Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-02-20
Spiritualism VS.. Theological
postuiate.

! w hen we examine we'll ourselves and
look carefully into our own mental meth
DDS, we shall be surpriscd as we'll as
pleased, to find how much we arc Ike
other persons how in great essential
characteristics, the race is unit, with
one great central heart pulsating in the
bosom5 OF onr common humanity. Two
individuals, or two sects. or parties
the one contendins for the right or pri.
yatc judgment, and the other for the au-
thority of Scripture, seem to be placed
in opposition to each other; but the DIFF
ference is in seeming only. Our right
to private Judgment, like our right to
life and liberty,is inalienable. We can
not divcst ourselves of it If we would
We can no more Dust the ultimate tribu-
nal which holds continual session for the
adjudication of al questions within our
own bosoms, than we can breathe "
proxy. H who attempts to sst asi,ia
this tribunal, is vainly trying to pin his
faith upon another's sleeve. It may
tler.oro be said that for one to put on
airs Of csotism, and pride himself on the
achievement of great victory over
mental dcspotism, By virtue Of his rig,s
Of pr:yat, Judgment; and for the other
t. pat on long face, or otherwise e2.
press his humility and self detection,
with the idea that he had sold h;nstlr
to God, would evince mutual error
All things by right, and OF necessity. be-
long to man. Whether Of Scripture or
the ungoldings Of Nature, or life or
death, OF things psesent or things to
come Al are ours says Panl himself;
aud each person in and for himself neust
be mot may be- the supreme arbitcr of
their own respective values. This is
the law Of the case and the only differ
cnce between our assumed antagonist is,
our stickler for Bible postulates, exer-
cises tho very right SO loudly vauntcd
by our independent friend, ui'ioM kuo,c-
ing it Two Bible disputants, alike
conccding its supreme authority, 20 at
once to lcsgcrhcads about its meaning.
" hat does that Indicate? The new
Church" authoritarian is denounced by
the Orthodox authoritarian they argue
as to a common postu}ate, and in moth
ing else. In this they are simply exer
cisins the right Of private Judgment un-
der protest. They exercise the power.
and then take great credit to themselves
tor possessing the adequate humility to
deny It's existence.
THIS "unity Of spirit" 50 often hid
den under " diversity of gifts" snd
formulas. may be further elucidated by
a scene in a school room: George and
Horace are attending school, and tho
teacher has given them problem to
sa.ye. II IT requires 90 to purchase
fifteen bushels of cats, how much money
will it take to purchase sixty bushels?
Their common postulate is the "Rule Of
Three. We'll, George with all conf-
dence goes on to make an arithmotical
statement. He points off the different
terms, writes tie requisite character over
each term, multlp.ies the second by the
third, and divides the product by the
first, and gets at last what he is seeking
for, the fourth term, or answer. He
looks up with self salts faction, and TO
his surprise, finds Horace to play with
the holy zeal Of au srithmetical saint. he
exclaims to the sinner" Why havo
you not solved the problem !" oh"
says Horace, :" | did that long ago.
" What answer" Twenty dollars"
That s the same as mine let me see
your formula" "Oh have none.
only consider what the answer must be,
and set it down without making any fig
urcs. Horror ON horror. What a
shock to the sensitive nerves of this ar
ithmetical saint Here is boy affects
to state on arithmetical truth without
making single figure or any reference
to the book whatever Here is true
result reached by unsanctifed means.
Now let us transfer :he scene from tho
school-roo m to practical life; lot us
change the actors into mon, and make
the qaostion theological, instead of nu-
merical, and we have just the contest
about nothing, going on to-day between
modern Spirtualism and that child.like
reverence, which accepts nothing as true
and genuine that lacks the "Custom.
hous, seal, or has passed the self-con-
stituted expounders of the rule Of others
faith and conduct.
Sex NON ScRIPTA.