The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-31
Mr.. Greeley's Religions Faith.

| a week or TWO ago, Mr. Naltcf Ma
gonigle, writing from Pittsburgh to the
Golden Age concerning Mr.. Greeley's con.
tribution to this paper entitled "Reason In
Religion" hoped that the author would,
in a subsequent article, explain more fully
his views Of the rank and function Of Je-
sus Chrtst-or, In other words, that Mr.
Greeley would state definitely whether or
not he held "the orthodox and evangelical
notion Of Christ's. divinity, as contradistin-
guishel from the Unitarian view Of his hu-
manity." Mr.. Magonigle, who wrote from
the extreme orthodox point Of view, said,
ITO me the most interesting OF the many
problems connected with the Christian re.
liglon, is the early but still current ques.
ton, What think ye Of Christi" Andhe
added, 1.-THE answer which Mr.. Greeley,
or any other great man, would give to this
question would awaken lively interest in
my mind" Wetake for granted that not
only Mr.. MagoniGle, but many other per.
sons, will read the following statement by
Mr.. Greeley concerning certain pointS Of
his religious faith:
To the Editor Of the Golden Age:
Sir II regret that my statement of re.
ligious faith in your first issue proves IN.
satisfactory to one Of your correspondents
One Of his strangest objections 10 it seems
10 be the fact that "a free religionlst oil
the Concord type" proiessed a willingness
to accept II. Let us see II that objection
may not be overcome:
Iststed that regarded Jesus Of Naza-
reth rs Son Of God and Savior of man.
kind" Mr.. Magonigle demuH to this
that il "leaves untouched the. great
problem whether, in being man, he was
or was not also more than a man." That
difficulty did not previously occur to my
mind. 1 certainly meant, In making my
statement, 10 set forth my belief that
"the Son Of God" was more than
man, though less than the sslf.exisLent
Author. of the universe.
II use terms that are GquiVocal and
ambiguous, the Evangelists have misled
me. When Jesus asked his disciples
"Whom do you say that am? Simon
Peter answering, said, Thou art Christ
the Son Of the Living God" Whereupon
Jesus blessed Peter, because flesh and
blood hath not revealed 1t to the, but my
Father who is In heaven. Matt. xvi. 15-
~ John declares that his Gospel Is
written, "that you may believe that Jesus
Is the Christ, the Son Of Col, and that, be-
lieviDg, you may have life in His name"
John Xx. 3l) And Phillip, when asked
to make profession Of his faith, said, II
believe that Jesus Christ Is tho Son OF
God" (Acts viii. 87) and WIS thereupon
received into the primitive church, l
think later Christians have erred in at.
tempting TO make better creed thnn this
which satisfied Peter, John, and Phillip,
and was especially approved and blessed
by Jesus himself. (Matt. xvi. 17-2O)
l decline 10 elaborate this creed, which
seems to inc to be too simple to need elu.
cldatiOn, and too clear to Justify II charge
Of ambiguity, since Jesus and his Apostles
approved II. must deem 1t sufficient,
even though il should not satisfy Mr..
AIagonigle. | wish neither 10 add nor
subtract, and no document ever seemed to
me 10 stand less In need OF glossary.
To my mind, 1t very plainly aiIlrms that
Jesus is less than God, yet more than
man and, so far from regrpttlng that
may be deemed unable TO show precisely
why and how he is 50, I rest content with
what Is revealed until it shall please God
to reveal more.
Mr.. Magonigle seems fit to say that
t"Mr. Greeley docs not believe in the Or
thodox doctrine Of future punishment.
So much the worse for that doctrine. /
believe in the Bible doctrine Of future
punishment; and whllC am aware that
many passages Of Scripture, often quoted
as teaching that doctrine, refer to events
occurring in this world, hold that pun.
ishment for the sins Of this life may and
oNen does extend into the world beyond
the grave. In iaCt, | believe that Gods
government is and must be "the same
yesterday, to-day and forever" and that,
wherever sin has existed, does exist, or
shall exist, there will punishment be In
inflicted. And, as many close this life
impenitent, and STEPPED in sin, cannot
doubt that they receive punishment in n
future state Of being. Yours,
HORACE GREELEY.
NetO York, March 90, 1871.