Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-13

MYSTERIES UNAVOIDABLE.
BY Rev. James B. Remensnyder.

The mysteries of God.--I Cor. IL.
Man Is rational being. He wishes
to understand himself and his sur
roundings. He likes intelligently to
master his situatiou-to be sure OF his
ground-to prove his steps. But al
though he can know many things, he
finds himself surrounded by the un-
movable. The plainest facts are
fenced all about by this veil of mys-
terry. Ee knows that he lives, but he
cannot tell whence his life came. He
knows that he can lift his hand, but
cannot tell how his will contracts the
muscle necessary to the act.
The same mystery shrouds the realm
Of science. Lord Kelvin, in speaking
of electricity, said: Its secret is as
sacredly guarded to-day as it was a
century ago, and there is no prospect
of its revelation" Yet because forces
are incomprehensible, man does not
deny their existence but attempts to
turn them to practical uses. THE
greatest Of all mysteries" says Pascal,
"is to be conscious of none" The think
ing man sees this realm of the unknown
able and uses those facts which emerge
from 1t for his well-being and prog
ress
Now, it is remarkable that many
persons who think themselves rational
demand that there be no mysteries IN
religion. Unless they can comprehend
all the doctrines in which its practical
duties are set, they will not heed Its
message. But is it not to be expected
that, most of all, mystery should meet
us when we come to religion, which re-
lates to the deepest questions ana the
highest duties Of being?
Religion treats Of God. What theme
could be more hinged about with mys-
teries? Who can penetrate the secret
chamber OF the Almighty? Who can
set forth infinite perfection? "Canst
thou" says the Book Of Job, by search
ing find out God? 1t is high as heaven.
what canst thou do? Deeper than hefi,
what canst thou known But because
we cannot comprehend the Being Of be-
ings, shall we turn a deaf ear to the
revelation of Him which the Bible gives
us? Because we cannot knoF7 Him to
perfection shall we refuse to believe
the comforting truth that God is love?
Shall we refuse His offer to hear our
prayers because our poor finite minds
do not see how He can answer them?
Religion has to do with mans immor-
tai being. Shall we here expect q rev
clation that our reason can altogether
measured Religion tells us what our
reason could never discover-that man
is immortal, that his present is a SOW
ing for eternity, and that the righteous
shall shine as the stars forever. Shall
we doubt because mists still hang about
the future state of being?
Very truly does Francis Bacon say
IF we submit everything to reason, our
religion win have in it nothing new.
| heavenly or divine" religion with
out mysteries could give no food for
our spiritual being Take away the
| deep, the blessed, the infinite aspects
thuI IOUt Will IiN SleIy TIE Truths VI
religion, and you rob it of its power
| to attract, to comfort and to sway the
! hearts of men.
We learn here, then, how irrational
| is that criticism which asks the church
| TO surrender her holy mysteries. And
we note how false to their highest OBJ
| legation are those ministers who dis
| cusS literary, economic or social ques-
| tions-which belong to another sphere
instead of setting forth the holy mys-
teries Of revelation.
LET man so account of u.s." says
! our text, "as of the ministers of the
mysteries of God" The true minister
has not lost faith In the divine mys-
teries; nor let anyone think that our
modern age has passed beyond these
Were we to exchange these exbaustless
themes for the dry husks of ethics. In,
stead of filing. we would utterly empty
our churches.
Man has a Godward side; he thirsts
for the eternal and the infinite And
1t is In the proportion that religion
keeps to her sphere of ministerlng te
this want with her unique, divine and
mysterious truths, that she will be q
trusted and worthy guide to lead the
soul to its everlasting home.