Milford chronicle., 1907-02-01
CalmaQe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmage. D. D.


Biblical interpretations and hair
breadth differences in creeds and cere
monies and with simple Christian faitl
Enite in fraternal efforts for the com
mon good. The text is Titus Iii, 8
SBut avoid foolish questions"
Have you a fathom line? Then droI
It into the seas. Have you a telescope
Then cleanse its lens and focus ii
upon the stars. Have you crowbar
Then with it pry open the Theoretically
sealed doors Of the geological libraries
and finger the leaves Of rock and read
the genealogical histories of the spe-
cies. Have you a microscope? Then
with the psychologists roam through
the corridors of the infnitesimal and
find an aquarium in a drop Of water
and exquisite beauty in the end of a
hy's wing. God would not have placed
the wonders Of the heavens above us
and the wonders of the deep beneath
us and the wonders of the land about
us If he had not meant us to explore
tkem and to try to make the works Of
his fingers part Of our lives.
You never yet met an intelligent
man or woman who was not continual
ly asking questions and striving to I'M
derstand the unknown. The indisposi-
ton to investigate and the unwilling
ness to attempt the solution of the !
problems of life about us are always |
the signs of an intellectual weakling. |
In the spiritual life, as well as in the /
political and the mechanical and the
philosophical world, the one word
which should be most often spoken by
the human lips is ''Why?" We should
be continually asking 'Why this?' and
"Why that:' and ''Why the other
thng?" The human mind and soul
either broaden out or shrlvel up The
point is a golden key
with which we should try to unlock
the manifold mysteries of the uni
verse.
But there is an intelligent way of
pushing that word "Why?" and a very
foolish way. There is a way of asking
'Why?" which proves to the world that
Tou are sincerely DESTROYS to obtain
Then there is a way of
lsking "Why?" which proves to the
world that you do not wish to learn,
)ut are moved by curiosity only or by
/ desire to unsettle fundamental ques-
ions. There never was a foreigner
Who came to America who asked more
Questions than Ii Hung Chang. But
he questions which he asked were gen.
rally frivolous and to our ideas imper- =
inent. He would ask aged maiden :
aides why they never married and y
ow old they were. He would ask peo- q
lie why they wore false teeth. He :
7ould ask this question and that and .
le other question until he made every =
ne around him uncomfortable. Thus =
1me people push that word "Why?" in y,
most ridiculous way. By the So =,
ratio method they try to argue God h,
nd Christ and the Bible out Of the 60
inds and hearts Of their friends. 81
18th the interrogation point they ~
ould advertise to the world their Y,
reasoning powers when az
ey are only advertising their trans I'll
curiosity. he
St. PauI's Advice. nc
Paul in his epistle to young Titus oil,
lvlses him to beware Of such frivo- or
US curiosity. When he tells him to tW
old foolish questions he Is not cir tn
mscribing the intellect Of this young da
an by telling him not to think and els
t to investigate. He is laying down We
e broad principle which you and l IN
,uld do well to heed when he said, tn
void foolish questions and genealo- De
IS and contentious and strivings are
out the law, for they are unprofita- tn'
; and vain" In other words, avoid ch'
use foolish questions and contentious IN
itch have nothing to do with pressing lou
ne the great purposes of the gospel. I"e
re only for those divine truths and iO'
evident facts which will draw us uo1
lrer and nearer to the cross of Jesus
rist. The poet expressed my inter u"S
tation of Paurs meaning when he ~
Dte: u u,'
ne read the blessed book-they don't fee,
know why
happens in their way to lie, TOD
lie others read it with uncommon stri
care, inst
all to find some contradictions there. oro
lie read to bring themselves into repute -
showing others how they can dispute, sag
lie others read because their neigh blal
bors do, this
see how long twill take to read 1t sniT
VIII
e read to prove preadopted creed, looI
ius understand but little what they way
read, go
every passage Of the book they bend LorE
make It suit that all important end. DO
e people read. as have often abol
thought.
teach the book instead Of being
taught. w
lul is saying, "Titus. my son, study PIE
spirit of the Scripture instead Of lly
letter of the law" We should not oI
mong those Bible students who are De y
tually nearsighted and hold their II Is
so close to the sacred pages that Usul
can only see a sentence or word I'M