Evening journal., 1916-02-03

Isaiah 66: 13.-"As one whom his
mother cOmfOrteth, so will l comfort
you; and ye shall be cOmfOrted in
Jerusalem"
Religion has been defined as the
life of God in the soul OF man. Eter-
nal life consists, not merely in fol-
lowing rules of conduct. in forming
ethical principles or even in fostering
high ideals and purposes. The path
to eternal life consists in getting ac-
quainted with God You may know OF
man and yet not know that man.
You may know about God and vet not
know God. Christian experience. said
one man. can rise no higher than
ones conception of God, To know
God is to love Him. II means that
you will open the door OF your soul
| to the entrance OF the Heavenly
Guest. You will let Him come into
your life to illuminate and inspire
your whole being.
Jesus called God. Father. But nc
one word can give a proper portrayal
of the nature OF God. Christ, doubt
less. did not intend to convey the idea
that fatherhood described the divine
character in its entirety. The tern
father was TO give a conception oi
Gods personality and parenthood
For, as our text implies, for It was
not only the father, but also the
mother nature in God. Both appel
lations are essential in conveying q
comprehensive meaning. The father
element appeals to the head, the
mother element appeals TO the
heart. The father viewpoint reaches
the reason, while the mother the emo
tions.
There is but one way that we may
know God; that is through Jesus
/ Christ. In the only begotten Son Is
revealed the entire nature OF thu
Heavenly Parent In other words
TO think OF Jesus is Immediately t
think OF God, and conversely to thinl
OF God is to think of Jesus. He said
'eHe that hath known Me hath know
the Father" There is no true attri
butte or idea of God that cannot be
found revealed in Jesus Christ.
In considering at this time tn
mother nature of God does not impl'
that we are to forget or slight His
fatherhood. The father element give
MS the element of strength as its cen
trail quality. Our God is God o
mower. We have no impotent weak
ling as manager Of this universe. Gu
God is able. What he processes b
can perform. This omnipotence wa
J revealed in the works OF Jesus as II
, created food for the multitude. as II
stilled the raging tempest, as He cas-
o. out demons, as He rebuked evil, an
) nounced divine truths and raised
e life the dead. II is the father elemen
e in God that gives us respect for Hi
r authority, assures us OF His justio
n and shows unquestioned conhdenc
Il in His ability and wisdom.
0 But il is the mother element in tn
character of God that We especial
+ want to consider at this time. II th
/, crown OF man is strength, the crow
a OF woman is her affection. In the M
| ture OF God both elements are con
= pletely blended. II it is His pow'
d that compels reverence. It is His 10y
z that awakenes in our hearts a 10y
e in return. The consideration Of Il
- mother element must give to us
{ closer and clearer conception OF Il
character of God than we could po
!. sibiy have had before. God is I
s more afar of. Il brings a sense
e nearness. sense OF relationsh
which the human heart hungers for
: So much is included in that wol
mother. Pitiable indeed is that II
in which the very name itself do
not bring back the sweetest and HI
lest recollections. II takes us ba'
10 our childhood. when we sat
mothers knee. at the bedtime hoI
hearing again the oft-repeated sto
les which fell from her lips and nev
lost their charm. In the words of o.
text. we have revealed an element
motherhood which has a universI
meaning for all times and lands. =
lune whom his mother comforteth."
is as natural for the hurt child to ha
ten 10 the mothers side as for wat
to flow down hill. II is TO her
seeks sympathy and consolatio
There is a tenderness in mother
touch and compassion ON her face al
a soothing in her voice that no on
else knows how to give. Few ha'
begun 10 comprehend even 10 a slig
extent the spirit OF Jesus. as we a
told He looked out upon the mult