The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-20
THE SERMON OF LIFE.
4 Baccalaureate Sermon TO the
University Class.
PREACHED BY REV. DR.. TAYLOR.
Sermon by the Rev. H. II. Gowan at st.
Marks Church on the Doctrine
of Christi hurch Notes.

Rev. y. z. TAYLOR. D. D. pastor OF the
First Baptist church. a. yesterday morn
ilgs services held IN the SEATTLE thester.
preached the baccata urezte sermon % the
university class. taking his text from II
Chronicles xxvi.i5: He was msrvelo11sly
helped TIL he was strong he said:
These words are taken from The bog
rapay % King T-zziah. That biograp ply Is
a. once both history and prophecy Let
us rrote some Of SIS salient features The
King organ iZei AT army. he invented new
engines OF war. fortified MS capital and
forced all the surrounding nations 70 pay
him tribute He also realized the benefit
% internal ments-vineyaris were
planted and lands were irrigated The
nation was prospered and the king he
came great. We know the reason for this
He was naarvelously helped til he was
strong That Is the first chapter n this
biography. Note the second. When ne
became great Re innpiouslv errte-s the
temple, usurps the Office OF the priest and
attempts 20 burn incense before the LORD.
Had not God prevented. doubtless. he
would have tried 70 invent a new religion
Or 10 improve the old one. Read the third
chapter He "a su1itten with Ieprosy: ne
must abdicate his throne: until death he
must live IN obScurity
What does this life teach, Under
standing that the strength given included
say that God wills that all men should
possess this strength Without strength
men are nat free. without 81 they are not
like God You may have heard that the
church has sometimes been hostile 20
learning. possibly true; God never was
He desires TO know Again God pro-
yi1eS opportunity for the exercise Of that
strength. When Charles Sumner entered
the senate, Senator Benton said: Sir. I
regret that we have settled all the I'm
portant questions pertaining TO our na-
Conal Hte' Bvt waightier auctions arose
during Summers career More inporta mt
yet are the questions 70 be solved in the
future. And further God enables men TO
discover methods and processes for the
successful application OF that strength
and for its greater development He
would have men wise IN the use OF what
He gives. Hence It follows. that the man
who uses his strength in the directions
indicated may say: I am doing the will
OF God Yes. not only the men who pro-
claim the word do Gods will, but the
men who serve their day and generation
are Gods servants fulfilling His purposes.
King Uzziah Is helped by the Lord. but
no did not honor the Lord with his
strength. He fancied he vas Qualified TO
dictate in matters Of religion. Let US note
his mistake and learn that the possession
OF strength often tempts men to deeds OF
sacrilege.
Men great in science. not sa tisfied with
the discoveries they have made. have
sometimes fancied they are qualified to
speak with authority concerning faith.
These have made Il the supreme aim of
their lives 20 destroy the faith of their
. fellows. Philosophy has said with over
confidence Miracles do not. happen
Wealth insists that our religion should Re
up to date suited 10 the needs and culture
of the times. The wisdom and knowledge
% tii. king fitted him the better to under
stand the religion Of Jehovah, but not to
alter or invent a religion. II enabled him
to discover: not to create. The greatest
accomplishment of reason IS 70 bid men
look for a revelation. The searchight
nav enable the sailor TO discover every
thing in the vessels track, II would
hinder the astronomer in his study Of the
heavens. Reason enables men 10 avoid
all the dangers that surround their steps,
but often 1t blinds. because by that light
alone men would study the nature and
plans OF a loving God.
For this sin the king was stricken with
leurosv. Is there anything or punish
rrent corresrsnding 10 this in our life OF
the uresena2 Why has Il taken the world
81 many centuries 20 discover what God
has enacted since the morning OF crea-
ion God has been showing US the power
of steam by the rising Of 7he morning
mist bv the fiashinE Of thought along tho
nerves He taught the truth OF the tele-
yrauh- hut only after the lapse or these
centuries have we learned these tacts.
And 7oFav here are hostile ranks JansiinS
concerning the tariff. the currency. taxa
.ion Tet us employ our God-gfven
.,.a,e,h in directions that God indicated
and accept His revelation with the faith