The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-28
THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH

sermon at the Armory last SUNDAY morn
ing was, THE search for Truth The
text was from III Peter, l:5-"Add TO YOUR
iaith obedience and TO obedience knowl-
edge"
The text is comprehensive summary
OF the christian life. Eternal life, the
| goal and object of christian endea\ or. is
p0und up and wrapped with knowltdg
ms, says Christ, ''this is eternal life
to know God and Jesus Christ whom he
hath sent'
knowledge is the boosted achievement
OF the present century. Never i'm human
| history has science in all its varied DEPART
ments made such Titanic strides. InlS4S
kenau, flushed with the hope born of the
wonders already accomplished, declared
1t to be the mission of science ito solve
all enigmas." But the issue has been
otherwise. Prof. Fiske declares that
Every problem that is solved but opens
dozen new problems that await solu-
ton" Wagner in youth, "addresst d to
the young men of France, declares that
the present generation is comparable on
~ TO late volunteers in q war already long
protlacted, who as they advance to the
'front.' are met upon every road by throngs
OF returning stragglers who have cast
aside their weapons and declare that
nothing can be done. And, as related
to the deeper problems OF life, of morali-
~ and of spiritual experience, the smile
is not inapt. The practical issue of our
boasted science is pessimism and agnosti-
clsm-a philosophy which confesses it's
present ignorance and despairs of ever
knowing
The fault, however, does not lie in sci
ence-except in so far as it may be blam-
ed Tor setting forth unwarrantable pre-
tensions which it could not by any posi-.
biiity justify. The experience is not Pc
culiar to science. The same difficulty
emerges in religion. Even the Bible
oners no theoretic solution of the enigma
OF NE. IL is, IN the expressive words of
the Psa lmist, GA lamp to our feet" given
rather for purposes of practical direction
rather than for the illustration of theo-
retical mysteries. 1t leaves unanswered
the deepest questions as to the being of
God, the future life, the essential basis
OF spiritual phenomena. 1t tells us the
law OF life-it does not discover to us its
philosophy. In fact, both in science and
In rellglon-lndeed, in any department
OF human thought-we are speedily con-
ironted with barriers imposed by the linn
ltations of human intelligence. We cam
not fathom the deeper mysteries-not
because they are essentially unsolvable-
but because man, as he now is, has not
the capacity to solve them. GAS the
heavens are higher than the earth. SO are
my thoughts than your thoughts" saith
the Lord. 1t is the glory of God that it
ID 80.
Our whole religious life is adjusted to
this condition of part-knowledge. When
Prof. Drummond says that there can be
mo religion without mystery" he states
what abstractly considered is altogether
false, but what as related to our present
condition is true. Religion as we know
1t, religious experience as the Bible ex-
hibits it, is possible only when there is
ignorance and mystery. The present
postulate OF christian life is part knowl-
edge, imperfect comprehension.
We exercise freedom of choice only
upon the condition of part knowledge.
Were the full consequences of an evil
deed Immediately ascertainable. no one
would dare to sin. Were the final issues
Of righteousness completely in view, all
would desire to do the good. Freedom
exists only where there is contrarety of
motive, but we're all things clearly known
the visible issue of sin would drive no
less than the visible virtue would draw
towards righteousness. A certain ignor-
lnce is the condition of moral freedom.
tatalism and determination are the in
evltable consequence of complete knowl-
edge. Man, under the condition of life
n this present world. is morally free only
Upon condition of being partially blind.
And God deserves to be freely chosen by
hose who had it in their power to choose
otherwise.
So, also, those fundamental christian
traces of faith, hope and charity are con-
iltloned for their existence upon state
II part knowledge. Faith endures as
eeing the invisible; but if the invisible
become visible, faith has become kEowl-
dge, hope has become assurance, aspira-
ion has become realization. Abraham
ould not have given us the high exam
lie of faith if he had known the issue.
)hrist must needs be ignorance-as he
onfessed himself to be-of many things,
he were to be an example to our faith.
The development of christian chargc-
cter rests upon the necessity for seeking
nd searching. 1t is in the pursuit of
ruth that moral Stamina and spiritual
orce is developed. The man who re-
elves wealth by inheritance has not
the moral fiber of the man
Tho has himself acquired it. So Les
ing, Malebranche and others have de-
Jared that they preferred the pursuit of
ruth to its possession.
But though part knowledge is the pos
llate of the religious life as we now
now it, ignorance and mystery are not
s eternal postulates. We are not sum-
loned to an endless pursuit of an unat-
unable end. Part knowledge is to issue
l full knowledge. Now we look through
glass darkly, but the issue co,neth
hen we see Him face to face and know
ven as we are known. ~
The text indicates the way of such at
Iinment. 1t is not the way of science,
or of philosophy, nor even of theology.
is the way OF practical christian living.
nd to your faith obedience, and through
oedience cometh knowledge. Gle that
beth my will shall know of the doc
ine." The temple of knowledge is not
nong the mountains, upon lofty heights
intellectual attainments 1T is down in
e plain, in the midst of the people.