Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-28
paes'o BUTLER
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of The things thdt {rcan understand and
our willingness to4Bfrain from concern
ing ourselves tuo n ID o bout what IS be-
yond our reach least until we have
fully used the iighl b have.
Psalmist. Da9f "a no idle dreamer.
nor was he 4 slkan removed from life.
Whether we vkwsAin as king. genersd.
s;atesman, nhii2seeesr. poet, We , must
But he knew that thefe are some things
chat human updAstanding cannot
fathom. and 50 he 1optented himself with
ruth ~a and id not drrise himself about
grsat matters. not@n Things too high
for him.
WEE fs sasy T hsrs p Iss Us 's
to what he did not In Judging OF the
character Of David from what he wrote.
we must remember that he had no access
10 an abundant literature from which az
might derive sugg13ion for his own
thought or sentiment. In Judging OF the
character 81 q modern writer from his
works one cannot always De sure how
much OF what one tir.ds there Is the au-
thor.s' own original thought and seufi-
rerf and how much of IL has been sue
gested by Others. David had TO look
could find II there 70 sing The heavens
iecle4c the glory OF God; he who could
secAGod in the storm At eei; he VINO
couIdsunfold SO truly the character OF
Him "who waiketh suprishtls and work
eth righteousness and speaketh the truth
in his heart" he WHO could penetrate 10
the very essence of the Gospel. emDndy-
ing II in his prayer. Create In me clean
heart. or. God, and renew right spirit
within nie'-such a. man. II he dld not
exercise himself in great matters and IN
things too high for him, had. We may he
sure. concerned himself much about the
sure promises of God had pondered the
plain path OF duty, and mad sustained
himself with the assurance OF salvation
and immortality. In this he sci us
worthy example.
with these topics. then. we may con-
Germ ourselves.
GoD-DUTY-SA Neutrality-suspicious.
TALlTY.
And while the consideration OF these
TOPICS directly concerns those who believe
in the divinity OF the Christian Gospel
and who have arrayed themselves with
those who so believe. il can hardly be OF
less Importance to every man and
woman. These are among the subjects
whose interest for up is purely individual.
irrespective OF whatever interest or IN
difference others may manifest toward
them. Upon a sinking ship or III any
great peril. the great question Tor each
Individual is. how can | be saved
Whether others care for the same point.
or not is of no account; each Is interest
ed for himself.
But men viii turn away from the con-
sideration of these topics because as they
say Christians do not agree among them
selves. or because they are mysteries that
no man can explain. The disagreemcnis
and Inconsistencies of the church nave
nothing to do with us as individuals. We
stand alone before God and before these
questions. which viii have forced them
selves upon us though we put them off.
As for mystery, a man could not exist
an instant IL he did not act in the face
lof mystery. He could not draw a breath
.,r. DO of food fnf ha nov
all the philosophy of respiration or the
secrets of digestion and growth.
In ordinary matters we assume that we
must be content with what we know and
can gradually learn. The proper use of
the knowledge we already possess. is usu-
ally the prerequisite to the understanding
of what seems dark. We plant our seed;
We send our telegram, though We know
nothing of the agency that natures the
fruit or carries the message. These high
est concerns of life demand the appiica-
ton of this same method.
Turning away then from the mysteries
let us give a little thought to the things
that are most truly believed among u.s.
that we may see how complete. after ALL
our information Is on those things which
We need TO know ana which 1t is enough
for us 10 know
The starting point of all our faith is
BELIEF IN GOD.
1t is not my purpose to enter upon
line of argument to prove the existence
Of God l name this fact of Gods exist
ence and character and relations to us
as one Of the great truths of vital i'm
portance. upon which We are all agreed.
Upon 1t there is no controversy among
ourselves and no perplexity in our minds.
assume that no one here seriously qucs-
lions thai God is.
But II we mediate upon this one fact
and lay II to heart we shall be led to
certain important practical conclusions.
For put with IT certain other facts jim
regard t0ewhich We entertain no question.
Nothing rs more certainly known than
that We possess freedom of choice. But
our choices do not always have like re-
suits. We choose one thing. and salts
faction, peace. strength result: We choose
otherwise, and distress, remorse. weak
ness follow. Here we have Il primary in
timation of duty. Again. among the earl
lest of our conscious ideas is the dstinc-
ton between right and wrong. We cam
not remember when We ;irst felt the
sense of obligation to do the one and to
abstain from the other. another primary
intimation of duty. Again. If God is what
We are sure he Is. 1t cannot be a matter |
of Indifference to him what we do In9l
that case, our distress, relnorse. weak
ness, cannot be what he approves; in |
that case, our satisfaction. peace
strength, must be what he intended for |
us. N0tt only is our own comfort as /
sured, hi our sense of obligation Is sat |
isfied VIXEN We do these things.
Not only then Is 1t plain to us that God |
Is. but we are all agreed also that there |
is such a thing as duty.
THERE is A BEST WAY TO LIVE.
This name as the second great fact |
about which there Is no controversy |
There is a best way to live. We ought to |
live In that best way. What. then Is |
that best way? Here Is a question OF |
highest practical importance, But here |
we encounter no mystery. The ten com |
mandments and the sermon on the mount !