Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-07-14
The Right Spirit.

hpN Dhbhou, NHO possesses one OIL The
clearest and hest balanced minds in this coun.
try, and who combines the boldness Of Lu-
tler with the gentleness Of Melancthon, in a
recent letter, addressed through The Practi-
cal Christian TO a friend who had manifest
ed some uneasiness on account Of the ultra
radicalism Of some prominent Reformers,
makes the following well-limed and excel
lent remarks, which we commend TO such
Iimld and hesitating souls as have been dis
turbed by The same cause.
We live in an age Of bold inquiry and free
discussion. IL is an age of violent conflict
between Conservatism and Embellishments
tween tradition and reason. 1t is an age Of
revolution and transition, of which WI have
seen as yet only the dawn. COmmotions are
before us in the moral world Of which we
scarcely dream. All things are 10 be shaken
as with earthquakes. Mind every where
reused to think for itself, 10 doubt, ~inyesti-
gate and Judge for itself, will ere long reach
a state in which nothing that can be called in
question Will be taken for granted. Even The
most venerable and tlme-honored creeds, doc
irlnes, opinions aud institutions will be sub
Jecled to the %severCst criticism. We must
make up our minds for all this. 1t must
come. There is no other process whereby
The human race can reach their destined era
of truth, righteousness and peace-their grand
sabbath OF holy rest. Meantime mululudes
ol men will run into Tue widest
viii reject for a season many truths along
with their intermingled errors-will scout as
useless and even peTnicious many good things
along with their present evil accompaniment
will exhibit great self.conceit, reverence
and Tudeness in discussion-wil make all
sorts OF iii-concelyed experiments-and will
gradually discipline themselves through a
Trying experience Of manifold folly and mis-
take into a state Of feeling, thought and ac-
lion, In which they will be qualified TO dts
crlmlna'e clearly between truth and error,
good and evil. Then will they be prepared
10 understand, appreciate, embrace and EN-
Joy all OF truth and good, however in time
past lntermingled with error and evil. They
Will then be religious without being supers,l-
tious, rational without being skeplical. and
uncompromising for righteousness without
being austere or vindictlve. All this is 10 be
IN the "good time coming" But it is not
so now. Few men have discriminating and
well-balanced minds. The radicals are often
visionary, wild, and extravaganza, even when
mainly in the right. Many Of the conse1va-
iives are well disciplined in manner, ways
and means, though deliberately unfolding
the most monstFous error, injustice and cru
city. Now, my brother, assuming that you
and | possess minds of greater discrimina-
ton than som of our contemporaries, what
shall we do? Must we not 90 against mon
strous errors and wrongs with i'll balanced
and undisciplined radicals, rather than 90
with The best balanced and best disciplined
veterans Of conservatism against the subli-
NEST truth and righteousness We are some
times in a strait, but we cannot go for war,
slavery, vindictiveness and all manner Of pop
ular iniquity. There is no alternative. A
man who Is religious, literary, refined and
accomplished may be very agreeable 10 as in
many respects, but if wiih "a thousand com.
mendable qualities, he is a Thoroughbred
upholder OF horrible and widespread abomi-
nations, we must incur his contempt and 90
with the toughest Tishbite or Nazarine who
is really intent on roofing out these abomina-
tons, though himself no competent organizer
of the better order Of things which needs 10
be established. For my own part, brother, |
find it extremely difficult TO adjust myself to
all The TadicalismS which mingle in this great
process OF human regeneration; but ! go for
the regeneration in spite OF the unmanageable
upfoar which frequently attends its advances.
Nor have ! a solitary fear that one single
truth or good, for The time being discarded
by ardent reformeIs, will be annihilaled or
that one single error, folly OF evil into which
their zeal may betray them, will become per-
manent. This assurance gives me calmness,
patience and determination, and renders me
willing sometimes 10 be thought a fool by ul-
ira radicals, as well as ultra conservatives.
Now the Non Resistants 10 whom YOU re-
fer are generally people who are radically
right in their main points, though frequently
undiscriminating, and incidentally wrong in
minor matters. Most Of them are persons of
ardent, bold and determined minds, who were
educated extreme religionists Of the stricter
sects, who have had to work their way against
the wind and tide Of opposition. and who
consequently feel ineXpreSsible disgust for
almost every thing usually associated with
the fixtures Of their old prison house. This
disgust is a weaknt SIS, and for the time being
belrayS them into some notions and express
sions which verge closely on infdeli,y, bat
which most of them, being really religious
al heart, will ultimately reconsider md cor
rect. While therefore | cannot endorse, or
assent TO such notions and expressions, ! do
mi allow them 10 disgust or discourage me,
nor TO ALLEVIATE me from those who fall into
them, much less 10 drive me over 10 The con-
servatives; who, with all their freedom from
these errors, are fundamentally anti.chris,ian,
and practically intdeli in aspect to the weigh
tier matters of both law and gospel.
As TO the absolute plenaTy inspiration OF
the Bible, taken verbatim OF literatim, it is
preposterous 10 affirm il. The sooner we fall
back upon the truth, and assert simply that
the fundamental religious and moral princi-
pies of the Bible, with It's more important
prophecies, were communicated 10 mankind
by divine inspiration, the sooner shall we
be able TO vindicaIe the Book against the at
tacks of irreligious skepticism. Taking this
position, enlightened reason combining with
an elevated religious and moral sentiment,
will enable us demonstrate that the Bible,
with Jesus Christ as ,ts declared supreme
Liahl. is of God AMI inlisnnnsahle 10 ILn