The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-03

Rev. Asbury +. Krom again occupied
his pulpit at the regular services In the
Benefcent Congregational church. ycster-
day and last evening. and he was greeted
by large and deeply devout congrega-
tions-The music was I'm MT keeping with
the occasion and his sermon on "A Para
dox OF Life" was particularly interesting
and impressive.
He took for his text Mark. chapter g.
verse 25 For he that hath TO him shall
be given and he that hath not from him
shall be taken even that which he hath"
This Is perhaps the form in which the
words were on iginally spoken. II we turn
10 Matthew 1910 we find a slight addi-
ton: For whosoever hath TO him shall
be given and he shall have more abund-
ance." etc 1t occurs a number of times
in our gospels in various connections. but
always I'm this paradoxical form. IL is
one Of the characteristics OF the Master
10 express Himself I'm this way thought
which is familiar 10 us. IL may not be
quite so familiar. the reason for this.
Doubtless IL is due TO other causes. but
the chief would seem TO be the para
doxical aspect OF life itself.
We can hardly refer to ourselves with
out speaking in this peculiar style OF lam
guage. We say that We develop our
selves. We educate ourselves. But how
can we. the undeveloped uneducated. de-
velop and educate ourselves? When we
come to analyze the statement IL not only
seems awkward. but impossible. Yet
we are so constituted that IL contains the
deepest truth and truth that can only
be expressed In paradoxical form.
IL is for us. then, at this time TO look
into the paradoxical saying of the Master
and endesvor to discover the hidden
truth or truths. When the expression is
used IL follows a parable or teaching con-
cerNng some gift In one case IL IL
talent that has been given, In another
spoken message.
Take heed what YOU hear and
unto YOU that hear shall more be given.
For he that hath 10 him shal De
given
hath wisdom, knowledge. riches? No. TO
him that hath the faculty or capacity Tor
receiving
The estimate Jesus placed upon men
differs from our estimate of men IN very
fundamental way
TO be sure. he was thinking OF man
as a religious being while We think OF
him largely as man OF AFFAIRS But
this does not explain the different atti-
tude. We measure men largely by the
faculty they have for aggressiveness, the
ability TO push forward and lay hold upon
the things outside. Ihe daegaity oa msnS NO 90
Yet Fundamentally this Is not the secret
active We his life may be. This may be
-nece ssary. but IL Is not first For the
truly great have been men To whom ea, great
things have come, great insights, great
principles. great religions. political and
business visions These men have had
them and their great effort has been
simply the attempt TO realize the possi-
bihties they have seen,
AIM OF EDUCATION.
The man who labors however energeti-
cally without the capacity TO receive IN.
meaning of that for which and In wnISf mS
he labors is after all bungler. The
man who sees first and then does is 'h'
genius. az = -. So
much 10 push ones way into the realm
of truth as to cndeavor by right living &C
assume the right attitude to guth -, ant
therefore. is no arbitrary statement o
Jesus, but one verified by common eNpe
rience. lie emphasizes refssp,iveness ,sI,, . rn :,
fundamental To the possessors or thes'
is promised the Inheritance not only o.
Win this bower of receptiveness W.
are not born. We come into the worl,
ignorant OF the world. ourselves and Cod
minds and receive wisdom and knowledg'
as III IL could be done as easily as openu'
our hand. Yet 10 attain 10 tnht Opennts
OF life is the aim of all true education
vro train our ears 10 hear the sweete
melodies that are unhoard. To train ou
eyes TO see what priests and prophet
themselves did not sec. The most de
yeloped man the world has known wa
the most receptive e was not Darwin
argressiVeness. but Darwin's receptive
ness that made him a peer among SCI
entists IL was not Gladstone's boldness
but his humility. that made him a pee
among statesmen. IL was not a divin
fiat, but the open heartedness OF Jesus
that made him the greatest rehgiou
genius OF the ages.
III Is only az we train and educate our
selves that we reach any degree or psf
fection I'm this sphere. To this man wh
has cultivated this faculty. TO him sha
be given. / emphasize this because
is necessary to understand IL TO gras
the paradox of the text. And he tina
hath not from him shall be taken eve
that which he hath. A.,
How shall we take from man tha
which he hath not? II is impossible 4
him that hath not whatP This develope
form OF receptiveness. That, OF course
cannot be taken from him because
does not possess II. But he does POSSES