The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-09-13
THEP EOPLE'S FORUM.
What We Know.

LnaC the WISDOM OF man cannot 1atnOm
fully comprehend them; and with all
the learning of the ripest scholars they
are unable to fathom its mysteries or to
speak positively as to the precise mean
ing of some of these scriptures: In the
Revelation for example, future events
are foreshadowed in such language and
are symbolized by such peculiar figures
that we are mystified but consecrated
Christian scholarship has been able to
unlock the door of this mysterious
chamber. Many enlgmas are there
which cannot be satisfactorily solved
at least to all. The same is true in re-
gard to Gods proyidential economy and
its deep purposes in certain things. We
see His acts of mercy and of judgment
and we are compelled to bow our heads
in reverence before Him who doeth
His will in the armies of heaven, and
none dare say why doest thou So" In
humanity we fall before Him, con-
strained to admit that now we see
through glass darkly, and our finite
minds cannot comprehend the ways of
the Almighty nor sound the deep
things of God. However it is a COM
fort to know that these mysteries are
not connected with the things essential
to our salvation. The plan is clearly
revealed; the way is so plain that the
wayfaring may not err and he may
run that readeth It," The glorious
truths essential for the salvation of
men or for the edification of saints, are
not enyeloped in mystery. All is clear
in this field-clear as the sun in its noon
day splendor. The way to the city of
refuge is kept clear, marks show the
way so that the stricken soul may not
mistake the way. The way to the
celestial city is marked by so many
clear and striking passages that only
those who are wlllfully stubborn fail to
keep the road.
Some things we cannot know so long
as we are in the flesh-only the light of
eternity can reveal it, but that we may
count some of the certainties and be
thankful for them, let US notice some
of the things we may affirm on the
authority of the Bible that we know.
Some things are so clearly revealed and
80 emphatically asserted in the word of
God that we cannot fail to comprehend
them. The Apostle John says we know
that the son of God is come and hath
given US an understanding that we may
know Him that is true" He is giving
a recapitulation of the privileges and
advantages Of true believers. They are
secured against the dominion of sin, or
the fulness of its guilt; they are forti-
fed against the destructive attempts of
the devil; they have a knowledge of the
true and eternal God. The world IS
fallen in sin, it is full of iniquity. The
Son of man came. We know that. He
was seen, felt and heard. We know
Him by the evidence He has given.
Miracles, well they are fact, though
they have been bitterly assailed and
vehemently denied.
He has given internal light in our
understanding whereby we may discern
the glories of the true God. He made
all things, How else can they be &C
counted for. He led Israel out of Egypt
with high hand and by mighty power
He made covenant with our fathers
and kept it to the letter He promised
to call the Gentiles and in due time he
did it and we are to enjoy the blessings
of his covenant. His terrcrs and iudg-
ments declare him to be the true God
and who can fail to be impressed with
the fact that fearful terrors and awful
judgments are abroad in the land.
We know Him to be the true God by
His love and Grace, by his counsel and
works. We may be united to Him by
so simple thing as faith. How may
we know welfare? By experience, by
our changed lives, by the indwelling
and witness of the spirit That is a
happy uIllOu. IL is Ike llldL OF the vine
and branches. The Son leads US to the
Father and we are in both. We are
there in covenant and federal alliance
with both. We are joined to both the
Father and the Son, by the operation
of the Holy Spirit and as the Son is
God histself, the true God and eternal
life. We.are. united to the true God
and have eternal life. The object of
Christ's coming was to save and we
know he has saved many, is saving
many now. The Father sent Him
not onlysfor this, but ordained Him to
be the illumination OF his people. For
this reason He has given US an under
standing that we may know Him that
is true. Jesus is therefore revealed to
US in the clearest terms. The word is
before US and from it we may gather
precious fruits of knowledge. But we
have not only this knowledge of Christ,
we know Hlm-personallv, because He