The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1904-04-29
|61a5 ol@I9y)[1E[ss2,
ma "a ES\ [Plg[1[Pl11

VIII not use these words In the spirit
Ill which the question was asked; it is
the form in which the inquiry Is made
that we use. l would not If l could,
lead you into speculative realms sug-
gested by this ancient agnostic. This
inquiry strongly indicates that the
spokesman did not believe in God, and
the history of the times would verify
that conclusion.
There is no doubt that we have to-
day risen far above that spiritual des-
titudon. We accept at least the fact
that there IL a God. We do not at
tempt to prove what the Bible every
where takes for granted, that God is.
God Is the most certain fact Of objec-
tive knowledge. This Is everywhere
true. The idea Of God is innate. The
existence Of God and of future life
is everywhere recognized.
An unwavering faith in God is not
a superstition, but is characteristic
of the highest intelligence and Of
well-balanced mind. It is an exponent
OF large and deep spiritual nature.
Religion and God are infinite concep-
lions. Dwarfed souls have no satisfac-
ton In them. One must be spiritually
minded to investigate spiritual things.
To the spiritually minded belief makes
no greater demands in many respects
than the facts of science There are
facts In the physical universe relative
light that finite minds cannot conceive.
Marvellous beyond expression are the
statements Of science, and yet they are
not too great for the faith of men. But
do you not think it marvel that men
can accept these things without ques-
tlon, and on the other hand their atti.
tude toward God or Christianity ia
that OF wavering skepticism?
= But we brush aside all these ones.
IONS ana make inquiry, not as to the
existence or power Of God, but how Is
ne related to me? How is he affected
toward me? To Christians there il
one word that answers the Questions
ana mat Is father. God is our father
Ihls word of profound significance and
OF surprising tenderness belongs To
man alone. When We have said that
God created the heavens, the earth and
all material things we have given most |
OIL which the subject admits. Rut y
Is not simply true that he created spir-
u.s. put he Is the father of them. And
lnls Is most sure, God loves :infinitelv
more his offspring.
Paternal love is the element in which
GOD lives and reigns, Recopniz,no
mis- fact we must be awakened to the
correlated truth with all its reciproca1
'ohgatlons, and that is, we are chill.
lren OF the heavenly Father. We are
made partakers of the divine nature
fhe subject opens large field for IN.
resignation. The dewdrop on the rose
'enects perfectly the whole sky above
L we are partakers Of the divine na-
ure, there will be something about our
spirit, speech, walk and life which
viii reflect the divine. AS children wo
lave faculties by which our service
nay De most natural and blessed
hese faculties are the highest proof
nat God Is our father. Nature docs
lot perpetuate faculties that have M
YORK to do. They are gradually on
eebled and finally taken away. IF orr
aculties for recognizing and commnn.
ng with God were needless. thev
would soon disappear. There ia .
assage Of scripture Of special tender.
ess upon this point. You have been
eart-broken, it may be, through tho
xercise of pity upon your child. Cod
peaks to you in all the tenderness ~
Is nature: "Like'as a father nitieth
is children, so the Lord pitieth them
nat fear him." What would we do 70 ,
re- did not know that the affections ~
MS life were working for the peaceful
ruit OF eternal righteousness? All
~ soul, thou modest the divine Fatb' :,
T. Thou modest to feel that the Issue
every dark thing is going to be for :
Is glory and for thy perfection. 4