The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-05

me Saved. from hunters life on the
praries. from becoming savage. and
perhaps worse" On the sea shore not
dreaming but thinking deeply, with the
deep Of the sea answering TO the deep OF
the soul he devotes himself 10 romance
No. yet he was romancer. He devotes
himself TO poetry?
No. yet he was poet. He devotes him.
self TO peaching? No. yet he was
preacher.
the depths OF his soul. He was seeking
nfe's purpose and meaning and goa and
before the sleeping earth and sleepiess
sea and stars devotes himself to God.
We spell experience today with capi-
tai r.. Our method OF study Is inductive.
We proceed back from facts to their
cause and law Religion has not es-
ca ped this method A recent book is en-
titled Varieties Of Religious Experience.
out OF these experiences and the name
OF life as IL reveals itself To us We nnd
IL demanding purpose that IL as long
as eternity and as broad as the nature
that we ascribe to God. Out of the depths
of serious thought comes their demand.
But why? There can he but one answer
to this question.
SOUGHT ANSWER.
When men In the past sought answer to
the question. what is the chief end OF
man II was replied that IL was TO win life
eternal
This life Is only period OF probation.
! We are here on trial We are not ac-
tually living only preparing for life One
can AFFORD TO play with this life II only
| one does not lose the life 10 come. One
| can treat IL lightly and leniently, for after
all II is only the symbol OF the reality.
But the teaching OF Jesus has been
unfolded in a new light II has been seen
not as we thought II ought TO be but as
| IL is. In the terms of a new psychology
| life itself has been seen from new
| point OF view. The old craving Of philos-
| ophy for n deeper unity In the world and
| man has found fulled satisfaction and
we have been led, step by step. 10 see
! that this is life eternal We may now
| live IL. II is not something TO be won.
| That is not life's purpose. II Is some
| thing now to be lived. For this reason
we cling 10 a purpose that Is eternal be-
| cause life is eternal. For this reason
| life signs for God. for IL is Gods life we
! live. Our purpose then can be nothing
/ less: IL can be nothing more than living
| life more fully.
The purpose of life is 10 live more. To
know more truth. TO feel more the In
| spiration OF beauty and to incarnate more
! the nature of goodness.
| Into our lives this deep and fundament-
al purpose draws all lfe's dlscord into
| harmony, and all life's scattered threads
| IL weaves into forms OF beauty IL IL the
purpose that gives the fnal unity and
| meaning to life. We have the determin-
alton to make the home an ark riding
| high and troubled waters wherein we
shall fnd peace and security. We have
| the purpose 10 succeed in business and
| make prosperity minister to family need
| and mems adversely. Through each
sphere OF activity runs our little purpose.
SPHERE OF ACTIVITY.
But into life creeps more unbidden than
] all we seek. Into the home comes dis
cord and sorrow and death. Into bust
ness comes failure and our purpose Is
| unfuflled. Into life comes sweeping out
| side currents that stagger us. But deep
! beneath there runs the eternal purpose
! OF God. the purpose Of fuller larger life.
| and on the storm tossed wind swept sur
| face we peer into this quiet deep and
find our peace. We see that the sorrow
is turned into deeper joy. discord into
| harmony, failure into ruccess and all are
swept on with meaning toward the sea.
out OF this Is born the confidence that
meets fear and banishes II, that stems
disaster and wheels IL into victory, that
| makes weakness effective and finds In n
/ and through II the might OF Gods
| strength.
| This is the victorious spirit receiving
all as from Cod using Il in Gods way
believingit ministers to that life OF God
| that is our life.
This confidence with which we oueh,
TO meet the new duties of new year
does not spring from the weakness. of a
will, the uncertainties of a purposeless
life that say, II go. sir" and goes not
| II is only born out of that deep ex-
! perience by which We know that we are
bound To the eternal purpose Of God The
| purpose that We shall be men, not BY
cramping life, but by developing II to II.
fulness Not by living less but by enter.
| ing farther into the boundless life tina,
| lives and moves in all things. When we
have entered into harmony with that We
shall be able TO have our fear and ou,
defeat and say with Christ 10 our fall
ter'ng souls BE Of good cheer. I hav.
overcome the world"
May no thing. small or large devlat.
us from that purpose. Let us not say to-
day II GO SIR" and tomorrow 60 not
Rather let us say, II must in all life,
effort. before my own business be abou
my fathers business" Save us. o God
from the strong blasts and swift current,
that drive US here and there and wit,
enthusiasm and devotion bind us 10 tn,
will and help US do IL.