The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-22
faith Of men. Me. cannO, serve God and

faith OF men. Mes cannot serve God ane
mammon Is true forever. Can this evil be
overcome, and how / believe that II can
and the way 70 overcome IL is 10 satisfy
men that we are living in moral and spir.
ltual world IN which Gcd Is present and
| In which He makes His demands. Profes
| sor James, Of Harvard, speaks Of tie unh
versatility of religious experience openins
up new world which science has hitherto
scoffed at, but which must be recognized
II we know by our own experience that
there Is a realm of thought, of Iowa OF
conscience, OF righteousness, toward which
things our hearts yearn. We know more
than ever the laws of this department OF
lie, how, under God, henehcenee and
growth and power are added 10 life by
their obedience, and how injury and weak.
ness and suffering are the resultants OF
dlsobedience 10 the individual and 10 the
nation and the race. Men believe in these
things, because they see them. II they do
not believe IN their power as YOU and i,
dear Christian friends DO. IL is because
they have been hindered by other things
from looking at them seriously enough. III
they can be turned from the craze of the
age. which is selhshness. they viii be able
to see and appreciate the workings OF this
real kingdom of love and Christ In our
midst. Ii the church is 10 help men II
must open it's doors and heart TO such men.
tard them by insulting them when they
come. IL a man Is looking for righteous
ness and anxious TO govern his life accord
ing TO that inspiration, the church ought
10 be ready 10 give To such an honest man
all he Is ready and willing 10 receive. let
us not be afraid of our sacraments being
desecrated. Men Will not come 10 them
unless they really want them and believe
IN them. We ask too much of men about
what they believe or do not believe. The
working and living Church of Christ Is
not that which shall only have place and
a welcome for those who are fully equipped
with faith in all it's sacred doctrines, but
a church which, like Christ, shall draw all
men unto II and gradually, by ITS spiritual
love and care, nourish men into It's highest
privileges and possessions.
III men can believe something OF Christ 8
revelation OF God, If they can say, Lord,
| believe" IL becomes then the part OF
every Christian as an individual and of all
Christians as an organization TO help their
unbelef until men can enter into the ful-
ness OF HIS message and take for their M
spiration IN life, God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son. that
whose believeth on Him might not perish,
but have everlasting hfe.' This is the
Christians message of Gods presence
among us, God loving men, inspiring and
guiding them toward His own ideal OF per-
fectness. This Is the opening of the gates
of salvation TO men, from selfishness and
animalism, into the happiness and encour-
agement of knowing that we are the sons
of God, for God hath not called us to un-
ceanness, but TO holiness. When the
churches Of Christ take this attitude to-
ward men and men shall learn that the
ministration of the church Is toward help
ing them out of their sins and mistakes,
rather than IN a constant condemnation OF
their faults, ] believe they will be found
within its walls, ready 10 be helped and
led toward larger knowledge OF God and
His love