The Monitor-register., 1897-06-04
The Alpha and Omega OF True
Kn0wEetlre.

rated this year in relation to the COM
meocement of the High School, in an
invitation to Rev. G.. G.. Senser, of the
M. E. Church, to preach the baccalau-
reate sermon to the members of the
graduating class. He kindly responded,
and performed the pleasant duty on
f Sunday evening. Four of the class are
members of this church. There was a
large congregation, and the sermon was
appropriate and very favorably received.
The teachers and members of the Board
J of Education were present. The text
was taken from Proverbs 1:7, and it was
not only fine discourse, but marking
new feature as it does, we append an
extract as follows:
If the moral strength and beauty of an
utterance is determined by the cha racter
of the truth with which it is associated,
then we are sure that the text will appeal
to your judgment ''as apples of gold in
pictures of silver.'
The book of Proverbs is a marvellous
production that time can never destroy,
human wisdom equal, or the race out.
grow. 1t is unlike all other written pro.
ductions, since it does not contain weak
expression or faulty argument, and
makes the greatest truths SO plain and
intensely practical that they touch every
day at all points.
This is wonderful collection of rubes,
among which is not one inferior gem.
The superior wisdom displayed in the
Book, written in the dark ages, in one of
the most unpublished centuries, is at once
the highest collateral evidence of it's
divine inspiration. It's wisdom and
authority was recognized by that shrewd
business man who presented one of these
volumes to each of his one hundred
clerks and allowed them the frst ten
minutes of every working day to read,
ponder and treasure its contents. I5 is
rightly called the young peoples business
manual, and should have place in our
public schools as one of the first text
books. The author is model teacher,
who, in words of great wisdom, urges
the highest reverence for God as neces.
sary to the best education of head and
hearts.
L. All solid and accurate knowledge is
related to the Divine mind. There is
much in the world that passes for knowl-
edge which would not bear the test of
good judgment. We attribute all relig.
ious knowledge to God, but are not so
willing to admit that He is the source
and perfection of all true wisdom. All
useful knowledge is sacred to God and
should be to uS-so wisdom does not stop
to draw line between the secular and
religions in the realm of learning. They
are one, which Jehovah joined together
| in eternity.
Mental culture is not an inheritance or
| a gift. but an requirement. The educa-
tional advantages of some may be supe-
rior to that of Others, but it is the COM
mon lot of all to be born in ignorance.
| Eur II l,
level. God has SO constituted the mind
that it is capable of wonderful develop
ment on all lines of knowledge, yet
possessing the power to dwarf the facul-
ties and prevent the accumulation of
useful information. We do not think
independent of Him, for He furnishes the
power 70 think and the subject matter of
thought. All thoughts worth thinking,
| all knowledge worth possessing emsnate
from the Divine mind. The great
thoughts of God are woven and inter-
woven in the fabrics Of creation, redemp-
ton and providence; thes care the divis-
ions of true knowledge in which Jehovah
would train the mind and heart.
| If the botanist cannot create blade of
grass. how can the philosopher perform a
| greater feat-create thought? Original
thought is not the property of the finite
mind. Gods thoughts are not our
thoughts, yet our best thoughts are His
creations. The material for true culture
is no more the property of intellect than
air is the property of the lungs; both are
to be classed among the good and perfect
gifts of God.
| The lce has been thinking the thoughts
of J,'.ov&h since the beginning. True
kno ledge cannot be divorced from the
Divine mind, and we reach the highest
and best culture and approximate the
mental and moral image of God when we
think after Him. All useful knowl-
| edge that honors God cultivates the
MUD, and such thought leads the thinker
| up to Him.
! True culture can never be obtained
independent of God. We may refuse to
recognize the Divine element in our edu
cation, but we only manacle the mind in
reaching it's greatest possibilities.
II. True reverence for God quickens
| thought and stimulates the highest Gull
ture. Reverence for Jehovah implies faith
in His attributes, love for His service and
obedience to His law. There are two
requirements in the best mind develop.
ment-a high ideal and an ambition to
attain it. Both are found in the study of
God, which is the noblest and most
elevatiDg of all studies, aud every branch
of useful knowl ledge is related to it and
elucidated by it. We will question any
mans right to be solid and accurate
thinker who has not made God study
| in relation to matter, mind and morals.
| We learn our lessons better, get more
| gold and honey out of them when we
concede the thought that God is looking
over our shoulder while we study, and
| holds us accountable for the wisest use
of His thoughts.
| The true study of God aud reverence
| for his name furnishes motive to mental
| culture-it rebukes merchandising in
education for selfish and monetary ends
and seeks only the glory of Jehovah and
the elevation,of men. True religion hates
| ignorance and yearns for the best mental
culture. Man will reach his best mental
and moral development when he thinks
most about God, for this is the normal
process of mind. So it is not surprising
| that our Christian civilization should
| develop the best cultured minds of the
| centuries. Where God is best known
and feared there we find the best facilities
| for mind and heart culture. No man can
be a true or great scholar who excludes
| God from his thoughts. He may be
| intellectual, but he cannot rise to the
| lru0 VI lebiouol DOiuS hO
| would dishonor Jehovah. True mental
and heart culture are iuseparable-both
are related to infinite mind and purpose.
| III. The first fruits of true knowledge.
| The advantages of solid and accurate
| knowledge are many-we only speak of
| it's highest products. There is no invest
ment possible to mortals that yields so
much as that of Christian culture. We
may be well educated and yet not know
rything-true knowledge consists in
knowing some of the best things we'll
and mastering the art of study. Much
of our know ledge must be fragmentary,
as we can only know many useful things
| n parts. We must be wise as well as
knowing. Wisdom and knowledge are
often used as interchangeable terms, yet
are distinct. We may possess cultured
mind and not exercise the wisdom to act
wisely and well. 1t is possible to develop
an educated fool.
There is great pleasure in knowledge.
"Where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be
| wise" There may be some bliss in
ignorance, but it is of very inferior
quality. To see and know things as they
are is true pleasure to a really cultivated
mind. A botanis. may enjoy the surface
of flower, but what is his joy compared
to that of the keen. eyed botanist who has
made a study of it? knowledge is true
distinction.
"They that be masters will stand in the
presence of kings" The true scholar is
humble-neither overrates himself or
parades his learning, yet he is sought by
inferior minds and distinguished in their
homage. Wealth, parentage. presence
and genius may distinguish men, but