The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-29
Sunday Sermon.
THE HIGHWAY no HEAVEN.

why do We also tIansgress the conn
mandnomt of Gcd?-Matthew, XIV, 3.
THE physical law in accordance with
which a locomotive is constructed de-
nands that it shall keep on the rails orll
never leave them AS long ms 1T nheys
.lat law 1t can speed at whatever pace
It pleaSes, and with entire safety: but
II II transgresSes or. rs the word am-
plies, goes beyond the track. not only
IS ITS progress checked hut it finds ITSELF
In the midst of embarrassing difficulties
winch may even prove mlinDus. The
manufacturer has not adapted the lo-n-
motive to any mode of travel except on
une rails which have been laid fer that
particular purpose. 1t would therefore
oe unreasonable to uiticise Che Euilder
iol issuing an memorable commandments
20 ms locomotive to keep ON the track
ana warning it in the most impressive
way never to tranNgress.
Now, the >toul has been created with
Spe.Gal reference to IA certain course Of
action, Just as the locomotive is. iIf
the laws which environ the so1,l are oh
served it develops in such royal fashion
THAT physical health and spiritual com
tentment are the result. A law olbpvpd
plnesS and Il well rounded Wilderness.
All misery and all disease are born in
the domain CT diso6edience. WGNn =
man is acquainted with the conditions
winch God has imposed, and lives i'm har-
mony with them, he grows as na.,n1aIlv
as the plant does, blossoms :n the sun
shine as the tree does, and bears fruit ms
easily as Joyously and as plontifuly.
God has laid out His highway from
the cradle to heaven along the best DOS
sine route. 1t has been done with init
ilipe wisdom and with soIioitous and low
ing reference to our necessities our com
vsIhences and our comfort. The whole
me and mission of Chri5t may be salm-
med uI in the words of the prophet
ms IS the way, walk We insit. =" Revc-
iatlon Is practically nothing hut "A ,lia-
gram presented to each soul as it comes
INTO the world, a diagram ON which this
HIGHWAY ~ clearly marked, with a U:ot-
ufe OF 4 babe in its mothers arms at the
eo@lnning cf the journey. end the same
oelhg grown to spiritual manhood stand
ing On the Threshold Of the eternal life
at the iom-hey's end.
But instead Of accepting Gcd's pl;ln
we nave plan of cur OWN, and hence
the confusion and WEAKNESS and doubt
Which prevail. Could any ONE have
doubts if he were really living and NOV
ing and having his being In God? Could
any one be confused as ito duty, or as to
the happiness which is to he found I'm
doilbg 1t, if he felt himself In harmony
with the laws of the universe, as the
player in an orchestra is in accord with
the baton of his leader? And could any
cne suffer from that sense of WEAKNESS
which is so oppressive that we wonder
whether it is worth while to live if he
was sure that angels were with him in
his work and helping him TO bear his
burdens?
1t is only when we traliSgresS- that is,
go beyond the highway of the revealed
diagram and get into the fields and foa-
ests and among the branIbles, and SO
lose our WaT-that we gather weeds itlA
stead Of flowers and have no shelter from
the storms of experience. When a MAN
determines 20 fol@Dw his own will. does
what impulse or passion may suggest he
IS SIMPLY a locomotive off the track. He
~ magnificent machine doing what he
was never intended to do, and DESTROYING
hElnself body and spirit in the ATTEMPT
10 do 1t. The manufacturer is not re3sp9n-
Slble for the locomotives mishaps. and
God IS not responsible for man'S IL
You defy Providence and bring wretch
edncss On yourself it is illogical to call
your wretchedness providential, for ven
and not God are it's author God did all
That could be done to prevent She calam-
lty but YOU would have ii i'm snite of
Him. We blame the Lord for n great
many Things which are simply the result
Of our own misdoing
But here comes the law eff heredrtv.
Our fathers left the highway and we
were born in the fields, or some part of |
the cross road. among the bliers of pre-
Tatal tendencies. What is to be done?
The doctrine Of total deqravity had it's |
origin in that fact. But we are not to- |
tally derraved. No one ever lived who |
was wholly bad. Aspirations are like |
thirst, that canrot be quenched until |
the lips and the clear strcaln come to- |
gcther.
Religion is the physician that pres
Cl-tbes the remedy When conscious OF |
Physical ailmen't, when the business nf |
lfe Is inpeded by it and You aTr pCwer-
less to overcome it, YOU naturally seek
advice. In confidence you tell the physa
tlAh ,uie Wnole story, Your mode OF Ire,
wear Temptations, Your surenders He
5 the Lord CT youT body, knows where
You are. where you wish to be AMI how
to get there. His knowledge = at your
service, and if You are cbeGient you ia
eoYrr and become whole again
in Ike manner You are spiritually MI
ne. You arc troubled by feans, 10y
,aGyts, by despondeGcy. You are with
mt aim or purpose. THE living God
5 the only physician in the universe who
an prescribe a remedy. He is as real
Is the doctor Who lives i'm the next
treet ard infinitely more Wise and kind
Y and sympathetic for you are His
HID lie wild tell yon how to get away
rem the brambles and reach the h;ph-
way. la His care and under ,he guild
nce OF rrls angels You cadGGt 60 wrCmg,
MT YOU viii certainly recover yourself
md journey with Light heart towHrd
heaven.
If | know aDYthtng about religion that
5 the kind which Christ Taught and The
My kind worth having.
GEORGE II. HlEpW0RTqH