New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-09
-...sov Y.rRt. AND TIE TlIEoLoGIes.

- ~. ,ov 10 a more direct comparison Of the
r",,ss,s, With Mature ard Reason. ln the fret
n,ch Theology mskes most Of Ns.uref Thai
fsssss ,snos.s upon the physical universe, only
Jul, spd star. ard earth 2" Or that which, in add
.b;s .skes in, for lie da:s the spiritual universe
.tsvse' That which e1sl:s the physical over The
tu.I IL it concludes 10 have any spIritusl OF that
.eh e1al.s the spiritual above the physical the un-
.r Ard eternal over the and temporal
In he second place, which makes most Of godhke
,.uss bs.urel" Tha. which finds no difficulty IN be-
.,;ns tha. the Deity could become ncarnste! "
az. shch reec:s the idea incredible or impossible
ms. which assures man Of immortal existence
IN tbs. which carpot assure him tina; he snail exist
.,,.her moment 1ha. which finds use for only one
.ns human fscultiee-" retiocinstion or tina,
,kcb employs the whole of them That winch dis-
redi.s OF that which predicts the resurrection OF the
,:dy like unto ChIst's glorious body y Thai when
kmmoDs an assembled universe 70 vtness tne Juaicsi
LIE In .he body" or tia. which says, the statement
IL. ppzzle 20 common sense" Thst which regards
man responsibilities involving eternal destines,
NJ good or evil or that which scous the idea
AZ which regards every man the purchase of an
Tenancy blood, and invites each 70 become tenn
- ~ the Holy Christ % Or that which cannot tell
siether the grave is IN eternal seep-whether either
Jssas HE disciples exist after deathWhether al me
gecessye generations Of not passing into OBJ
fysn-whether HUMANITY ITSELF will not become
utipc. apd be foYg often
In the third place which Of the Theologes makes
EOS; Of Reason, whether defined as "rsocinahon and
Reason in Religion What, but to ascertain and
xach TTuth-to detect and e1pose Error?
The value Of Reasoa then, in religion IL proportion
.e to the Importance OF Irnn IN religion Inc Inc
Ard belief of Religious Truth, as vital element 10
mans religion insists most strenuousy upon the im-
por;arce OF Reason al finds most use Tor It, unless IL
tbjaIes Reason altogether. On the other nand, the
Theology tina, insists least al all on an aecu.
ate knowledge of Religious Truth, makes least OF
Reason, and has least occasion for its exercise.
Whist are the facts What Theology is II, that
assts most on the importance of correct religious
locrpes-thst most earnestly argues TO prove its own
doctrines, and liz most blamed Tor DONG 30 llhe
doctrines principles, or truth, OF the true region are
one and the came thingl Which Theology has cniehy
furnished the master minds that have most profoundly
explored the field Of theological philosophical meta
physical and Biblical investigation, TO learn and tesch,
BY logical argument the truths OF religion, with seen
rdeuIed derded and hated for this and stigmatized
"A narrow minded, bgoted and intoierant, merely pc
cause having thoroughly investigated then snDec,s,
ana sscertained, as they confidently believed, the
Trutb, have honestly and argumen'atively tsagni ~
Welding up their beliefs in difference TO those VINO
have planned themselves upon having never troubled
heir heads with tuch Investigations Answer me
tbs and will tell you what Theology and what class
Of Taeo,opians have made most OF Reason in Religion,
and have best promoted the true Religion OF Nature
and Reason"-even it be the Religion OF " the precious
Bible" without mutilation.
On the other hand, which Of the TheolOgies and
what class of TheoOgisns have occupied the opposite
s;on have represented doctrines as being OF little
or no Importance in religion have assumed that doc
tIines can have little or no influence upon prachce
have themselves cultivated the beuestres 10 the neg
leet of metaphyscal and doctrinal theology have
sosht their disciples to pay little or no attention 70
matters of abstract belief have repudated the idea
Of any dOctrpa basis for religion, or tor rehgious Tel
lowshp have promoted the spread OF their own rem
eous sentiments less by argumentative calculation
81 them, by the teaching OF any systematic theology
tia by furnishing their congregations with literary en-
tertsiIments, thus withdrawing then attention from
theological inquiries Tor ths, when it adventures
ITO polemics, relies more carcature, and appeals
to passion and prejudice than upon calm logical rea
soning'
II you can tell me which of the Theoogies, with its
teachers may be thus described, will tell you which
a; them have as matter Of fact however bOastin OF
embracing all enlightened and broad-minded men"
ard Of being the only rational Christians made
least or almost nothing at ALL of the value OF Reason
in Religion. Whenever j meet with dsparaging re-
marks OF metaphysical doctrines" and Of "self-com-
plseent logic" (even in discourse commencing
1.-THE Religion of Reason 1 cannot help inquning
whether the writer has not cone in contact with logic
md a philosophy that bis "ratiocination breads TO
encounter. From some cause, the opposition to or.
thodo1y" has developed a peculiar literature, not
more rema for s boasts OF superior reason tnah
for it's sneers at metaphysical reasoning
Ton concerning the soul of man, concerning God and
yon have tried with the usual success, the power of
rsocnstion against some OF the orthodox
themseves have escaped you. For fifty years have
locked in vain for writer or taker against orhooo1y,
who could tell correctly what IS orthodoxy You seem
o suppoee the doctrine of the AtOnement to be that
God 20 hated the world that an aonement was neces
gary Whereas the authentic creed runs zoo 80
IorSd the world that" he provided 1t. just SUP,
s.itute loved for hated and You have 1t exactly ana
by the change your ground Of objection removed.
You seem 10 understand the doctrine to be that " SUI
feIipgs were inflicted upon an innocent person
and the implication seems to be tnat IL was no' WI
un.sry act on his part; whereas the stalemen., o
MS own lips is "The bread that l give Is my nesh
(Which will give for the life of the world lay
down nv life that l might take 1t again. NO mao
"taketh my life from me, but 1 lay 1t down myself.
For this is my blood Of the New s ns arn
ssaip the correct version of the creed removes the
objection. / know not whether you Will thihk tnat
Jesus mlsapprehended" this matter, as You think ne
did some Others. know not how your "ratloclnauon
can assure YOU that he did not "nsapprehend in the
greater part of his teachings l only ask you 10 re-
ceiye as authentic, his version OF the doctrine OF
s.onsment You understand the doctrine to involve
stransference of character, whereas the aathehuc
creed resds; He suffered, the just for the unjust
Peter See also Emmons, aud kindred modern
Wrters.) ..uo,
orthodox who have stated these matters in the hight SO
revolving TO your reason be pleased to notice that In
doing CO. they have departed from the inspired
creed Of orthodoxy its perfect rule OF faith ana prac
tee and in so doing must have fallen INTO tne un
orthodox folly of setting up their own reason against
The Word of God-a caution to them and to yourself
You see in this how the least departure from the Bible
proves to be departure from reason. ,..-;. e
So AGAIN Won suppose the orthodox doctrine oi
endless punishment TO be that "men OF the lovenesi
characters are sent to perdton; whereas the creed
i, that the wicked only shall 20 away into everasi
ing punishment" marvel tho, you could have MADE
ouch blunder. ,,re. >,
You argue, from " another and probably higher HE,
tina, death is blessing, and therefore not penalty