The Washington herald., 1907-09-01
A SUNDAY TALK.

And when they snail say unto you, Seek unto
them that have familiar spirits, and unto WIZARDS
that Tesp, and that mutteri should not a people
seek unto Their God s-isaiah Wis le.
The spirit Of inhdelity was rife in the
land. Throughout Syria and Israel the
prophet Isaiah found the people turning
away from the doctrines which had been
handed down to them by their fathers,
and running after strange gods and divina-
tons and sorceresses. Il can be imagined
that the prophet, striving with might and
main to bring the people to a knowledge
of the one true God, may we'll have been
disheartened at what was simply, to his
austere mind. idolatry, and with all the
strength ana fervor Of which he was
capable he urged them to turn away from
the false 10 the true.
Does it not seem that though the proph-
cts In Israel are dead these times OF ours
parallel In many ways those times Of
Isaiah? Especially in aese United States
do we extend. in our generous catholicity
and our desire not to be narrow, well
come 20 the strange gods, TO the strange
religions, and the stranger beliefs. Never
before, perhaps, has this country seen
such widespread following after spirit
ualism, mesmerism, hypnotism, and such
a wide eredence extended 20 all sorts Of
psychic phenomena.
All this Is undoubtedly but a manifesto
ton OF the longing In the human heart for
some definite hope II is the effort 10 sub
stitute some substantial. tangible thing
for the faith without which we cannot
hope for salvation.
Il can call spirits from the vastly deep.
cried a character in Shakespeare. It seems
only necessary to-day for a man to make
the claim for him to find believers. It is
only necessary to apply the magic word
religion TO any Of these beliefs TO find
deyotees-
In Religion
What damned error but some sober brow
VIII bless II. and approve it with e text.
Hiding the Grussness with fsir ornament
And it were we'll, indeed, were there a
modern Isaiah to raise his voice in pro-
test II IS not true what Omar said, that
Why. all the Saints and sages who discussed
OF the tao worlds 50 wisely. they are thrust
Like foolish prophets forth. their words 20 scorn
Are scattered, and their mouths stopped with
dust.
That is simply the inhdel view Of the
matter. Discussion between men will
bring no one nearer 10 God. The true
religion is not in strange beliefs. in CROP
ing among the mysteries Of psychic sci
ence--it Is deeply enthroned In the human
heart. What If il cInnOt be proved by
rule of thumb The Written Word Is
there. What mystery Of al the moderns
approaches in glorious mystery the Bible
the only safe guide for this drifting world
Within this awful volume lies
The mystery 0f all mystcnesi
HapTiest they of human Tacu.
To whom God has granted grace
To read % fear. % hope, 90 pray,
To lift the latch. and force the way;
And better had they ne'sr been born
Who FCad 70 doubt or read 20 scorn.
Should not a people seek unto their
God?" cried Isaiah 70 his people. and bis
cry comes down 70 us to-day. pointing the
only safe way. not only TO salvation in the
world to come. but 10 happiness and con-
tent in this wOrk-a-day world GrOpe for
the light as We may with our intelligence,
call science 10 our aid. and use the sum OF
human knowledge as a weapon. We shall
get no nearer the truth. Seek ye first
the kingdom Of God, and all things shall
be added unto you"