Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06
Seeing tbe invisible.
by Secretary American Society OF
Religious Education.
I'VE look not at the things which seen, but
at the things which not seem" II Cor iv IS.

phenomenaI-in the animal. vegetable and
mineral kingdoms there is perpetual
change. That is the origin of the word
nature, from naschor, to be born, sys-
tenn of things that appears and disappears.
But the unseen abides, the same today,
yesterday and forever. 1t is the world OF
fxedness. of certainty and repose as dis
tinguished from the world Of change, I'M
certainty and alarm.
Moreover, the seen world Is a product.
processes are carried forward by powers
that do not originate in itself. All the
forces that play about US plainly show
that they are superior to matter. The fact
Is that they all have their home In the IN
visible The supernatural Is the storehouse
OF causes and designs. Emanating thence
there is projected into the universe what
men behold and feel
This brings us to notice the wise rule OF
life here laid down by the apostle. We
do not live by what we see in ma
ture. but by what we see In the
supernatural-we go habitualiy behind the
appearances to the realities, and we pay
supreme regard to that which Is unknown
to the senses but known to the spirit We
SO exercise these higher faculties that we
are able to discover what is true and beau
tiful and right. We have our vision turned
toward that, and what we thus learn we
hrip For I'D ,IY ~.
mortal life. We see the invisible, and so
see the significance and value of the visible.
The wisdom of this course is apparent.
That Is the only way to obtain any just
view of nature. The man Of physical
science who looks through the telescope at
distant worlds. or through the microscope
to examine minute forms of life, or stands
by the crucible TO resolve compounds into
elements, If he does no more has no proper
acquaintance with the world in which he
lives. But If he comes to all this investi-
cation with vision of the supernatural. he
will comprehend what before was mysteri-
ous-he will see the world. not in It's forms
merely, but in its realities
again. look at the Invisible or spiritual
prepares one for the vicissitudes of this
mortal life. Care, labor, sickness. dlsap-
pointment, disaster by land and sea.
earthquake and fire. all unexpected come
upon men, sometimes overwhelming them.
Many look about them with heavy heart
behoding nothing but disarranged plans
and destroyed properties. This is all of
mans portion, If he sees nothing but the
ened by the vision of the supernatural.
Paul says, Our light affection, which is
but for a moment worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight Of
glory. while we look not at the things
which are seen but at the things which are
not seen"
This Is the only way OF human develop
ment. That part of man which allies him
to the supernatural Is evidently his better
part. Its powers are superior to all those
1t might easily be shown that when these
superior powers control In mans constitu-
ton the other powers fall into their right
full exercise. and the man comes to his ap-
pointed dignity. Here. then, Is the one
important task in character building-to
break the dominion of the senses so that
material things shall be less esteemed, and
to strengthen the power that deals with
spiritual things. And this can be accom-
plished only II becomes the rule Of life
to look primarily toward the invisible
We have thus entered into the very heart
Of religion. Every system OF religion. from
Feticism to the most advanced form of
Christianity, Is merely an attempt to re-
late man to the superna tural. The heather
world by Its ignorance. enjoined many
superstitlous observances. 1t is the pur-
pose of the gospel to dispel the clouds that
darken the spiritual sight and give men a
clearer view of the unseen, that by steady
gaze into that realm they may obtain lust
conceptions OF the world and Of life and
order their conduct according to the i'm
mutable principles of eternal truth ITO
81.