New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-02

natural influence I1o TecelVcU was gwen
that He might become more truly |
natural. He was divine in order to be hui ]
man. He was made in the image Of God |
that He might be in all respects like His |
brethren-the type and example of pure hu- |
manity. In calling Christ God orthodoxy |
has attempted to give Him the highest pos
sible honor. But sometimes we say more |
by not saying SO much. The language of
enthusiastic school girls, Astounding in SUI
fectly splendid" meaning that it is rather
pretty, has not as much force as lower.
but more exact, statement. Against excur-
sive statements there is a reaction in our
minds which carries us too far the other
way. Therefore, Unitarianism has opened
the way to exalt Christ to higher position
of glory, by showing, one by one, the traits
of His human perfection. The glory of
Christ is that he has shown how man may
become Zone with God" by perfect fidel-
ity; may dwell in the bosom of the Father
by perfect trust may become King and
prophet by loyalty to the truth; may re-
ceive name above every name by making
Himself the servant of ALL and may reach
divine exaltation by a barely human obedi-
ence.
FOurth-Unitarianism fultlls the ortho-
dox view of the Bible as the Word OF God
by teaching that it is also the word OF man.
spirel bOOk-a book written by men VINO
were led by the Spirit of God. But the
Spirit of God does not check or enslave the
human reason. 1t expands and ennobles IL,
makes it more free to see the truth, more
able to say it. Divine inspiration does not
crush out reason, but v'talizes IL so tnae IL
can see the truth more clearly and entirely.
The Bible, we believe, is not book mega
lively inspired by being kept from error,
! but positively inspired by being Illuminated
with truth. 1t may have in it errors as to
the letter. errors of detail and external
| fact, but in spirit it is luminous with the
purest trutl,-truth that purites the heart,
eleyates the understanding, ennobles and
strengthens all the best part OF the soul.
Unitarianism will add to the honor of the
Bible by causing it to be better understood.
Orthodoxy has made it our teacher in
astronomy, geology and history, and SO has
placed it in opposition to nature and science.
But we declare that the Bible has higher
work than to teach how the material uni
verse began or how it will end. 1t came
from the soul to teach the soul; to show the
way to God; to fill our human life with
sweetness and strength. and to teach how
God is here, and heaven about Us now. The
Bible is to be more truly hOnored and loved
hereafter than it has ever yet been, when it
ceases to be our master and becomes our
friend; ceases to claim any infallibility, but
submission from the intellect. but touches
the conscience and melts the heart by its
human experiences. 1t will become finally,
more than ever, the word of God, by being
seen, at first, chiefly as the word of man.
tittl-Unitarianism fultills the orthodox
| idea of salvation as change, by teaching
| that it is also growth; that it is not only
crisis, but also development. Orthodoxy
| has taught Christian conversion. Cnita-
rianisn adds to that Christian culture.
| Orthodoxy calls on men to begin. Cnita
| ranism tells them to go on. Orthodoxy
! teaches great truth. but what is only half
| the truth, IN saying, Turn We, turn ye, be
converted and become new men. Chita-
| rianism adds the other half by saying,
| .'Grow up in all things into purity, honesty,
! generosity, maniiness, womanliness, free
| dom. brotherhood Orthodoxy says, I'VE
| are forgiven for Christ's sake and saved by
Him." Unitarianism adds, ''But only as
| He helps us to work out our own salvation
| and save ourselves" Salvation, according
| TO the common idea, comes to us from with
out. We teach that it can only come from
within. No man can 60 up into heaven save
he who comes down from heaven-even
| the man who is in heaven. We must be in
heaven now in order to 90 into any heaven
| hereafter. Now is the day of salvation. 1t
| is to sit now i'll heavenly places with Jesus.
The resurrection of the just is not anything
|
| now out of sin into holiness, out of time
| into eternity, out of hell into heaven.
Heaven is not anything hidden or far off,
| that we could 90 up into the SKY or over
| the sea to bring it to lis that we might hear
| it and do it, but it is in our mouth and our
! heart. Christ is now, or resurrection and
| life and, if we are risen with Him. we seek
| the things above. We love whatever Is
noble generous and tue, and that love Is
! itself our heaven.
Six.ll-Cnitarianism fulills the common
idea of the future life a place of retribu-
ton. with that of its being also place of
progress. 1t is usually taught that this life
Is a scene of probation and trial. and that
| the other world is one of reward and pun
| ishment. Unitarianism declares that retri-
| button and probation are in both worlds:
| that there is foretaste here of heaven and
| hell and that there is there, as here, pro-
| gress, experience, discipline. education.
| Orthodoxy has taught that we are to con-
| slider this world a vale Of tears, and to
think only OF the other. This is ruined
world, where we are obliged to stay, but
the sooner we leave it the happier we shall
| be. 1t is prison, to which we are SEN
| fenced: when our term is ont We shall
go from it with joy. But Cnitarianism
| has shown how little of all this is
| in the New Testament. Neither Jesus nor
| the apostles went into monasteries. or spent
| their time in talking about the other life.
| This world. its duties, it7 opportunities, its
love and beauty; its work for man: Its
phlanthropies and humanites-this is
| none other than the house OF God and the
| gate of heaven. While we SIT dreaming
! of future heaven beyond the grave, we
forget that which lies about us here We
| sing the hymn, "Who, who would live
always away from his God" and forget
that God is here, no less than there that
we are not away from God unless we choose
| to 90 away; that if we are pure in heart we
see God now, and that only the pure in
| heart can see Him hereafter Cnitarianism
adds to the half truth Of going into Gods
| future kingdom the other half, which con-
sists in working, and praying that Gods
kingdom may come and His will be done ON
earth and in time.
| Observation-Disclosures fulfils the ortho-
dox doctrine of Holy Spirit, which comes
and goes. with that of an indweliing love,
working always in every heart open to le-
ceive it The common doctrine of Di-
vine influence is that it comes and goes
according to Divine will. We add to this
the truth that the Divine will works accord
ing to steadfast, unchanging laws. When
we are ready to be saved God is ready to
save us. All the willtulness, all the change
ableness is on our side; none on that of
God. As the air, which rests on the earth,
is always pressing on it, and is ready to
flow into every open space, so the Divine
Word is always surrounding all souls,
ready to flow into them and give them
peace. We do not feel the inward pressure
OF the atmosphere, SO perfectly maintained
Is the equilibrium. We do not feel the
steady influence of the Holy Spirit, SO calm,
serene, regular is its circumtiuent tide of