The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-08
MYSTERIES of Revelation.

A revelation of God must necessarily i'll.
volve mysteries. 1t must be so because Goo
is infinite and we are finite. A finite mind
can no more grasp and encompass the minnie
God, than a child can dip up the ocean IN 6
pitcher. The eye that is less than all-seelng
must somewhere find the limits of its view
and the mind which is less than infinite, mus
as necessarily encounter the limits OF its
knowledge. A revelation is an attempt to
make known God to finite minds; therefore
of necessity there must be limits where reve-
lation brings to notice the mysterious and the
inconprehensible
This is not teaching that a specific truth
may be revealed, and yet be unintelligible.-
The specific truth in itself clear but it brings
to view in immediate connection with itself,
that which we cannot understand. The spc-
cifc truth is what we are required to believe,
The mystery around it can be no argument
against believing it.
A consequence of this doctrine is, that they
who urge as an objection against any system
protesting to be a correct exhibition of reveal
ed truth, that is mysterious-who pride them
selves on a religious belief which is intelligi-
bic in every part, do, by their own teaching,
prove that their system is not a revelation OF
God. There is nothing about it but the
comprehensive therefore, nothing but the
finite. Revelation is a golden chair let down
from the throne of God to earth. The lower
links we can see and handle; but if it is real
ly fastened to the throne of God, there must
be a point where the ascending links pass be-
yond our view, and are lost annie the heights
-" heaven. IF we can see and handle every
5ipk f; the highest, the very fact proves that
ft"is,not a chain fastened to the throne OF God.
If thcn. Ahe ts,rt that mysteries are involved In
any system of belief does not certainly prove
# f. be a revelation from God, the fact that
any system processes to exclude all mysteries
and to make every thing pain to human rea-
son, proves that system 70 be no reVeiatoh OF
God.
Another lesson taught by this doctrine is,
the folly of complaining because SO much is
left unexplained in Gods word. Ihis is the
necessary lot of finite minds. The angels, as
the bible teaches, encounter mysteries which
they /" desire to look into" And it is not I'M
probable, that though what is inexplicable to
us is plain to them, they are surrounded by
more and greater mysteries. We are eXplor-
inc the infnitudc of God. Should he strength
en- our minds to understand the mysteries
which now limit our view, he would only O.
non ON us a larger and hitherto undiscerncd
circle of mysteries. 1t must be so forever
We stand ike a mariner on the foggy ocean.
He can see a little circle presently the fog
is lifted, and he can see a little farther It IS
lifted still more, and he can see a little farther.
But every enlargement of the circle OF MS
vision is an equal enlargement OF the circle
beyond which he cannot see; or we may
compare Gods truth to an infinitely extend,
ed palace. Revelation has already admitted
ne to q a few roons-all that we need at present
But we see closed doors on every slde' when
lead to what we know are still more splendid
rooms. At these sealed doors we waste our
time in knocking, and fret, perhaps, that we
are not admitted. But if God should .open.
these doors. and let us into the next suite Of
apartments, we should still find on every side