The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-09-15

Some things are settled. Though this is
emphatically period OF transition, though
more than ever before theology Is In the
making and the great doctrines OF the Chris
tian faith are being melted down and recast,
yet amid all the questionings OF our time
there are some things OF which we may not
only be sure. but more sure than ever be-
fore The Bible is a settled thing. Men OF
education and culture. whatever their re-
ligious faith. or want OF faith, no longer
sneer at the Bible. Conflicting opinions as
to the authorship OF certain books are OF little
moment save for the claims of scholarship.
1t does not matter whether David wrote all
the Psalms or 4 few, whether Solomon Is
the author or the compiler OF the Proverbs,
whether such man as JOB ever lived,
whether there were two lsa!ahS or dozen.
The great spiritual truths which these books
contain are true in and OF themselves. and
the researches OF scholars from now to
doomsday cannot touch them. 1t may be
that Bacon wrote some OF the plays that
bear Shake speare's name, but whether
those wonderful creations spranY from
the dome-head Of the play-actQr~or from
the learned judge. we have the plays. Jew
ish tradition ascribes the books OF the Old
Testament to this man or 10 that man, and
sometimes Jewish tradition is right, and
sometimes it is wrong. God never guaran-
teed that every book Of the Bible, any more
than every play Of Shakespeare, was right
ly credited and God is Rot to be held
responsible for the opiniOnS or blunders
of Jewish scribes. Whoever, wrote them,
we have the books. and thar is enough.
Sin is a settled thing. 1t may be the ear
marks of our brute ancestorS( which In the
progress OF the race have not Eet been out
grown: it may be the necessary corollary Oh
free will; it may be an INDISPENSABLE factor
;,,t = ha ajr nj thn rn&a How long 1t
will be allowed We do no<know. The mil
lennum still CLEANS atk{wart the sky, but 1t
is Il pale and distant staar which guides no
wise men to a Bethlehem. But that It's
and what it is we do not know-eMStfedsosC>
curse that ever came OF all other curses
the cause. the blight upon Gods
beautiful world, the thorn with the
rose. the serpent with his slime and hiss.
Yet We can trust that the trail OF the serpent
will blaze the path to fairer Eden IN the
soul than any garden OF tue past. that the
golden age lies not behind but before, and
the perfect pair are yet TO be. Retributlon
is settled thing. When for any particular
sin it will come. here or hereafter, we know
not: in what form we cannot predict; how 1t
will affect US. harden or soften, we cannot
say. Judas did his sin and the punishment
was suicide Peter did his and the low
ing look OF Jesus brought tears OF repent
alCe. But that III lulS NOllu VI iON NSi it-'i'No
law. OF cause and effect. rctribution Is sure
as the rising of tomorrow 5 sun We do know.
We know it from experience. personal and
general. all history declares it. 1t Is not
only a world but q universe Of law. We
know from he motions Of the heavenly
bodies that the same God and the same law
that govern this planet govern the planet
Mars. so that in this world not alone but In
apy world. in this life aud in every life, sin
brings suffering. Christ is settled thing.
The war Of words has ceased. Define Him
as one will, every heart that longs to be
pure. every life that wants to be strong,
must look up to Him as the leader Oh the
race. the hope of mankind. the prophecy
to be fulfilled in all who wish to be
like Him. To US He is the Son OF God as
none other ever was; in His revelation OF the
Father of US all we place implicit confidence;
to His matchless life and unselfish death we
would ever turn our eyes as to the sweetest
and the best the world has known; in His
spirit OF forgiveness, in His boundless char
ity. in His surprising love We can imagine
nothing better for humanity in all the ages
vet to come. What we need is not to dispute
about Him. but to initiate Him, to catch HIS
spirit, to make our human life divine and
thus ourselves become in the truest sense
sons of God.-From a sermon by Rev. wal
colt Fay on The Faith of Today"