The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-28
OUR SUNDAY SERMON
THE LARGER FAITH.

at the same time fill myself with an
overwhelming sense of humanity, /
should keep this text in sight.
As | understand the Scriptures,
Christ has constituted us HIS heirs.
and as administrators of this inheri-
tance we assume responsibilities
which are health giving to the body
and charging to the mind
The fact that God dwells in us and
is the chief factor in our lives is the
cornerstone of our religion. and with
out the recognition of that fact there
is no such thing as religion
The moment | become imbued with
the resplendent truth that my soul
is Gods residence, that | and lie,
though separate, just as the flame Of
the candle is separate from the parent
flame from which it was lighted are
still one because the parent flame IS,
after all, part of the candies fame,
at that moment | am born again and
nv life has new motives and a new
purpose. Indeed, | have for the first
time real. a high aim, one which
inwardly admit is worthy of my earn
est effort to attain
Theology seeks for a dogmatic def
milton Of God, while religion seeks
Him. Men can become imbittered by
a theological controversy, but religion
quietly and calmly approaches with
its whispered, Peace! be still" /
don't know that anything has had n
stronger tendency to push men apart
than a discussion of Gods nature,
the unsolvable problem of the ages,
but | am sure that nothing can draW
them together as true religion ,:n.
There are cruelties in debate, and we
have resorted to crimes in order to
make all men accept the same dogma.
but there is no cruelty possible in fol-
lowing the injunction to love our
neighbor as ourselves, which is the
very essence and soul of Christ's reve-
lation. So | have little interest in
creeds, for ! know that men cannot
be made to think alike, and ! would
give each the largest liberty in such
matters. On the other hand, all
churches, through the whole list Of
denominations, are agreed as to the
spirit which should govern life and
are wholly at one with each other
when lifting the world from the
slough of doubt on to the solid ground
of a simple faith. To talk about Christ
makes us enemies, but to talk Christ
brings us heart to heart in fraternal
helpfulness.
1t is of God, indwelling in every
soul, that | would speak. The in
finite is interviewer with the finite in
such way that nothing can separate
them. As much of omnipotence as
YOU have wisdom to use lies within
easy reach. You have heretofore
thought of yourself only, and hence
your weakness, your feeling 81 iso-
lation, your encouragement. your in
ability to bear the heavier burdens c.
life and to spiritually assimilatc them
as the body grows strong by the as
similation of food. When yoI come
to a knowledge of the truthnameiN
that you are not yourself only, but
yourself plus the literal presence OF
God-the whole aspect of life will be
altered as by a miracle; certain chem
ical changes will take place in the
body which will restore it to the eGui-
librium of health, for body and mind
are more closely related than we
think; the sorrows of life will be
borne on the broad shoulders OF hope
and not, as now, on the dropping
shoulders of despair and Immortality
will fill our little world with the heat
and light which produce spiritual
harvests as the light and heat of the
sun glorifies and gives life to our solar
system.
The religion which unifies God and
man, as God and His Christ are uni
fed, will accomplish all this and much
more, so much more that it nath not
vet entered into the heart to conceive
it. If | startle you by the announce
ment of this enriching truth it is be-
cause we have not yet learned what
the New Testament teaches in the
name of religion, because we have
been feeding on the husks of miscon-
ception and not on the nourisbiG@
food with which Gods generosity has
filled our banquet board, because God
has been with us. but we have not
seen Him, because Christ has knock
ed at our door, but we have not vel
coined Him.
We have always worked for what
we thought most desirable. but we
have been narrow in our estimate or
values. We have toiled to amass
riches, and when death came we dis
covered that we could not carry our
riches with us and found that we had
little else to carry. We have worried
until we became morbid, wholly UNI
mlnulul OF the 1acb tDab III is Detlcf
to use what we have for its highest
purpose and be content Herewith
than to long for what we have not
and create shadow for ourselves be
cause we cannot have it. We have
mourned at the grave as though the
one we loved were under the sod and
not looking down upon us, u freed
soul, glad that the struggle is over
and in pity for our lack OF faith.
What weaklings we are! How in
glorious are our lives How little we
accomplish that is worthy of approval:
And all because we think without
God and live without His Christ. No,
we are not yet Christians. The truth
is close TO MS, but we will not see it.
We have bandaged our eyes and cry
out that it is night. More light, more
Christ. These are what we want, and
then we shall live in an age of mira
Giles, glad to endure, able to suffer,
for yonder is the shimmering beauty
of another life, coloring the evening
sky with the glory of prophecy and
a promise.
CHARLES II. HEPWORTlT.
ROBBED THE GRAVE.