The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-27
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. Il. MARTIN, PH. D.
Subject: The Abundant Life.

In the First Church of Christ (Disci-
ples), the pastor. the Rev. Herbert
Martin, Ph. D., preached on Religion
and Life" The text was from John
l0:10:"I came that they may have
life, and may have Il abundantly.
DIR. Martin said:
Christ came not 10 teach a theol-
,ogy primarily. IL at all. but 10 give
life, more life. He came TO give life
to others rather than live a self-cen-
tered life. came that they may have
life. He came 20 give life here and
now. His emphasis was upon the
present life. He that hath the Son
hath life. Life In the future is a
corallary 10 present life. To have life
here and now is the only guarantee,
the only possibility Of future life.
The value and need OF religion for
the present life are being emphasized
to-day as at no time since the early
Christian era. This Identification OF
religion and life tends to make re-
ligion normal phenomenon in hu-
man experience. Religion has long
suffered because OF its almost ex-
elusive other-world emphasis. Its re-
moval TO the future as the proper
sphere OF its activity. its other-world
advantages caused men to regard Il
as an abstract, vague and unreal, and
TO treat it as having little practical
benefit for the present. Under such
conditions religion would be disre-
garded, or, IL accepted, IL would be In
an almost altogether objective way as
precautionary measure, and thus
never become vital element in the
program of daily life. The normal
man is intensely interested I'm the
present, and in the sweet by-anG-by
only as IL Is related to his present
interest. IL religion is to cut any
real figure in this life it can do so only
as IL links itself 10 and identifies itself
with his present interests. And this
religion is capable OF doing, and is
doing The Master identified Himself
with the life of the people; in fact,
He came that He might give life TO
the people.
The same hopeful sign Is discovera-
Bile in the educational world. Com
pare the curricula of the schools and
colleges OF other days with those OF
to-day and how evident is the differ
ence. Education as preparation for
living In the far future, even OF the
present life, does not and never did
appeal to the normal mind unless the
appeal was effected through liberal
application of physical force. Since
the days OF Rousseau education as
mere preparation has gradually and
beautifully fallen into disrepute. Ed
uCators have discovered the practical
ly complete absorption OF the child In
the present. They have discovered,
furthermore. that even the young
child must live while being educated,
and that as such IL must enjoy certain
rights. AS n result OF these discov-
cries education is no longer a mere
formal process whose goal Is utterly
remote from the present life inter-
ests. Education aims 10 equip the
student for present living since he
must live while he is in process OF
being educated. You cannot take n
boy of fifteen years and educate him
for some position at thirty and ex-
pect him TO fill that position satisfac-
torily II you wholly disregard the fact
that he lives and must live from
fifteen to thirty. Modern education
takes note of this and seeks, while
looking toward the future. to qualify
the student in the largest way to live
the fullest life i'm the present days and
by so living will he be able to realize
those future expectations. In addi-
tion to form. education gives content,
or better, to-day minds are formed
and fashioned by giving them a con-
tent. Education and religion seek to
vitalze the present and out OF IL to
make possible the future. Their aim
Is one. inspired by the Master, to give
more life.
Jesus came with life for the peo-
pie and brought IL to the people. He
sought the people. He went out af-
ter them instead OF waiting for the
people 10 come to Him. His life was
one OF faith in God and service TO
and among men. He came 20 min
lister, and did minister. He came to
give life and lie gave Il every day.
The life of men was being enriched
and ennobled as He gave Himself.
His life 10 them each day. The Civ
ing Of His life on the cross was, from
this point OF view, the final act OF
that life which was, par excellence,
the life-giving life. Organized re-
ligion is beginning 20 go out after
and TO the people. Churches have
long since ceased TO be built whose
entrances are guarded by iron gates
and padlocks. Strangers welcome,
that condesccndlng phrase, does not
appear so frequently on our church
signs Religion has girded herself
for service. She Is working in the
Young Mems and Young WOmen's
Christian Associations, and Is found
in settlement and slum work. Her
voice is heard In the factory nOon-day
meetings, on the street corners, I'm
the theatres and in all the busy
haunts Of men Organized religion is
hearing the Masters voice. rs catch
ing His inspiration who said, II came
that they may have life SO OF edu-
cation. n Is being given 20 the peo-
pie. n Is no longer the peculiar
privilege OF the few. The people are
being sought out and compelled 10 be
educated. Education is for the peO-
pie and IN being given osthe people.
Education aims 10 give more life
TO the individual, and more life for
more individuals. n is true that
knowledge eDlsrges ones world and
contributes 90 his survival. His hori-
zon is widened, his ideas and ideals
l. n