The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-29
OUR SUPPORT.
FAITH THE UNSEEN POWER.
The Agrostlc and the Christian.
PART II.
PART
Vrw York Heratd.

Ire. dfl(s IIdG biICS III SiiN 70" - - 80
administrations, X, 10.
That seems to be a very odd saying
At first sight, but when you look at 1t
-.cond time Its meaning becomes ap-
rent.
men are alive, but not all enjoy
rhe anle degree Of life.
10 r.. through the physical world
s .3ut any keen apprehension Of lts
l.eautic5 Il one thing to make the
-:sr- be clouds, the streams and the
forest. your intimate friends, who
hi-per their secrets in your ears. IS
srv different thing.
III ike manner 10 suffer all the ex
licences Of life without any definite
knowledge Of their meaning is exceed
n.lv depressing; but to feel in your
heart that nothing happens which may
not ba pm to good use in the develop
n4eut If character, that every incident,
whcj her OF Joy or sorrow, is a stone
which you are to put into its proper
place that the mosaic may be perfect
mat Will give you good cheer, encour-
and raoiDpafinn
Herein we note a startling difference
between the agnostic and the Christian.
Both stand ready to admit that our
human life is crowded full of strange
happenings that no will, however
strong it may be, controls events; that
what comes and what does not come
are obedent to a decreeing force which
does not consult our pleasure or our
wishes.
Is that decreeing force blind fate.
which has no reference to our welfare,
but grinds us to powder between the
upper and lower milstones of struggle
ana disaster, or does 1t represent a wis
dom. q kindliness and a fatherllness
which so arranges events that each one
becomes stepping stone to higher
things? Is there good God, who
knows what we suffer and will help us
to bear it, OF are we simply reeds, sway
Ing in the tempest, to break when our
endurance is exhausted and not even
remain broken reeds any longer?
For example, you stand face to face
with a great bereavement. and you
know jhat in the inevitable course OF
human events other bereavements
ntlst needs follow, for no man has one
We to guard ; he has more than one.
- agnOstic regards these grand
5 e..nr of life as belonging to the
.a r territory of 1.-The unknOWable "
lie Ell You in plying phrases that {,
Fai:ic.,. and a Providence, and Heav-
q, are mere possibilities. with all the
Iogical and scientific chances against
them He assures YOU that he wishes
san could rely upon them for consola-
y, but the uncertainties are so many
,44t it is impossible to do 50, and you
Ger courage you can summon. He
may e honest. and sweet spirited, and
i,rgo hearted. and sympathetic, but his
words are like a poisoned dagger, and
your Drumming ewes look forth into
blacl, and hopeless darkness.
Admit for 3 moment that he is right
only for moment, however. You
cannot repress the conviction that the
truth is the hardest. stOniest. cruelest
thing in the universe. What pity it
is that we should ever learn the truth.
if we only learn it to be crushed by it !
What is the use OF the truth If It's ONLY
purpose is to kill the nobIest aspira-
tons, to take us by the throat with an
iron hand and choke our Hottest long
ings? The greatest misfortune that
eyer happened to us came with our
birth and the gift of reason was fatal to
happiness. Better be a dog and bav
the moon than such man
But the Nazarene steps forth and
places His hand on your bowed head.
IN language which thrills like far away
music He whispers, "COme unto me
sc who labor and are heavy laden, and
| will give you rest" He tells YOU
that as rough diamonds must be ground
on the stone before they become per
iect, SO souls must be fitted for heaven