The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09
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8 SERMON FOR The SIUT-INS IS
q "The Furnace and the LAM" s
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ing. and therefore must absolutely know
God. We need not get cntangied IN the
meshes OF philosophical speculation. To
know Gods attributes Is TO know Himself
for He Is the sum Of them. but who has
yet fathorned them2 By the creation
around us we know OF His existence as a
personal being. We see adaptabilIty. and
we know a mind designed il. We see in
finite variety. and we know an infinite
mind was the intelligent first cause. We
see breaks in the grading upward from the
lowest TO the highest forms of life that no
law OF evolution can satisfactorily account
for, and we know that there has been a
choice OF species that must have been the
result Of an infinite will. We see all parts
of this magnificent universe governed
alike By law and showing the mark of a
controlling hand. and we know that our
God Is omnipresenf. We look back into the
ages OF the infinite and find point when
this omniscient, omnipresent. personal
will must have pre-exlsted all created mat
ter and mind. and we know that our God
must be seif-existent and eternal. Know
ing all this by the ciearess power of ree-
son. do we fully understand God? No. To
each of these attributes there 10 a dark
side OF mystery. an impenetrable ur-
known. We cannot tell, for instance, how
much reserve force there is to His power.
how much variety Is left uncreated BY His
viii. how much knowledge is left unre-
yealed TO us In material forms. II must be
patent 10 us all that we can know God
only rs We discover Him in finite mani
festations. and that therefore we can
search out and understand His projections
only as He has given us ability. Surround
ing these declared and demonstrabie attri-
butes there will always exist TO our finite
intelIecfs an infinity of grandeur We may
never hope TO grasp. He who made the
shoreless ocean-shali He not be bound
less? Were IL otherwise we could not cali
Him God.
Now, how does this limited knowledge
on our part affect our admiration. our
mnd-iove OF this Supreme One? Is 1t me-
cessary that We should fully understand in
order TO admire or adore? How is 1t with
regard to our human heroes and friends7
Do We wait 10 explore the depths OF hu-
man nature before we feel the power of
the word friendship. or rest In the conf
dence of an assuring faith2 How many of
your intimate friends do you thoroughly
understand Are there not reserves of
feeling and motive In us all which we do
not deem II prudent TO disclose to every
one? Are there not inner consciousness
which We keep as secrets in our own
hearts. which form no part of our COM
panions' knowledge OF ms. and yet which
do not interfere with that delightful inter-
course and mutual attachment which exist
between ourselves and our friends? How
puerfie and illogical then the expression,
II viii not worship and love God whom
1 cannot know" Is not this rather the ar
gument of true reason7 such attributes
OF the Divine Being as I can get a glimpse
of overpower me. II this imperfect knowl-
edge is so bewildering In its revelation,
what must be the full-orbed glory of the
unclouded Deity to emancipate mind?" /
pierce beyond the lamp of revealed perfec-
lions into the deep folds of unexplored
mystery that surround IL. and cry out
with Job. "canst thou by searching find
out God! Canst thou find out the AL
mighty to perfection? 1t is as high as
heaven: what canst thou do? deeper than
hell what canst thou know" With Da-
vid. ! exclaim. such knowledge is too
WONDERFUL for me; / cannot attain unto
H. With Paul, 20. the depths of the
riches both of the wisdom and knowledge
OF God. How unsearchable are His i,,dg-
ments and His ways past finding out. For
VINO hath known the mind of the I,ord9 or
VINO hath been His counsellor? For of
Him. and through Him, and to Him are
All Things. Who only hath Immortality
oweiiing In the light which no man can ap-
proach unto. whom no man hath seen ar
can see; to whom be honor and power ,ver-
Iasting Such Is the God of nature the
dod OF the Bible, the God whose symbols
lamp. o hihs
But is there not something more, y,-s,,o.
only attempt TO know God THROUGH 80
intellectual nature. but we become e..
quainted with Him through our mora
ha'ore. our conscience. We see His bright
or dark side. accordingly as we Oh, -.
which lie has placed i'm every hursn
breast. We now become ACQUAINTED r,ss.h
fis justice. His purity. His holiness o,,r
aSuohs TAKE on new Character rror,
TINS consideration. They are No -.
merely graceful or awkward. inteIlias,.
OF ignorant. grave or gay. expesiient ar
A"ise' they are right or wrong. ITpon
one set OF actions God frowns. uno,, a.
other set He smiles When Tho rs,,n,,a s,.e
pursued tie fsraelites the niltar - an.
minated cloud stood between the n,,rs,,es
hno the pursners- To the peonle ~ 60
y was light and sent its beams ab.ad -
them upon their way. To their nersae,,,A
sIs vas dark and confusing. turning
men uhaoIy vindictiveness into terror md
$3.50 when vision OF God do you got
tooaS~the threatening smoke OF co,x5e,,,
nation. or the cheerful Iamn a, r,,,s,,l
AZ - sad enough 10 20 through ufe with
tne Sneers or those following Won who
ellihh you nave injured them. III Is hard
Enough TO live down petty and malicious
Hpcis on your character The thought
tha' no words OF yours will avail. that
ohl persistent care will ever replace yeu
IN their books. is humiiiatfng enough even
snough you be entirely innocent OF the
suspected wrong But TO stand before an
ohended God with the sins OF a lifetime
uhpardoned and no ray OF HIGHT to penn.
uate tho darkness. arpals the soul end
sends thrill Of horror through the moral
nature. Thank God. through our shirt
uai nature the amp OF pardon may shine
The torch ksndled M Calvary has ftiu
mined the world. Far out and over IN,
enwreathing smoke OF condemnation ha,
It's clear ray OF salvation won its widenins
way. The gloon. ~ sin mas been .,ana,
trated BY the gladness OF love. q MAJ
bound for eternity. why 80 from dav :,
day conscious az Gods frown when Va,
may Just as weil have His snliler All ~,
blessings OF the GOSPEL Tie at voa4r fec,
Al you have 20 do IA To Stoop and pic,
them up. Are not the riches OF vraN.
worth tho enertr Win the pleasure az ,
life ~ sin pay for an eternity oe sorrow
DO yen want 10 add 10 the furnace ~
Gods displeasure here the hotter f,,rnar.
or his punishment hereafter? on. b.,
hola the lamp Of salvation. X shines To-
you.
NlASe u Hl+StANe n THIS cr1rc-
ton DO not imagine thar bv ba,sonoin,
christian you win lcse All sight OF IA.
1 furnace our lives are run OF furnace.
and lamps FUN az the discspifning nrovt
| deneeS Of God. and the comfort ana pear
/ ~ Hts love. Notice that The sfnnxgn,
/ furnace came first and then the rheersn
/ lamp So IL has ever been under .iivln,
government These trials that have con-,
I upon Us Is test cur faith. 70 shoe ~,
/ wealth OF manhood. 10 brighten oar h,ra
/ ard fortffy our love have alwavS h-.a.
! followed BY q radiant. abiding prp<anfs
1 II NE have taken them as Cots rs1sSSan
/ gers Never once has the furnace 49,,