The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-09-17
REJOICING IN THE TRUTH.

If we are convinced Of the truth of
a simple fact. such as the form OF
some object. then we believe 1t, but
the conviction produces no effect upon
our feelings. But there are truths
which. when we are assured OF them,
either sadden or make us happy.
A friend comes to mother ana
gently breaks the news that her child
Is drowned. But she cannot believe 1t.
She will not believe it. Only an hour
ago this dear little one was nesting TO
her bosom, full Of the joy OF life, ana
basking in the happiness of a moth
er's love. my child cannot be dead
she cries "I will not believe It," But
at last when she sees the body OF her
little one borne in to her the dread
full truth Is realized, and the pent up
agony gives way to flood of tears.
Here indeed we have truth that may
not be rejOiced over.
But. on the other hand, the news
Of certain fact may bring with 1t
world of joy. The lost may be found.
The son who had wandered away
from his home and loving family, and
who had spent his youth in riotous
living, returns at last. His father
runs to meet him, he recognizes him
and his heart goes out to the son who
was dead and Is alive again, and was
lost and Is found. What happy mo-
ment was that In the life Of the aged
patriarch Jacob, when his sons re-
turned from Egypt with the news
Joseph is yet alive" At first he
could not believe it, but when they had
told him all their tale, and had showed
him the wagons which Joseph had
sent to carry him, the spirit Of Jacob
their father revived, and Israel said,
ut Is enough; Joseph, my son. is yet
alive. I will go and see him before
1 die" Yes, it is indeed JOY to be
convinced Of truth like this.
All these events, which affect more
or less our human life, are of little
consequence, however, compared with
the greater truths concerning the uni
verse and God himself. Under the for
mer head we may consider scientific
truths-truths which men have dis
covered and proved by profound study
and research. They are the revela-
tons Of things which God meant for
us to know. New facts are being dis
covered every day In the world Of
science. and In regard to these things
1t is our duty to receive them when
we are convinced of their truth.
But belief is one thing and rejoicing
in what we believe is altogether an
other. A scientist, a bacteriolOgist,
student Of disease germs, Is study
ing some painful and contagious dis
ease. He thinks to himself: "Now,
this disease must be prOpagated by
some kind Of germ. Let me try to
discover the presence of SUCH" With
great pains he analyses everything
which may be the lurking place of
such germs as he supposes exist. At
last he Is rewarded by finding the
cause of the trouble, and perhaps also
discovers some way of exterminating
the bacteria. He has discovered the
truth. He has convinced others of
his profession that his conclusions are
true, and he is very happy. Others
who have been laboring to heal peo-
pie of this disease without success read
Of his experiments. realize how great
Is the discovery, and rejoice with him.
Science deals only with the world
NJ {.
still greater fund of truth which it
cannot touch, the great facts about
God and heaven and mans spiritual
being and prospects. These we may
call divine truths. We shall see that
they are Of the greatest interest not
to few people only, but to every child
Of man. Yes, they should interest him
and make him rejoice.
1t is not enough that I believe in
the creed and in all the facts of our
Lords life. 1t is not enough to say
l know, believe, but rather, Praise
the Lord, Oh my SOUL rejoice and be
exceeding glad, for thy God hath
showed thee. o man. what is true.
Rejoice, therefore, in the truth. If
these things which I enumerate in
my belief do not make me glad, then
l must indeed be a bad man.
We say that we believe the Old
and New Testaments to be the Word
Of God. We all know this fountain
of truth, but does 1t make us glad?
Do we take up the Bible, read 1t care
lessly. and put 1t down again with a
sigh of relief as II disagreeable duty
had been accomplished? We say that
we fully believe what we have read.
but what value is there In such be-
LEFT As well read some profound and