The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
STRENGTHENING CHARACTER BY
LOOKING AT UNSEEN THINGS.
BY the Rev. William Hayne LcnveiI
ID. D.. Pastor First Prcsb> terrain
Church, Houston, Tex.

While we look at the things which are
not seen; for the things which are seen
are temporal. but the things which are
not seen are eternal-II Cor. w., IS
Every responsible moral being has soul;
every soul has eye; every eye is more
or less clear.
Clearness of vision depends upon quail
ity of soul Souls may refuse to look, and
i'm that case will see nothing. Souls may
gaze upon the seen and shut out the I'M
seen. 1t depends upon the sort of soul il is.
| can see how men may refuse belief
10 theories which claim to be comprehen-
sive statements of invisible realities; / do
not see how intelligent moral capacity can
deny the existence of such realities. In
such case it must deny itself. OF course.
you cannot make an eye see which denies
that il exists. and some eyes are so per-
sistently blind that they might just as
well not be eyes at all.
Human experience has a doctrinai out
come. Men have learned some things
and know them by heart. Evil in the
world is one of the things we know. We
are subjected to innumerable influences
which threaten our value and happiness.
Everybody is assaulted by temptation, and
finds il hard at times to be firm in his re-
solve not to yield 10 what will undo him.
That he must resist. or damage If not de-
stroy his moral quality, is patent TO every
fairly intelligent observer.
There must be aim and purpose in this
or men will not endure trial and bear bur-
dens in order 10 win better and strong
er moral quality Because to endure hard
ness is not what any would choose unless
the result will be of more value to him
than present ease. Every man who has in
any single instance tried TO subdue his
selfshness has learned that he cannot
stumble upon high achievement. He must
aim for it, and be willing to pay the price.
These two things are bound together IN
an inviolable union: Moral purpose and
moral attainment.
Human experience has established an
other doctrine to which all intelligent
minds subscribe. 1T is universally recoS-
inzed that faith and hope the only
principles and springs of action which
make men successfully combat evil with
deathless purpose TO win high character
and endure successfully whatever of hard
ship and trial is necessary TO moral prog
ress. No man has ever done so under any
influence but that of faith and hope-he has
believed something and hoped for some
thing.
The only question, then, is one which de-
fines the character, quality and source OF
faith and hope. Now, L believe it is clear
" impossible for one who regards only
what is visible and temporary, whose soul
never scars upward and looks steadily on
what is unseen and eternal, TO gan moral
capacity to endure successfully the trials
of a hard and bitter life in this world, be-
come and remain sweet through il all and
heighten his moral quality thereby. Such
men may live excellent lives and show d
sweet spirit when they do no. have 10 fight
bitter battles-on the success of any one of
which may depend the comfort and liappi-
ness of those they love better than life-but
when the real test comes they cannot stand
the strain. 1t is not reasonable to expect
it. Things we handle with our hands and
see with our eyes are always shifting and
never long endure. They not only do not
last beyond our present experience, but they
are forever slipping from our grasp and
playing the chameleon before our very
eyes We feel secure in the possession of
things which slip from our mold by the
operation of causes beyond our control;
we bend our energies to win things which
when won turn out to be different in color
and character from what We supposed The
whole experience of life teaches that visible
things are rarely what they seem. seldom
result as we expected, continually dsap-
poiut us. constantly keep the promise TO
the eye and break it to the heart.
Things visible and temporary are by ne
cessity material, and are apt to tend toward
grossness They are things the moral ma
ture may use. but they are meant TO be in
Misunderstanding, by means of which
the house can be built. The mischief Is
done when they are looked upon main
and chief In such view moral disaster VIII
ensue. The scaffoding without the house
will not stand, much less gives shelter in
times of storm. and such times sooner or
later come to all of us.
Here as everywhere, perhaps more here
than anywhere, an effect cannot be greater
than its cause Moral quality cannot pos
sibly originate in and grow from material
earthly tangible and visible things. l be-
leve that we can and must find what Will
produce and develop high moral quality or
give up all hope OF living other than british
lives and dying other than hopeless deaths.
One who has no motive to make him persist
in his endeavor to win permanent moral
values will some time other find that
the stress is too much for him. and he will
inevitably break uOWii III ltdIt diiu ilOpC.
OF course. if one is convinced that he and
his Cog are on the same moral level and
one has as much moral power the other,
nothing is TO be said. But no man who
thinks of himself AS possessing moral ca
pacity can be ignorant of the fact that
there is some meaning and intention in it.
And IL man must fight the battle of life
and bear the burdens of life, all the while
accommodating greater moral power. which
cannot be got out of what is visible and
temporary the one sensible thing TO do is
TO inquire if there is source from which
such things are supplied and if any man
has ever been actually supplied. For this
is the very sum and substance of faith and
hope.
Every one who has ever blessed our race
with an inspiring life and character has in
some genuine way renowned the world
looked higher than things visible and tenn
Dorary reach. No man will soar into pure
air who is forever content 10 walk in mud.
do not mean that we must withdraw
from human associations and the world 5
activities into secret solitude, where. un-
yexed by cares and unsought by ternpta-
tiop. NE may succeed in smothering our
natural affections. I do mean that the
unanimous voice of the common experience
of all the best characters tells US that such