The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20

natural tendency and longing, as "
have seen, has corresponding object
then there is a Being worthy of ou
worship-a Being far mightier thar
we, Being of intelligence, goodnes
and love. Thus we are brought to
recognition of God as lie is revealed t.
us in the Old and New Testaments-'
Being whose existence and characte
we cannot deny, without in som'
measure disowning our own experience
and mature.
8. AS already indicated, the intellec
or reasoning faculty, which is the chic
organ of knowledge in secular life, i
also valid, within certain limits, il
ascertaining religious and spiritua
truth. 1t does not indeed give a saving
knowledge, but it may lead US TO al
apprehension of fundamental religion!
truth, upon which faith must rest
Along several lines of argument, some
of them quite abstruse, the reason lead:
US to recognition Of the divine exist
ence and of the moral government o.
! the world, Of these arguments men
| ton the two cIearest and strongest. We
| have within us y sense of right anC
wrong. There is also an approving ano
disapproving power, which we call con.
science. It LAS wide range from. milo
reproach to terrific scourgings.. 1t is
power or voice independent of our wills
and often contrary to our desires
Whence comes that moral distinction
with its powerful and independent
sanctions A satisfactory explanation
is to be found only in the existence OF
righteousLawgiver, whoa our Creator,
has placed that feeling within our
breasts as a witness for himself and for
righteousness. But along another we'll
known line, we reach substantially the
same truth. AS we look upon the visi-
bic universe, and as we penetrate into
the wonderful working Of its laws, We
discover a marvellous order and beauty.
There is, upon the whole, an extraor-
binary evidence of wisdom and design.
The structure of our minds and bodies,
the distribution Of land and water on
our globe, the change of seasons, and
the movements Of our earth on its axis
and around the sun, all exhibit; IN
their wise adjustments, the intelligence
and forethought of a personal Creator.
It is irrational to believe that all this
obvious and marvellous adaptation of
means to ends, could have come from
chance. It is true, as the Psalmist de-
cIared ages ago, that "the heavens de-
clare the glory Of God and the, irma-
rnent sheweth. his handiwork." Thus,
by an exercise of the reasoning facul-
tiesin legitimate way, We are led TO
the idea Of such an infinite, wise and
benevolent Being as is revealed to US
in; the Scriptures. 1t is a conclusion
tive effort of the will. .. p. =
4. There is one more way by which
we may arrive at knowledge Of
spiritual truth. It is by experience
the most satisfactory of ali methods.
There is a self-evidencing power in
spiritual truth. It's results upon others
as upon ourselves testify of its divine
origin and efficacy. This is what our
Saviour meant When he said, "lf any
man will do bis will, he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be OF God"
Under the great law Of sowing and
reaping, of cause and effect, falsehood
tends to unhappiness and death, while
truth leads to happiness and life. II
Pilates scepticism undermined. his
character 30 that be was willing to give
up an innocent victim to violent
death, his xunbelief stands condemned
by this horrible result. If PauPs faith
led him to righteousness and 10 an
abounding love for bis fellow-men, this
result, so divine in its character, estab-
fishes the truth of his belief. And so in
the world at large: if, in contrast with
unbelief, the teachings Of Christianity
tend to elevate men-to make them
happier and -better-we may rest
assured of its truth. But there is a
deeper application of this principle
the interior evidence, the witness OF the
Spirit, that comes to each individual
as be obeys the truth. All other knowl-
edge of spiritual truth partakes of the
character of mere intellectual assent or
recognition; but this inner experience
leads to- profound conviction of
soul so that we can say with Paul,
IT know whom I have believed."s Let
a nau, take the Gospel of Christ
iato bis life; let him experience the
blessedness of sin forgiven; let him pass
through that revolution in his nature
which turns him from sin to righteous
ness; let him feel; the blessedness of the
divine presence in. its comforting and
strengthening power; let him enjoy
the sustaining power of the Christians
hope; let him see life TRANSPORTED and
glorifed by the presence of the Chris
tian temper and Christian virtues-let
him experience all this, and he then
knows, with the deepest conviction Of
which he is capable, that he is in pos
session of the truth of God. ....
Young gentlemen of the graduating
class, this brief discussion will serve to
show, I trust, that scepticism and init
deity are not proofs CT superior wisdom
and culture, as is sometimes assumed,
but that they spring originally either
from q corrupt life or from perverted
use of the intellect. When all the
organs of knowledge and truth ia the
soul are duly considered, they lead US
to the foundation principles upon
which our Christianity reposes, and
confirm its truth in the individual
consciousness. Carry with you, then,
to the serious responsibilities and da-
ties. of life the profound conviction
that the truth, as far as it may be nee
essary for human welfare, may be
known, and that in its origin and
character it is divine. This conviction
will give you calmness in the midst OF
turmoil, steadfastness in the midst Of
uncertainty and vacillation, strength
and courage in the midst of weakness
and despair. The divine character Of
truth is a guaranty of its ultimate tri-
umph. Behind it is the infinite power
of God. AS the perfect embodiment
of the highest truth, point you
to Jesus Christ, who said of himself,
II am the way, the truth and the life"
This is his answer to Pilates question;
and in it is found, not only satisfaction
for the deepest needs of tie individual
soul, but also remedy for the evils OF
social life at large. Take your stand
courageously on the Lords side. In
giving yourselves earnestly to the pro-
mitigation and defence of the truth, no
matter in what sphere it may be, you
raise your lives to the noblest plane,
and impart to them divine character.
It is thus you become cosworkers with
1aefinE to Srbinh q