The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-09

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ton in mans nature, to be forgiven by
process of development into purer
life. / much prefer the latter, as it
gives firmer basis for other funda-
mental conceptions of mans relation to
the Infinite.
Man must cognize a superior power.
If he sees it operative in nature caring
for the lilies of the field and guiding
the stars in their course, he can call it
natural law. When he considers how
it determines he times and reasons and
controls the iestinies Of men and ma
tons he must attribute to it wisdom
beyond his own. When he perceives it
to be the never fading source of the
life that pulsa1e in all the universe he
may reyerently speak the sacred name
Jehovah. But when he looks into the
face Of Jesus, who consecrated his life
to the service of humanity, who gave
such marvelol revelations of divine
truth, whose life is radiant with holi-
ness and love and who said he that
hath seen me ath seen the Father then
he must attribute to it all the finer
qualities conceivable to man, and joy
fully cry Abb Father But at best
mans conceptions are finite. God must
be the all-poWer, the all life, the all wis
DOM and the Ill love, but his very in
finiteness must forbid definition.
The true end Of mans life Is to be in
harmony with God. But If God is in
finite what can man do toward attain
ing this harm ony. One school Of
thought says 'nls.n's will is rot free,
he can do nothing until influenced by
the divine power. Another school says
mans will is free and God can do moth
ing until man takes the Initiative. Here
are the two greet theological paradoxes
that neither logic nor scripture can
make plain, but which are harmonized
| responsibility tc do the right and says:
II will arise AMI go to Jesus
| The most vital fact of Christianity is
that man gets 'aelp from above in his
efforts to attain his ideals. And it is
| just as reasona Die that man skirts
spirit world frcnl which he receives
| inspirations a that he draws
sustenance fl3m the material.
preme. Then every influence that
makes for RICH teousness, every good
and every perftct gift, cometh down
from Him. The conditions operative
through nature t. give shape to nation
al character, Though it be called mat
ural environment, the spirit that pro-
duces a peculiar kind of civilization,
though it be termed natural genius"
the powers that govern in society,
though they be enforced by human
agencies, are all ordained of God. The
truths of science, literature and art are
divine truths The Bible, whether it
be the product f the divine spirits
Selling upon men otherwise ordinary
and making them the proclaimers of
| heavens messages or by the superior
genius of the HI brew people and the
deeper insight of the writer's into the
mind Of God as expressed in nature and
society, the result is the same and on
this it's authority rests. The Bible con-
tans clear eveiation of divine truth
and is profitable for doctrine, for re-
proof for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, thas the man Of God may
be perfect, thorol ghly furnished, unto
every good work II. Tim, 3:16-1O.
But principles sre absolute. If the
mind does not grasp them their influ-
ence is lost. SOM other more flexible
power is necessary as a perfect means
of salvation, some rich personality that
can adapt itself to all conditions OF
mankind; and so il is the kind and SYM
pathetic Jesus, who went about doing
and healing men of their infirmities
that draws men raost strongly, and is
an example and Inspiration to all. He
lis an abiding influence. 80 l am with
you Away, even to the end Of the
world" Matt 2S:2(). Paul said, IT can
do all things through Christ that
strengthened me- tPhil. 4:1S). 1 cannot
explain the trinity nor set forth the
functions Of the l3od-head, but I dc
most heartily belle'fe in the abiding in
fluence Of the divine presence-call it
the spirit of Christ II. Pet, 1:1D-Christ
in you (Col. 1:2O, strengthened by His
spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3:16)-
God in you. Your lie is hid with Christ
in God (Col. 3:3), OF as thou Father art
in me and I in the,, that they may be
one in US John 17:r0). The fact is rsa
to every Christian heart.
The present is tn /. border-line of the
future, and as we see men who have
been striving all their lives to attain
their Ideals, and those who have yield
led to all the baser motives, drift alike
out onto the sea of eternity, the question
Of destiny becomes a prominent one
But who can answer It? Views of escha
lology have changed and will no doubt
change even more radically. The future
is still an whatsoever d land from whose
bourne no traveller returns. OF this
however, one can fee assured-man viii
live forever because he is living under
eternal Geterminants His destiny viii
mot be determined by an arbitrary
Judgment or a world crisis but he vii
be according as he l.. A lake burning
with fire and birthstone may be luriC
figure. but it does not exhaust the pos
sibilities of sin. Think of man drift
ing out and beyond life with charac
ter that must be mis- erable in the pres
ence of righteousness and of joy! Blu
no Patmos-vision can CveTstate the bis
of the soul that has been made perfec
/, in righteousness, peace and joy in thu
HOLY Ghost. Yet il is an inspiring
thought that as a thousand blossom!
fall for every apple that natures, 81
each life that seems t. be a failure anc
lost may still be in harmony with thu
great plan of the uri'erse, that all Hf,
is sweeping onward t. a glorious con
summation, and when reason falter
hope cries out: