truths
which were not only not aimed at along the
path. but which were simply told by God to
man. They came into the world from the
outside. This is the assertion of religion.
WITHOUT IT ALL is GUEsswoRK-
The importance of this assertion of reve-
lation is plain at once Revelation is all
solutely essential to assured religion. Be-
cause without it religion is only a series of
guesses. 1t rests on the uncertain founda-
tions of opinion and emotion. That is the
very best that can be said of it. Without
revelation, the whole idea of God is like the |
Broken. God is only the reflection of man. |
God is but the magnifed shadow which man |
casts upon the clouds. At any moment, by |
a new discovery, by change of feeling, all |
reli zion may be swept away. Without reve- |
lation. without an unmistakable assurance |
from God, all is uncertain.
Is revelation possible? The question is
already answered when we affirm the exist
ence of God. For who will doubt as to
whether or not God can reveal Himselfo Is
God dumb? Cannot God do what we can?
He who made the lips and voice of man,
cannot He speak? And ii it is further
debated as to whether or not man could
understand revelation from God-could
distinguish it. that is, from his
own thoughts-this we see after moments
is only another form OF the first
question. Can God make Himself under
derstood? is the same as, can God speak? To
such question everybody who believes in
God can give but one answer The answer is
ives" Revelation is possible?
AND PROBABLE, TOO.
Is revelation likely? Again the same
truth about God answers the question, This
wise, holy, loving and supreme Being, who
has created man with conscience to dis
,ern between right and wrong, with an as
piration to know the will OF the Most High
and to do it's it likely that He would
stop there? Think what conscience means.
It means that sin displeases and goodness
pleases God. Conscience is an affirmation
IF personality. 1t is an instinct by which
we know that there is relation between us
and Personal Being above us, a relation
by our righteous actions, and |
strained by sin. Conscience interprets virtue
Is obedience and transgression as disobe-
iience. Conscience points to God.
Now, this righteous God whom conscience
declares, will He stop with only this much
# revelation of Himself ? Will He not
ell US what His will is, that we may do it?
Will He not somehow satisfy this aspiration
which He has set in our hearts to know
Him? That h so likely that if there were
10 further revelation OF God, such strange
ack would prompt the great question, I
Why? Ii God is, why does He not tell us '
,laInly? If God desires us to obey His
will. why does He not teach us clearly?
Nothing is more unlikely than that God
hould hide Himself out OF mems sight and
earing in an eternal and unbroken silence. ,
That would be the difficulty of difficulties.
Revelation follows naturally along the lines
f the affirmation of God.
THE FACT OF REVELATION.
Revelation then is probable and likely,
ut is it fact? Is there anywhere a reve-
alton of God?
It is evident, of course, that the great
ruths of religion came to each of us as a i
evelation. They were not discovered by u.s.
from our parents, from our teachers, from {
ur Bibles we learned what we know about
rod. That, as matter of fact, is the actual .
ray in which this knowledge came to us. ..
somebody told us. But 90 back behind
hat. Who told our teachers? And their
these truths come to them by
evelation or by dreaming? And, since we :
nd that these truths were revealed to them.
ow did the revealers find out truth? Back G
nd back we CO. and, SO far as the great =
ruths OF religion are concerned. it is reyeIa. I
ion all the way, and nowhere discovery.
Here are five great assertions of religion:
u the fact OF God, (2) the fact of dutv. (3) Q
be fact of providence, az the fact of saliva =
ion, (5) the fact OF Immortality. Who can .
anne the discoverer of any one of these great
-uths? Is not discovery, indeed. unthink- a
BILE in regard to these? Columbus has an v
lea that there is land some where over on the
ther side, and, having this idea, he pushes