Litchfield enquirer., 1857-06-11
The Leaven at Work.

What has been said in some Orthodox cir
Giles and papers in favor of the new phase Of
Unltarlansm, is producing results which we are
sure some of the defenders of that amphbious
type of theology did not anticipate We are
hearing from different quarters, of attempts on
the part of Orthodox ministers to modify and
white away in some cases, those features in
our crecds which are exclusive of Unitarian
sentiment; and in Others, to dispense with
creeds altogether. In one case, as we are III
formed, a minister has preached a sermon to
his church directly advising them to discontinue
the use of a creed in the admission of mem
bers. And, to show that he was not alone in
his views, he stated that half or nearly half
of the Association to which he belongs accord
ed with him. We state these facts both 70
the information of our readers as to what we
know on the subject, and for the purpose of ex
tending our knowledge Of facts i'll the case
When ministers publ ely ayow such views, they
are understood of course, to be willing that the
world shall know it ; and the Christian world
have then a right to know it, and our public
journals are the proper vehicles of such knowi-
edge. All who love the truth are deeply in
| terested to know how far this corrupting lcaye.
has spread and any of our correspondents
who may know of instances Such as we have
named may do the public service by putting
us in possession of them
Some persons are not without their fears
that under the peculiar influences VIII CHI have
been brought to bear on the churches through
the last decade, such instances have been some
what multiplied If it be so, it is important
that we should know it. For if this practice
should, TO any considerable extent, obtain
among churches, there would of necessity be
another Unitarian schi>m No church OPENS
its doors to UnitarlanS without an inclination
towards untar ansm, nor indeed until it is far
advanced towards that error.
A church that should throw overheard its
creed, would voluntarily forfeit the communion
of the churches, which stand upon an orthodox
foundation. For when sister church aband-
ons her creed, she, ceases to give evidence to
other churches that she stands in the faith and
order of the Gospel, and is worthy of confidence
as holding its fundamental truths How can
we know that she continues to hold the truth
How can we know that all the persons whom
she now admits to her communion have not re-
]ected the truth
When a new church is organized in our com
mmlon and vicinity, our usa2es require that
sister churches shall be called to act in coun
sci, and among ether things attain satisfaction
that the new church is built on the feundat On
Of apostles and prophets, that it is grounded
in the truth. For evidence of this, they px-
anime the Confession of Faith, which has been
adopted and signed by the members, aud
which is to be used in the admission of future
members to their body. If such a church
were to cell Council to organize them, and
then tell them, We have no creed, and do
not intend to use any in the admission of MEN,
bers" the Council would of course dissolve
and leave them alone for they could have no
assurance that such church would be a
church of the living God pillar and ground
of the truth. They came together to see if there
| was satisfactory basis of fellowship, and have
found that this is the very thing that is wanting
The same princiI le must hold in the ease Of
churches already established Let them aban-
don their creed, and they cease to certify to
other churches that they hold the head. Nay
| more, if they abandon their creed they give us
ground to suspect that they have abandoned
the doctrines, or at least, some Of the doc
trines expressed therein. For, while it is III
trinsicalIy possible for Que to object to the use
of creeds, while he holds the main doctrines of
the Gospel, yet almost all the instances that
have occurred of men coming out from among
US against the use of crccds have been such
as have made this their first step to an open
apostacy. With so much experience as the
churches in this State have had in this line, it
would not be possible for them to retain I'M
shaken confidence in the orthodoxy of minis
tiers and churches, which should so far assmi-
late themselves to the Unitarans as 10 adopt
their hostility to crecds. He must be q very
eccentric Or peculiar man, who, heartily be-
lieving the Orthodox doctrines, would take the
trouble to set aside an Orthodox creed.
Puritan (Boston) Recorder,