The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-01-22
Henry ward Reecher's Answer To
-.

Henry ward Heecher's Answer To
/ the Charge Of Parkerism.
| A number Of the newspapers, more espe-
cially devoted to the conservation OF a sound
theology, have expressed grave doubts Of the
evangelical views and sympathies of Henry
Ward Beecher. That distinguished and
powerful s'preacher Of righteousness hus
responded to the direct allegation that he had
aouted the doctrine of ''total depravity" and
given aid and countenance to Parkerism in a
lecture delivered by him in Boston. This re-
spouse is published in the Independent, in
two articles occupying several pages OF that
journal, and we regret that our space will
only admit OF the transfer OF the following
extracts.
He denies that he used the phrase "total
iepravity" in any opprobius sense on that
occasion, but does not hesitate nop to say
that he regards it rs a most unfortunate term,
and one that requires explanation, and the
explanation always shows the depravity spo-
ken Of is not total, for in the popular ap-
prehension, total depravity signifies degree
Of wick edness that cannot be increased.
But on the other hand. we do believe with
continual sorrow of heart and daily over
flowing evidence, In the deep sinfulness Of
universal man. And we believe in the ex-
ceeding sinfulncss of sin. We do not believe
that any man is born who is sinless, or who
becomes perfectly sinless until death. We
believe that there is not one faculty Of the
| 81 4
repeatedly, that the whole human character
is sinful before Gods law. We believe mans
sinfulness to be such that every man that ev-
er lived needed Gods forbearance and free
forgiveness. We believe that no man lives
who does not need to repent Of sin, to turn
from ii; and we believe that turning from
| ain 10 a work so deep, and touches so closely
the very springs of being, that no man will
ever change except by the help Of God. And
we believe that such help is the direct and
personal outreaching Of Gods Spirit upon
the human soul; and when by such divine
help men begin to live aspiritual life, we be-
lieve tho change to have been so great that it
is fifty called beginning of life over again,
new creation, new birth.
If there is one thing that we believe above
oil others, upon proof from consciousness
and proof from observation and experience,
it is the sinfulness of man. Nor do we be-
lieve that any man ever doubted eur belief
who sat for two months under our preach
ing. Nothing strikes US as so peculiarly alb
surd as charge or fear that we do not ade-
qnately believe in mans sinfulness. The
steady bearing Of our preaching on this sub
jcct is such as to pillow up soil and subsoil,
and to convict and to convince men Of their
need of Christ's redemption.
But our belief Of this sad truth is purely
practical. We have no sympathy with those
theologians who use Time as grand alley
and roll their speculations six thousand
years, knocking down and setting up the race,
in the various chances OF this gigantic theo
logic game, what is the origin and nature
Of sin? Poor Adam To have lost Para
disc was enough. But to be shadow end
| lessy pursued through all time by furious
and fighting theologies--t this is punishment
never threatened. Or, was the flaming
sword Of the angel q mere type and symbol
of theological zeal, standing between men
and Paradise for evermore. We take men
as we find them. We DO not 90 back to Ad-
am or the fall to fnd materials for theories
and PHILOSOPHERS. There is the human heart
| right before my eyes, every day throbbing,
| throbbing, throbbing Sin is not a specula-
/ ton, but "a reality. Ii is not an idea, u spec
uative truth, but an awful fact, that dark
| ems life, and weighs down the human heart
with continual misehiefs. It's nature never
will be found in the Past. IL must be sought
/ in the Present.
1 But while giving this brief glance at Mr..
4 Beecher's views upon this long vexed ques-
tion of theology, we desire more particularly
| to direct the attention Of our readers to the
practical views so eloquently stated by him,
in relation to the great life mission Of doing
good.
! But the Examiner thinks that the success
Of this course Of lectures will "refect GER
tain lustre upon the Twenty-eights Congre-
gational Society, and upon the man whose
tnfdelity is it's pervading spirit" Well, what
then2 Are we to punish an infdel for his
infdelty BY refusing him oil credit for per.
sonal goodness, for active beneyoience, for
practical humanity
! Ii anybody does right he ought to be ap.
plauded. Ii Parker does well, he deserve s
the credit for well doing. II the young men
Of bis charge do well, they deserve all the
| ''lnstre" Of it. Or shall we take ground that
no man who is not Of sound orthodox faith
is 10 have any "lustre" for practical virtuesl
Must nobody be counted officially right until
he is theologically sound2 Such doctrine
would be monstrons! Every just and gener-
oas man in the community ought to rejoice
in the good conduct Of every man, without
regard to his speculative views or theological
afhnities
II man institutes temperance movement,
must refuse to help him because, being
Universaist minister, his zeal and fidelity in
that cause would "retiect lustreo upon him
In his sectr II man would establish and
endow hospital, must | refuse to co-work
with him because being Unitarian, it's suo-
cess would reflect certain lustre upon that
faith ?
I When, in the pestilsnce in New Orleans.
the Sisters Of Charity did not count their
lives dear to them, but night and day, fear
less Of death and defiant Of fatigue, gave their
utmost being to the care Of the miserable
sick, must /, u Protestant, refuse Admiration
or fellowship for fear sscertsin lustre''
would shine upon the Roman Catholic
Church
If jew does nobly he deserves the lustre
which right. doing ought to confer il an athe-
st or an inidel live virtuously and act honor.
ably, he should have the ''lustreo belonging
to virtue and honar.