The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-26
u NIT RAMS M.
Sermon by Dr.. Freeman Clarke at the
Church Of the Messiah.
A DEFINITION OF UNITARIAN1sm
Man Is Saved by Keeping a Con-
science Void of offence.


Unitarian sect, preached a sermon that may be de-
signated with great truthfuness as the Unitarian
platform. AS 1t was preached for q SPECIFIC pur-
pose-namely, Of putting before the religious
world clear and concise statement OF the belief OF
this Sect by an authority whose praise and whose
steadfastness to the principles OF this sect Ia
echoed In all the Unitarian cnurches-we have given
II q more tnan sual prominence.
DR.. Clarke selected his text from the nth chapter
OF the Gospel Of st. Matthew, and the seventeenth
verse-"I am not come to destroy the law, but to
fulfil"
IL is often asked "what do Unitarians believes"-
and propose to answer the question this morning.
shall dwell on positive side OF their belief not
the negative. People sometimes say. "You tell US
what you DO not believe but we wish to know what
you do believe" The question is fair one.
system Of mere negative Is not religion, and can
not take the place OF the most imperfect religion.
Criticism Is not religion.
We must remember, however. that system Is
not necessarily negative because it looks so and Is
called 3d. Christianity at first looked very mega
tive the jews 1t put an end to the solemn rites
and awful forms OF Jewish worship-to the daily
sacrifices, the priesthood, public prayers, public
worship In all its forms. The Psalms OF DAVID,
which had been chanted in alternate strains for
1000 years. were to be heard no more. The Sab.
bath was to end. having been kept sacred from the
time Of Moses. Christianity knew no temple, no
altar, no priesthood, sacrifices, great feasts,
IL was to destroy sacred seasons. sacred places,
acred persons, sacred things. Was not thai q
system OF negauonsa II must have seemed so.
r Jesus says c am aas no. cGme 70 9essae eus 70
stance OF the religion. It's essential truth, would re-
main and be taken up into somethlng higher iui'
WHAT JESUS SAID
we can also say. Unitarlanlsm has not come to de-
but more not to give US less faith in Christ, but
more not to make SIN appear less odous but
Bible, but to add to 1t not to make believe less
in prayer, out to believe In 1t more fully
mot 1 e Dn mSre
80. Let us see now TINS ls or may De:
Oee IN coa & tn az es
God as one divine Person, and renylne the mysse-
rious doctrine OF the Trinity, 1t brings the Deity
nearer to the human mind and heart. Unitarian
Ism teaches that God is o Father. needing no pro-
piLatiOn, atOuement, no sacrihce In order TO be
be able TO forgive HIS penltent child. 1t teaches
that He is not only above the world as its Creator
she air ano sunshine in the MOWERS and stars, IN
history and providence, In the reason and con-
for His pleasure, but for our own prod.
selecting some Of HIS Children to be saved and ieav.
ing rest to be lost put Of one whose love, ike
whose divine decree 49, that not any should perish
wholly and forever. 1t teaches that He Is not .
dences to reward or punish, but one ali Of whose
ways are Tor good and who never leaves Himself
e aod Is the world
as their support ,h in our lives .,, as their
ton, In our hearts as perpetual friend.
lSecond-Unltarlanlsm fulhls the orthodox idea or
man sinner by showing that ne mas III MIN also
the capacity for all goodness and holiness. IL does
not deny sniuness OF sin. 1t teaches that stn
not only the to hell, but that 1t nell itself;
that seshness Is hell; that falsehood Is hell thas
80 long as we 1--we away from goodness and God we
But besides sin it sees In man something higher
and better 1t declares That he Is the child OF GOD,
with the spark OF divine life in his SOUL that con.
reason Is light OF God in his understandings that
EVERY THROB OF LOVE
In his soul. it teaches thar he is free
Orthodoxy has seen only haif the truth concerning
| man. 1t has seen the dark side OF his lie, which
allies him to EARTH sense and evil 1t has failed to
the other. II supposes God Is most honOred when
man Is most Inundated. Its piety has consisted IN
dnst. and crying, "Unclean, uncean p But DO we
| honor great artist by depreclating his work.
U an
speak, would they honor their creators oy declaring
without beauty Or Ma say IN
great artist, but all thy works are mean and con-
tempribIeY'' We are the Workmanship Of Goa, and
| His highest and best works. the crown OF HIS whole
creation II we are utter failures can God be q
| great artstS Mat we have made OF ourselves IL
low enough. poor enough; but what God mas
made within us and intends 70 make OF
| us is something moro glorious than the
summer noon, with all It's charm OF early birds, and
herD. tree ndnower, fragrant ana gtterng In their
This truth Unitariansm had added to the truth OF
orthodoxy 1t mas not yet FULLY seen or stated It;
| made known the: half-rutn OF orthodoxy wiz be
changed the whole truth OF Christianity. Then
GRADES and darRens this wonderful creation Of God
the majesuc soul OF man. Then 1t Will appear that
the future punishment Of sin Is not the great evil TO
from God and puts death into the soul instead OF
| life darkens that inward light By which the
thieves that human heart which God made
| to be His noblest temple, His house Of prayer.
thing good IN man, ana declares that even when he
| chooses the way and goes into outer darkness
Inc sense Of Something better ana the desire for it.
so It fuils the doctrine OF human SIN, BY teacnine
also the doctrine Of human grandeur ana ne
| is sill tue child OF God and mas In MIN the seous
and germs Of q majestic futnre, orsbodor ,oea NJ
Christ as divine beng with the conviction q As
face and perfect humanity or pun In ali 4:
teacnna me spendor OF the Godbead has hidden
| the manhood. But Unltarianlsm teaones snas sne
H Hn vas " not a human God, but divine man,
made m ali respects ike HIS oretnrenour brother.
iIis Greatness shows greatness Oh our nature.
s ~ 1n somctning exceptional and miraculous, but
n,an,festatiOn or the sons OF God In the Son OF
| Cod it shows that what CHRIST was we shall
| oil necome that lie Is In truth the Mediator who
receives glory, beauty and power only TO impart 1t;
VINO says, "ihe glory Tnou gavest Me nave gwen
,ha,n - He Is the most entirely human OF all human
he,ngs He 10 the truest man the world has ever
| seen. He IS -. -
| ~ OUR MODEL OF HUMAN NATURE,
that we may all grow into Ills likeness aud fulness
and come TO the stature OF perfect man In Christ
| Jesus. All the supernatural influence lie received
| was gwen that lie might become more truly
| natural. He was divine IN order TO lie human.
| lie was made In the image OF God that
| lie might be IN all respects ike HIS brethren
| the ype and example OF pure humanity
| In calling Christ Cod orthodoxy has attempted to
| give Him the highest possible honor. But some.
times we say more by not saying so much. The Ian
puage OF enthusiastic school girls, Astounding in
| superatves, winch declares thing perfectly
splendtd'' meaning that II Is rather pretty--ha9
| not as much force as lower but more exact state
| ment Against exclusive statements there rs q re-