Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-01


spired or. if inspired, whether the words
or the ideas were inspired or whether
only part of the book was inspired They
think at one time that the story in Gene
sis about the garden of Eden is his
tory, and the month after they think it
is an allegcry. At one time they think
the book of Job describes what really
occurred, but the next time they speak
Of it they call it drama. Now they
believe all the miracles, but at your next
interview they try to show how these
scenes hid nothing in them supernatural,
but can be accounted for by natural
causes. Gadding about among religious
theories and never satisfied. All the evil
dence is put before them. and why do
they not render a verdict II they can
not make up their mind with all the
data put before them, they never will.
There are all the archaeological con
iirmations of the Bible brought to view
by the Palestine Exploration Society"
there are the bricks of Babylon, the let
ter M impressed upon them-"N' for
Nebuchadnezzar. showing that he was
not myth-~and the farther the shovel
of the antiquarian goes down the more
is revealed of that most wonderful city
of all time. Prof Heilprecht of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania presents us tab
let's found in the far East ratifying and
explaining Scriptural passages which
were before in mystery. As the builders
in Jerusalem to-day dig for the founda-
ton OF new houses they turn up with
their pickaxcs the ashes of the animals
! that We're used for burnt offerings in
the temple ages ago, demonstrating the
truth of the Bible story about the sacri-
fees Of lambs and hcifcrs and pigeons.
Why go gadding about among intidels,
atheists and deists asking questions and
surmisng and guessing about the author
ity and value Of Il book which involves
the intnities? II Is either a good book
or a bad book, Ii it be a bad book, you
do not want it in your house nor have
your children contaminated with its
teachings. If it is a good book, your eter-
nal happiness depends upon the adoption
Of its teachings. Once and forever make
up your mind whether it is the book of
God or the book Of villainous pretendcrs.
Fixed Spiritual Condition.
SO also many are unfxed in regard to
their spiritual condition and day after
day and year after year go gadding about
among hopes and fears and anxietics.
They sing with great emphasis that old
hymn which we have all sung:
'Tis point long to know;
Oft it causes anxious thought;
DO | love the Lord or no2
Am his, or am | not2
Why do you not find out whether you
are his or not? There are all the broad
All IL. II
There are all the assurances. Apply
them. There are all the hopes of pardon
and heaven. Adopt them. There is the
| Kings highway. Start on it, Travelling
/ any road, you are not satisfied until you
have found out whether it is the right
| road or the wrong road, and you climb up
| in the darkness to read the words on the
| finger board al the roadside TO see If il be
the right road, and il it be the wrong
| road you cross over to the right road IL
| yon are on the sea. you want to know in
10 what port you will run or upon what
rocks you are in danger Of crashing. This
| moment you have all the information
| pointing TO the road that terminates at
the gate Of the Golden City and the yoy-
| age that anchors in the haven of eternal
rest Why go on guessing when you have
| all the facts before you! You ought to
know by examination Of chart and com
pass and thermometer in what latitude
| and longitude you are sailing, whether in
the arctic or the tropics man who
| does not know whether or not he is
Christian is like n man who does not
know whether he is n millionaire or
pauper, Better go to the records and find
out. The Scriptures are the records II
yoa cannot there read your title. il is be-
cause You have no title, and you ought to
begin anew. Start a new prayer, sing a
new song open new experience.
SO, alas, there are those who cad about
among particular churches No pastor
can depend on them for a single service
At some time when he has prepared
sermon, after all prayer and all research.
putting nerve and muscle aud brain and
sonl into its every paragraph. these inter
mittent attendants are not there to hear
if. While an occasional absence is excus-
able for the qualification Of some wish to
hear that which is consecrated or rclig
ously oratoric in some other pulpit, when
the pastor of church with his eye calls
the roll Of attendance, by your presence
in the old place practically answer. say
the useful thoughts you may utter and of
all the hymns you may give out and Of
all the prayers you may offer. /, a soldier
of Jesus Christ, am in my own place in
the company, in the battalion, in the regi-
mcnt and when you command March"
| will march and when you command
Halt" / will halt, aud when you order
Ground arms" ! viii ground arms"
Gadding About in Religion.
But oh, how the gadabouts injure the
churches. Instead Of staying in their own
prayer meeting Or Sunday school they
atflict other prayer meetings and Sunday
schools. | meet them on the street going
the wrong way on Sunday morning or
evening, and | accoSt them in the words
Of the text, why CAD lest thou about so
much 10 change thy wayT"
My text also addresses those who in
search Of happiness are going hither and
yOnder looking for that which they find
not. Their time is all taken up with
"musicales," and progressive euchres,"
and teas, and yellow luncheons, and "at