Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-09
THE TIMES-DISPATCH
SUNDAY SERMON
~ ). A. EuIiANk

Bf ). A. EUbANK.
! For when for the time ye ought to be teach
| ers. ye have need that one teach you ayai.,
which be the first principles of the oraclcs OF
COD: and are become such rs have need of
| milk. and not OF strong meat For every
| on\ that useth milk IL unskiIlful in the
| (Hebrews 5:i2-I3)
1t has been long time since the human
| race emerged from It's habitat in cliffs and
caves and commenced to acquire Knowledge
| oi Things ana their relation to each other.
In the Increase of which II has toilsomely
progressed to its present state of civiliza
| ton.
Early in the career of the human race.
as In Its development It hns steadily widened
the distance that distinguished 1t above the
animal creation. II has sought to solve the
animal creation. 1t has sought to solve the
mysteries OF the. universe and In this at
tempt has invented systems Of religion which
purported TO throw light upon the then little
understood operations OF natural law Nat
ura'iS' tncse systems were largely grotcsque
IN the aosurdity OF their attempted EXPLAIN
tons and in the rites and ceremonies of their
various fetishisms
Traces of religion in it's more primitive
to'i" hre universal both in time and ethno-
logically. as far MS we have Trustworthy knowl-
edge Of human history Religion, MS defined
by our photographers, is "a belief I'm nm in
visible supcrhuman power Cor powcrs) con
Scfed OF after the analogy of the humn
spirit. on which for whom) man regards
himself ms dependent and to (Which or whohD
he thinks himself in some degree RESPONSE
bic. togethcP with tho feelings and prpc-
ticcs which naturally now from such a
belief
There are certain funda mental principles
common 10 all the reS ons. and all the
peoples OF antiquity, well rs our own
For the purpose of classification. all OF them
may he included in six systems-B rahmanism
soroasterism Osirianism Buddhism. Essen
iah'shi ChristianitY-all the links between
the first and last great mytholosies or The
world. MI others are departures from them
or OF some OF them Hence we have mis-
)ustihable statement from the Encycloped.a
Britannica: "All religions. even the most con-
SENTATIVE and traditional. in constant
nuS, they either advance or decay"
bearing these observations in mind Won
can readily appreciate the force of Paurs
remarks In the text. wherein he expresses
disappointment at the failure OF those whom
lie had previously taught to grow in knowl-
edge under the law of perfect liberty which
he claimed to be an essential feature of
Christianity Hence. he tells us in his let :
ters to the Galatians that the law was our
schooimaster to bring unto Christ that
we might b" justified by taith Eu, after
That Faith is come, we are no longer under
the schoolmastcr"
Faul had attained u fixed poirt OF rivh, :
cess and thought that those to whom he hal
impaired Instruction ought To hav. reached
'""' p''''t "iS'. ana IN the application OF
tue ioEical taih thus inspired should have
crown steadily in Knowledge and i'm The de-
rei"pment of the Infinite within themselves.
MOI continuing 10 use the milk" that rem
"e's one naSkiliful in the word OF right
cousneSs-merc babes. as 1t were.
Peter similarly apprehended for I'm bis
statement Of tho promises and of the Chris.
tan graces to he developed he reminds us:
whereby are given unto US exceeding great
ana precious promises: that by these We might
r EarS ,ff
| capped tho corruption that is in the world
| taroush lust. And beside this giving nil dit
| Eence add TO your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge; and 10 knowledge temperance; and
!" temperance patience; and TO patience godii-
| ness: and TO goodness brotheriy Kindness: and
| TO brother'y kindness charity. For II these
Things be in you. ana abound. they make YOU
| that Ec shall neither be barren nor un
| fruitful In the knowledge OF our Lord Jesus
| Christ"
| Thus We see. the law OF life means the ex
| ercise OF the reason In arriving at a point OF
! r'shtntss. vital faith, and from that point
! striving toward that perfection which is th,
| ultimate or human aspiration through access
! TO IN" sources OF knowledge.
] In other words, life is q growth and , de-
Nelonmen, and even the material mar, az our
! natures IL made more perfect in It's resistance
I 10 cNtraneouS ills. when pursue n faith TINT
! develops the Infinite within us. whose urge IL
/ ever with
/ The writer believes thar any in,c,ur.,,
/ study OF the teaching Of Jesus Will convi,re
one that It's whole burden was to change mans
! attitude toward Inhnity--io upiift him into a
consciousness OF his relationship 10 tho In
| hnite' thus enabling him grow into that
| perfection OF knowledge Of true living which
| IS MS TOT the seeking. and upon which the
| whole fahric OF an increasingly higher civ,iza :
ton so essentially depends 10 say nothing Of
! inc inter qualification Of tho individual soul
TO enter into the glorious existence that awaits
| II beyond the grave.
! Tie world has been webbing around too
| long already In It's swaddling cIothcs-let il
4, begin TO nourish itself with strong mcnt "
| that IT may attain unto the fullness OF knowl-
! edge