The record-union., 1894-02-12
TRUTH THE LIFE OF THE SOUL.
intolerance Still Exists in the Re-
ligious World.
Synopsis OF a Sermon by G.. A. Miller.
Christian Association.

The pulpit Of the Sixth-street M. E.
Church was filed last evening by Secre-
tary G. A. Miller of the Young Mems
Christian Association, whose subject was
'Truth VS.. Error" After reciting his
text, "And ye shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free" John,
viii, 32), he said:
All men are seekers after truth, but all
men do not seek in the same way and do
not reach the same results. The anti
thesis of truth is error. Error and sin are
sometimes used as synonyms, Dut tnere
are two classes of men who sin-those
who sin willfully and those who sin
ignorantly. Error is often not so much sin
as it is ignorance, as is shown by the tact
that many people have lately come out
into the higher Christian life because they
for the first time have really understood
it. If men knew God they would love
Him, but they do not know Him. Most
men live nearer their conception of truth
than we suppose. Knowing the truth is
more than simply holding right views; it
is an attitude of mind, receptlvlty
toward all truth wherever found; In
short, it is charity, the highest OF the
virtues.
This is made necessary by the nature of
truth itself. Truth is not put up in
Original packages" and delivered to
men to be handed down in creeds, but it
is a life in the soul. Secondhand truth is
stale. Truth comes when life comes, and
as life comes-from God.
We speak of God revealing himself TO
man, yet God is and always has been
visible enough if men could see him.
Revelation has not been so much the i'm
parting of knowledge of God as the
opening of mems eyes that they might
comprehend him. Truth stands every
where revealed, but mans vision is weak
and he cannot see 1t.
Hence the truth is not contained in any
one doctrine or creed to the exclusion of
others, but in some phases or its concep-
ton is seen more or less perfectly by all.
From the time when to hold an opinion
differing from that Of the emperor meant
crucihXion, and to exercise any freedom
of thought beyond the traditions of the
fathers meant social and spiritual
boycott, up to the present age of tolera-
ton, the process has been one of slow de-
velopment of the charitable spirit and the
receptive ability of mems minds. Even
now men are but beginning to see that all
truth is from God, whether it filters down
through our particular system of theol-
ogy or not. 1t is mans misconception of
truth that makes the confusion and the
bondage and gives rise to despOtiSm.
1t was this spirit that burned men at
the stake during the middle ages. Even
the religious liberation following Luther's
work was toleration TO princes only; the
world did not suddenly change from the
age of prosecutions to one of liberation.
We have come far, but we have yet a
long way to go. To-day we do not burn
men at the stake; but we "roast" them in
the religious press, and consign them to
eternal punishment if their opinions do
not agree with ours. When Columbus
said the earth was round there was a
great hue and cry, because the Bible was
supposed to teach that the earth was fiat
Now that scientists say that the earth was
formed by Divine energy, working in
matter through ages OF time, there is
commotion, because the Bible has been
supposed to be textbook on science
rather than a revelation of God, and from
God to man.
But we are moving. To-day, as never
before, the "undevout" scientist sis
mad" and the time may come when to
behold and understand Gods workings
in nature will compel a deeply spiritual
life.
The great message of truth is to free
men from the bondage Of ignorance, in
tolerance and tradition of men, and to
put man in position to receive truth di-
rectly from God, or through whatever
channel He may send it.
This freedom through the truth de-
pends upon the possession of Christ's
SplIlLs n0H bu6 SplIlt Ol lTuGQ Is come
he will teach you all things" When we
gain Christ's standpoint-his broad and
liberal experience with men: his bound
less charity-we receive the spirit that
teaches us ''all things" To commune
with the God of all the earth canDot but
broaden human life. The condition. ''if
ye continue in my words"
Truth is life, and life is growth, and
growth takes time. The perfection of
human life is not a rapid process, but it
takes place much more rapidly and bears
far richer fruit when 1t grows in the soil
OF the highest truth and in the direct
light of the sun of righteousness.
Christ came into the world as the spirit
of truth to free the world from error. As
his kingdom comes, as his spirit perme-
ates and inspires the lives of men, error
flies as the darkness before the morning
sun, and ''peace on earth, good will to
men," becomes not vision but glorious
reality in the lives of men.