Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-20
OLD-TIlNE RELIGION
BY BISHOP w. A. GAMBLER

be stricken from our eyes that we NAV be-
hold the face Of our heavenly Father; for
the pure in heart only can see him. (Mat-
thew V:8.)
Religion, therefore, is a personal revela-
ton rather than discovery reached through
a process of prOtracted and painful inyesti-
cation; it is not a science, but a salvation.
We can not "by searching find out Cod
Cob XI:8). The whole history of the vain
effort of mankind to acquire the knowledge
of God by the unaided natural faculties of
the human mind is condensed by St. Paul
in the brief but absolutely correct declara-
ton, "the world by wisdom knew not God"
Corinthians I:2D.
Although "the heavens declare the glory
of God and the armament sheWeth His
handiWork" (Psalms XIX:1); and notwith-
standing 1.-The invisible things of Him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternal power and Godhead''
(Romans 1:20), fallen men can not from
nature derive the knowledge of all the at
tributes and PROJECTIONS of the divine char
acter
Nature, with it's in1exible laws and unfor-
giving principles, confronts man with a
stern face and unrelenting features, in not
one line of which is found a suggestion of
pardoning love. In Christ alone is revealed
the heart of God in its redeeming character
istics. For God who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in ou1
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ" (II Corinthians IV:6.)
The incarnation illumines the divine ma
ture of human sight, and the personal eX
perience of redeeming grace corrects our ig
norance of God as nothing else can.
Within those lands in which dwell the
people who have knowledge of the Christ is
prevalent the most profound sense of Goo
felt among men, Where the Christ has moi
been proclaimed and known all sorts OF
purulent polytheisms are found and mer
stumble in the deepest darkness, even Egyp
tidn darkness that can be felt.
In Christian lands the men and Womer
who have turned away from Christ have be
come confused in their thinking about Coo
and inexpressibly melancholy in spirit. Theil
writings are peryaded with the saddes
thoughts. How sorroW-laden is the cry OF
W. K Clifford, "The Great Companion is
dead" To his doubling soul Christ has
passed away and with his passing God him
self has died.
Our perplexed and bewildered generation
cannot escape from its tragic and heart
breaking ignorance of God except by return
ing to Christ, who is "the way, the truth
and the life" Well, may it say with st
Peter to the Master, Lord, to whom shall
we Go? thou hast the words of eterna
life (John VI:6S).
Apart from the Christ we shall remain
ignorant of the eternal Father, and the
tragedy of our ignorance will grow more
dreadful daily.
knowledge of history knowledge of the
languages Of all mankind, knowledge of al
the sciences and all, the arts cannot offse
our ignorance of God--the most tragic of al
possible ignorance.
Whatever unknown events and unexpected
conditions which the future may hold fol
the human race, it can never get along with
out Christ or outgrow the need of Him.
''Ah no. life of the heart,
Never shalt thou depart!
| Not till the heaven of God
Shall tighten each human clod
Not till the world shall climb
To thy height serene sublime,
Shall the Christ who enters our door
Pass to return no more"