The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-21
qHB KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Rev. Stowell L. Bryanfs Sermon at
the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church.
Drawn From the Fact
That From the Beginning Of Time
Come Deity-Prcsidcnt Mckinley
and General Hastings Present

Sunday morning services at the Metro
in the absence of the pastor. Dr. Frank NJ.
Bristol were conducted by Rev Stowell
L. Bryant, pastor of ST. Paul's Church.
who delivered a sermon on the subject of
the knowledge of God. This text was taken
from Isaiah, Wis, What does the Lord re-
quire of thee?"
DR.. Bryant said. in Fart: This scene
from Isaiah is that in which Jehovah ap-
pears as plaintifi against his people. The
prophet speaks TO the people, calling them
TO appear to answer the charges brought
against them, and Jehovah pleads his cause
against them, MY people, what have done
unto thee?' The people stand convicted.
and ask what to do. When God speaks t
is we'll to listen. The prophet answers for
Jehovah that the Lord requests OF them
that they 90 justice, love mercy. and walk
with God
There is no race of men, past nor pres
emit which has not raised affairs to some
god. What is the significance of this fact!
Is it knowledge, as it has been called, OF
the existence of God, Is 1t morality, or
morality combined with sentiment? We
universal religion.
When our forefathers landed on the
American shores. they found the American
Indian worshiping great spirit. In China,
Asia, Africa, in every cline, there Is
worship of some kind: some religion. Not
because we have the Bible are we relig-
ious. Men taught religion before the Bible
was written. When God created man. re-
ligion was the divine in the human breast
reaching out to the higher divinity above
man. Man cannot get away from God.
Jonah endeavored to escape him, but
found that God was God of sea as well as
land. lot
''Our relations with God are not some
thing We may take UP as We choose or
abandon if We will. A man might with
as much reason deny his fathers pater-
nifty. God works upon man through his
conscience and reason. II men would but
think honestly. truthfully. they would
be religious. The province of mans mind
is to think with reason and truth. If
there is one thing that Christians need
not dread it is the publication of the ut
most truth The truth has suffered most
from the dishonest doubter, who seeks to
prove his own theories. Let us remember
that Christ said I am the truth The
Saviour taught us who God is when he
taught us to pray; Our aFther, and John
said God is love. God is not cold, I'M
responsive creature. The most serious
business you and l have is TO take our
Bible and decide whether ii is reasonable
to devote our lives TO the service of God.
1t should be determined at once and not
eyaded or procrastinated-
Religion in its final relations has 20 do
| only with connection between God and
man. The Bible does not teach astronomy,
or geography, or geology II touches the
human heart Let him who demands that
| truth be demonstrated to him before he
will believe, go to the chemist and ask of
him whence come the forces that move
matter: ask of the astronomer why the
stars are held in place by attractions and
are not repealed by each other; ask the
botanist whence the rose obtains its odor
and color; the artist why a landscape
pleases. and they will all answer that it
cannot be explained.
1t has been said that the mysteries
Of the Bible were far easier OF explanation
than the mysteries Of science. How is 1t
that men whose historic deeds show that
they can think for themselves were almost
universally religious men?
There is one way to know whether
Gods word is true or not. He that doeth
the will of God shall know. You and
possess the truth only We live II. But
1t is more than an intellectual possession
that We have
President Mckinley, with General Hast
ings, was present at the services.