The Portland daily press., 1897-01-25
THE THREE VOICES OF ECcLESl
ASTES."
DIR. Blanchard's sermon at Congress
Square Church.


Rev. DR.. Blanchard preached sermon
yesterday morning at Congress Square
churoh on HThe Three Voices of the
Book of Ecolesiastics. The texs was
taken from chapter I, verse 14' ~
have seen all the worst thai are oohe
under the sun; and, behold, all Is vani'
ty and striving after vino"
In his introd uction be sald unas, ao-
oording to announcements, he began To-
day a series of four sermons, to be CIV
en- every other Sunday morning Oh
Studies in Higher Criticism. Inc pur-
pose of the sermons was not only TO aou
to the knowledge of the Scriptures,
but, also. to quicken spiritual lifs. Ii
is the great glory Of the Higher Crltl'
oism TO show the spiritual power OF the
Scriptures. The theme of this first sor-
mon is "The Three Voices Of EcClesi-
astes.
1t was his joy to express for himself
and his fellow students the deep graft
tude which they feel for the word OF
the great teachers of Higher Criticism.
Only two could be named today-hev.
DR.. Driver and Rev. DR.. Plumptre.
The first has given US Introduction to
the Literature OF the Old Testament.
The second has given mastery COM
mentary on "Eoclesi astes. He should
also name Professor Richard @. Moul-
ton of Chicago University. 1t is his task,
admirably we'll done. TO show US one
literary form and beauty OF the SCRIP
lures. All persons who wish TO study
these writings thoroughly should own
and read these books.
The plan of the sermon was to oons1o-
er:
1.-The History of the Book.
1.-THE Revelations Of His Life maoe
by the writer.
III.-The Three Voices.
IV.-The Voice which We do not hear
In the Book.
Ecclesiastes was written BY an IN
known author who personated, In part,
King Solomon. It's date Is somewhere
$50 B. G. 1t was placed In the list OF
Old Testament canonical writings by the
influence of HiileL the great scholar OF
the century Immediately preoed1ng-our
era. Shammai, another scholar, opposeo
the book very strongly, but H1llei pre-
vailed.
The writer was Jew who had riches.
His boyhood was passed in times wnen
formality reigued in religion. Ae evil
IDENTIFY had no religious mother. ZOE ne
speaks scornfully of all women.
Rich Jews, In those days, went to Al
exandria, az rich young men go today
to London and Paris. There ne went
to the Kings palace, but turned away
disguised, Then he soughE pleasure ln
luxurious living, hut this too was vanity
Then he turned to the books OF the phil
osouher. but this, also, became striv'
ing after wind Then he turned to Labor
-reloiced In mems getting wealth, Du'
who could tell to whom riches woulo
90 after the owners death. To thoughts
OF old age and the grave he turned, but
hs could not believe in hereafter. Z IL,
all was vanity anu a striving after wind
Out of these revelations cams the three
voices. The first was. ''5he mystery Of
the universe ia insoluble"; the second
was, "enjoy everything in moderation
and God will give you happiness; the
third, was, "God exists; duty is, Zeal
God and keep his commandments.
We need to hear these voices now
Great as IS discovery, every advance IL
knowledge shows the impossibility o.
solving the mystery Of the universe
We must accept it manfully. They ars
fools who think sensuous delights WA
satisfy. Stately swiftly comes. New
York shows us revels that disgust. Bu'
asceticism is also foolish. To use, aDo
not to abuse, is the law OF happiness
Our senses have their place. GOD gave
them to give enjoyment. We too are t(
believe ia God and duty, even though VIZ
are not sure Of another life.
What is tho lacking voice OF Eccles1
astesY The voice Of the higher nature
of Jesus-of love ana trust. We are
not only to fear God, but to love Him
to believe that we are the eternal chill
dren of the Eternal Father aud SO bellows
| In Immortality.
The author of Ecclesiastes said: "TheI
shall the dust return to the earth as
was, and the spirit shall return TO 600
who gave it," But he only meant tina
the individual soul would be absorbed II
God. One event came to man and beast
There was no life beyond the present
We need a higher voice. Tt is the voio
of Jesus. He felt the mystery OF tn
universe; he enjoyed the pleasures OF If
and was called a wine he saV
thai God and duty are despite of mys
terry and pain and death. But he laugh
that we are children of eternlty-tha
God loves each one, counting the yer.
hairs of our head. Who SO believe
with him will not say--Vanity of vani
ties, all is vanity and striving afte
wind.
The sermon closed with two illustra
lions. Celia ThaxteY, in her island home
felt the mystery of life; its sorrow, it
agony, but she grew to believe in 60
and Immortality. She cad her poem
=: 49, wo,,ap,s Paforsuatory aft SheI