The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-01-12

the heather. and the answer that |
got. namely. that only through faith
in Jesus, the Redeemer. is there any
salvation. Then queried. What Is
the penalty Of their ignorance Of the
Only Name given under heaven or
amongst men whereby we must be
saved? The answer was the usual one
of all Of our "Orthodox creeds:" that
they would spend eternity in; a hell Of
unutterable anguish. How my heart
went out sympa thetically toward every
missionary movement on behalf Of the
heather!
Then came mature thinking and |
said. Like others I. am imperfect IN
every way. my sympathy and love.
therefore. cannot be as great as that of
our Creator. How Is II possible that
God. with all the force Of the Universe
at His command. could look calmly on
and see the operation of His own laws
carrying thousands Of millions to eter-
nal misery and yet refrain from giving
those creatures the necessary informa-
ton? I:said. there is something wrong
with the Bible and with our cteeds
which we have built upon it, ..-.
1 threw all; away and began TO rea
son-bnt. thank God! not along irrer-
erent lines. reasoned that He who
made the Universe also made man:
that whatever noble qualities<l could
find in humanity We're the work of the
Creator. Il said. Mans noblest qualities
are Justice and love. and hence the
Creator must possess these unlimitedly
bowed in worship before God, finite
jnt Wisdom, Justice. Love aud Pow,
or. - :,,se. -. i. !,
=. He That seeksth Findeth. :.
. said. Oh, great, Almighty God. al
though unknown TO me. ] worship
Thee! I adore Thee! My. whole being
cries out for the pleasure Of more init
mate acquaintance with Thee, that
might know Thy will regarding me
and Thy purposes respecting human
ity. 1 said. Assuredly. as God is All
Wise. He must have.an All-Wise pur-
pose, OF which. need not be ashamed
SO surely az He. is inst aud loving. nj!
of His plans and purposes must accord
with these qualities; and having made
man capable of approaching these
qualities, He win surely be willing +"
bestow the information which desire
Information as to how | can best
please and serve Him and as 10 what
His purposes and Intentions are re
speeding mankind. - .'-.s'
My prayers CONVINCED me the more
that there must be Divine Reveal
ton somewhere in the world. thought
that / had searched the Bible faith
fully and proved 1T unreasonable and
contrary to every conception l could
have OF q Divine Greater and His pur
poses; hence nay eyes turned toward
this Eastern land and your sacred
books. studied them for time. only
TO tinl them far less satisfactory t"
my intellect than the Bible had al
ready cast aside.
11returned TO the Bible asked my
self. Might yani have been prejudice.
when you examined il before: \
though ] thought not. | made a fire.
investigation. because ! felt there mn
be a, Revelation from The true g
somewhere. and because the Bibie til
far gave the best testimony. Il. !
deed. told of q God Of Love. as Mt
other religious books do. yet its teach
ings respecting the future Of the mol
elect staggered me. for was sure tha
they were not Godlike. but the reverse
Proving the Bible Reasonable.
Disrosarding the Old Testamen'
Scriptures entirely began with +
New. | said. Was not Jesus mos
wonderful Character? II ii not true
that never. man spake like this Man"
10th heart and head answered. Yes
His teachings are the noblest found on
earth: His example fully COMFORTS
with His teachinSs, Il asked. Can |
rely upon the eyidence? My mind re-
Piled. Yes. II just such men today
told you their observations you would
believe them implicitly. These men
confessed that they were ignorant and
unlearned men, telling OF their own
weaknesses in a way that impostors
world not do. Their Message abounds
in good t!dings Of great JOY for all
people," and not merely for their Own
nationality. My heart began to take
courage. Il began to feel that had
found footing for my faith and thai
the Bible indeed differed considerably
from the various and conflicting creeds