Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-11-26

Such a man wrote little while ago 10
the editor of well-known periodical
Prayer, the Bible. Christ. miracles. these
were the subjects in thinking about which
he had become bewiidered He calls loud
IN for help. IL would be easy TO say that
he had simply got himself into "a state OF
mind" and that IL would DO no good to
reason with him. But what woa,d be cssy
IL not always sure 10 be what would BE-
fair and right. Faith has sometimes had
too great fondness for Easy Method
With Doubters-' This man says; Most
Of the religious discussions that l hear or
read seem 10 me TO deal with mere side -
sucs-why Young men dom attend cburct
how 20 reach the masses--watlc 1 want
TO hear land never do hcarl about the
fundamental. elementary priurfn,cs OF re-
ligion. Is man immorta,g j. there Cod.
and II so. why does Hc leave a. in doubt.
What Is the Christian religion reduced 10
its simplest expression | am sick 81 piati-
tudeS. evasons and giittcrinE gencraiitics.
| want 10 be treated with sincerity
want % hear the simple truth. nos "as 20 4
little child but as 90 a grown man. Who
must reason as well as secl. man who
has sinned and suffered and now fam
/ would find n safe anchorage fer has soul
\ IN .his sea Of doubt and trouble
The editorial criticize written IN answer
i 20 this communication hrSathCs tho spirit
\ OF Him who went 20 Ills discinics IN the
storm with which they were batting ON
/ Gali'ce. 1t says very little about the
/ troublesome questions the man has raised
| Ii takes God and the soul for granted. IL
| reduces religion 90 its simplest terms and
lets il 20 at that Tor the present. Whether
| it has accomplished anything for the
/ storm tossed correspondent l do not know.
I But l do know some whom II has helpcd
and others WHOM it IS likely to help. Men
of whose spiritual vcissitudes l have some
knowledge have spoken 81 II with grati-
tude
The narrower method OF sectarian. dog
matte lnsistence - perilous. The existence
NJ ~ a. h.
/ observance OF the seventh day Of the week
rs the Sabbath. But It n ruinoas thing
for a Young person 20 get the idea that the
existence OF God Is wrapped mp IN that
dogma and that he might as wen abandon
the religious life altogether as - let that
dogma 90 IL has been an element Of de-
nominatonal strength TO have certain fixed
ideas with reference to the proper mode
and subjects Of baptism. But It - spirit
ual misfortune n A young Baptist has not
G. pastor wise enough TO tell him. n he lets
. 30 this doctrine. that religious life - quite
possible without u. IL i possible TO cher
ish and % insist views of the Bible. tho
I modification of which seems 90 some. whcU
| they ind II necessary. 70 threaten the very
foundations Of their faith ia God
Religion j. an affair OF the soul and God.
: The Bible. the church. the creeds. the sas-
G raments are designed 90 serve the soul and
e God IN this high and holy relationship.
"a God has life IN the souls Of men which
= these means are meant 20 promote aud
!. /
u tween the soul and God. Sosne sweet old
: mystic has said: The eve by wnich / see
c God Is tho same eye by which He sees me.
And W nav say. also. The longing with
= which we long Tor God - the longing with
y which He longs Tor US The soYc with
: which We love Him u from tho fountain of
u HIS love for Us" In a relationship who's,
= - the sharing. the identity ol life. what
= room Is there fol Intermediary means and
al ministcricsy We have precious documents,
precious doctrines. precious sacraments and
~ ordinances. But ~ ~ not chcy that gave
p life 60 the soul. They 90 minister richly
' 20 that life. but Il Is. "a it were. front
- without that they minister. II the sou
w. ever really knows God AZ all. 70 knows Him
ie a. 10 knows itself. The sonl - ol u
~ cell. Bv the samo sort o. gertrude it n
i.i sure OF God.
~ Don't get the idea that yo1 can prov,
d the existence OF God. Some dsy you ma,
a ial in with a man who - a better rcasone
&c who will take the other side. Then. if yol
~ really think you believe in God becaus
AK YOU can prove that lie exists Won may fin,
nS your faith badly shaken EVER one tina
RI loveth J. hegotten Of God and knowet
"a" God. lie the iovc.l not, l-~-A 70
God; Tor God h. love We ki. Odd wit
a. that immediate Kind OF knowledge wit
e which we know the feelings ca oar ow
y hearts. II IL is possible Tor as 20 love, u
Ne possible for as % know God aud 90 lIno'
ne that we know Him. And John tells q
20 chat the nrOof there - God and 90
known ana tnlL We KNOW him. ~ tlf SUI
''- kind OF proof. the very same proof, tina
10 We must give n we say tina. we love
ny Luke tells as how Jesus cent out scvcnt
er' ! "a His disciples go do in all the towns
ioi / Gaiiiee - they bad seen Hum 90. The
a. | healed the sizes. They rrsochcI the gosp
rS oi the kingdom Men anal devls gave hce
to- 60 them. They returned ID Him wii
.is- great JOY 60 tell Him an. A. Tic listenC
me 10 them. a. lie looked into their faces. II
ln reioiced. They had undccstn od Him.
10 was then that lie SAID; Il thank Thee.
zen Father Lord OF Heaven and Earth. tn
D a Thou didst hide these things from Il
the wise and prudent and didst reveal the
no. unto babes" lie has succeeded. Pla
'nd men. seventy OF them. had come 90 kno
Cod through Him.
ooS To every minister Of Ills. ~ every Il
ma J lower. Jesus ls saving: Inter into this :
neN premc joy of thy Lord. This = the jov (
fleH | YOU 10 seek. this Is the success for VIII
cal you should work and pray. that throu
IL YOU men NAV come 60 know God" IL "
low for ths very thing that He gave than
lnt- tho night before lie died. To some
lck- knew He had gwen eternal life. And WI
10 cold He SAY IN Has Thanksgiving III
Jaw would be moro pleasing 20 Has Father "a
,od: what He dill saw And this H. iile ct
and nal that they might know Thee. the ga
the true God. and Jesus Christ. whom III
con hast sent"
hat AS we begin our work, the words OK I
10 | beautiful Did prayer ring IN my ears.
ives. God from whom all HOLY desires all 60
SOY counsels and all iust works do p-0ceed-
We want our fellowship m service. to
prompted and accompanied by holy desiI
guided by good couuseis and Astounding
rvs. works The desire To know God
the hottest of al desires. the dceDest 70
fam Of 0ool counxol ths. r.a.st effective