Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-07-01
Baccalaurate Sermon, sunday, June 2G
by President Brainerd.

Baccalaurate Sermon, sunday, June &c,
by President Brainerd.
Hebrews, XI: 1. "Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evil
dence of things not seen.
There would seem to be in the history
of Christian thought, two distinct con-
ceptions ofEFath. One makes it to con-
sist in a confident assurance THAT the
things we ask for in prayer will be
granted; the other makes it to consist in
firm grasp of spiritual facts not mani
fest to the senses. For faith in God can
achieve for us far better and greater
things than a direct answer to our
petitions. The longer we live, the more |
we realize the vanity of many of our
most earnest desires. The specific |
objects for which we pray become few
and fewer, until the burden of our prayer
comes to.be, thy will be done. In other
ways, however, faith becomes more and
more power in spiritual life. For it is
through faith that we apprehend spiritu-
al realities. 1t is through faith that the
soul is brought into vital connection with
the unseen, things of the kingdom Of God.
Somewhat as the eyes of the body make
us aware of material objects around us,
so does faith, the inner eye of the spirit
make us aware OF the truths of the inn
material world with like confident
assurance of their reality and Importance.
"Have faith in God" We may there
by remove mountains; we may there
2 by endure as seeing the invsible we
may thereby achieve the impossible.
For the thought-world in which the
spirit of man lives and moves, is very
largely such as he himself makes it by
his faith or lack of faith. The most
glorious things in Gods universe fade
: into nothingness before the spiritual
2 vision of him who refuses to believe in
them. But faith, as by creative act,
builds up around the soul a world of
a beauty and order and goodness patterned
t after the divine ideals.
Milton tells us,
"The mind is its own place, and in itself,
t Can make heaven of hell, a hell of heaven"
. Here it is practically true that as a
man Hinketh. so is he. The moral world
in which he lives, is, so far as his con-
l sciuus experience goes, Just about such
It a world as he is disposed to conceive it to
be. If he be inclined to doubt and de-
spair, gloomy clouds will settle around
E him. shutting out the clear heavens with
!. its peaceful stars, and hiding even the
: brightness of the sun. But if he be a
m an of faith and hope and courage, life
will be full of grand possibilities; the
n ideals of character, the presence of God.
c the blessedness of heaven, will not only
-, appear attainable, but become more and
more the profound realities Of the soul.
MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS
, The Young men and women, who in
: these days pass from the College into the
Il active life of the world, are often, and
q with good reason, congratulated, that
opportunity and privilege are so much
greater now than ever before in human
e history. During the last few decades the
II race has been advancing along certain
5. lines of scientific research and industrial
enterprise with gigantic strides. Wealth
ana honor and power seem to be within
If the reach of all who have brains and
o unfailing pluck.
# But this era of material. prosperity
- brings its special dangers. There are
l. better things in life to be secured than
even wealth and honor and power There
- are attachments in moral character that
- far outweigh all worldly prizes; idea
r heights of manhood that bring a deeper
lg peace and joy.
+ Our age needs to cultivate more
earnest Faith-Faith in the living God
-, ever present and active in the world
Iii even though the reign of law be univer
J. sal; faith in the ultimate triumph o.
lie righteousness, though fraud and in
I justice seems to prevail; faith in tn,
- value of moral character, and in tn,
T. dignity of unselfish service, though tn,
ne mass of men around us are governed b,
passion and self-interest; faith in
better life, beyond the toll and pain o
: the present.
1t is with affectionate interest anC
Nj with high hopes that your teachers o
the past four years bid you God-speed OF
life's journey. We wish you success
even as the world counts success. Blu
we wish for you, most of all, that clea
n vision through faith of those noblest gift
that are within the reach of the human
spirit; that through all the strain ant
trial and burden of the coming years
4 you, too, may endure as seeing the in
& visible