The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19
ADVANCED THINKERS.


words of our generation. The mind OF
man dares 10 climb up into heaven. to 60
down into hell, to range in the utter
most parts of tho earth. 20 investigate
the infinite and the infnitessimal, TO trace
the path which no fowl knoweth, and
which the eve hath not seen. Nil mortal
fbus arduum. We are In the midst or
the realization OF the brightest dreams
of poets and SYPHILIS in the past. and OF
the fulfillment Of the visions OF the pro-
phets Call II what you will. the evolution
Of humanity, or the kingdom OF heaven.
All the world Is filled with light. as never
before in its history, and things that In
the near and remote past would have
been set down as incredible and as i'm
possible, are familiar and commonplace
with US. Tho common furnishings OF
the man OF our day would have marked
him a hundred years ago rs citizen OF
a wonderful world, q nation almost d.
vine.
Sages, philosophers. prophets and right
eous men vaguely hoped for our day and
desired TO see II. but passed away COM
forted with their hope and confident in
It's fulhllment.
Account for our condition and surround
ings as you will. nevertheless. the world
takes our age as Christian civilization
and all its wonders and blessings as the
matured fruits Of the Light and Life. CIV
ing power and influence OF the Christian
ba nj ~
It's influences and its light, as the Light
of the latter day; and about its source.
as the Sun of Righteousness in mid
heaven, shedding its healing influences,
as the consummation OF law. all agreed.
The Christian Ideal is accepted the world
over. and literature and science and
advanced philosophy can show nothing
approaching II. They have no Messiah
of their own; no explanation of life and
death.
Christianity offends mankind only as
the light OF heaven offends sore eyes. or
as the presence OF a good man offends
the misdoer. or a gentleman vulgarian.
Men love darkness rather than light. be-
cause their deeds are evil. That enun-
ciates a natural law.
Whatever advanced thinkers may do for
the enfranchisement OF the human mind.
or for the disparagement OF that greatest
blessing TO humanity. the pulpit. tho Cos
pei ministry. yet that ministry stands
forth as itself, a miracle OF divine love.
No matter how many or whatever be the
painful EXCEPTIONS yet what would the
world be without its churches and its
elf-denying teachers OF truth and right
eousness. scattered everywhere? And
what would the history OF the world be
without the work and life OF the glorious
company OF the apostles the goodiy fell
iowship Of the prophets. the noble army OF
martyrs, and the holy Church throughout
the world?
And all these witness Christ as their law
giver and governor and King. The Lord,
our righteousness Whatever science and
| thinking may do to discover laws, how
ever It may dig fits foxfre out Of the de-
| cayed temples In the past. II has added
no attribute to the Scriptures character
| ization OF the infinite God Nor has IL
| found a blemish in the divine character
| of the Saviour. Nor has II suggested an
| idea by which man shall approach Deity
| or rise from his low estate to filiai adora-
| ton and love Of the Father OF all. Nor
| has Il dreamed OF a method Of exaltation
| comparable to Him who is figured as
| ladder reaching from earth to heaven.
I'D uyffh yph 10 m "a "
the Truth. and the Life. Divine manhood.
the miss ng link.
| The great possessions OF mankind that
come to them from the Scriptures are
the knowledge OF God and OF Jesus Christ
| Scientists and advanced thinkers have
| added nothing to that. The most that
| they have done is to limit divine light
and wisdom to their own perceptions and
eomprehensions; and require that men
shall understand the Word Of God only
| according to their own dictionaries and
grammars and experiences and capabili-
ties. They are true Procrusteans and
Intellectual bullies and smashers.
The jewels that the Bible reveals are
the Father. the Son and the Holy Spirit
| Advanced thinkers must see infnits
mysteries through their own spectacles.
measure the power OF God by their own
weights and measures. and adjust the
whole system of things to their laws
Tho new theology nearly resembles the
| explorations OF the suns surface. How
many and various are the theories TO
account for the SUM- And yet is there
one OF them that better accounts for that
great luminary and its Office than the
simple words of Scripture, He made the
sun to rule by day." he filled 1t with light
I for its office. In spite of all that may
be said about II. and how II came into
being. II yet performs Its glorious duty
From its throne in the heavens 1t en-
| lightens the world. and by its blessed
beams it gives US light and life. giving
us fruitful seasons and filling our hearts
| with food and gladness. a constant testi-
mony of the wisdom and power and love
| OF its Creator. And in all its glory IL is
but type and grand natural counter
| ma ri Of fhe HoIv Ribla and that as,,;x.