, 1877-03-31
The Tendencies OF Present ZEE.
iigious Things.

Thought, to distinguish the issue upon
which men are divided as conservatives
or liberals, and to indicate the general
drift Of opinion. One Of the characters
tics OF modern thought, proceeding s it
does from n study OF facts, is the diff
Guilty of definitions Sect and party
lines seem hopelcssIy confused Two con
flictng tendencies, however, flow side ly
side: : the progressive or liberal, and
she stationary or conservative. The dit
ference between them is not essentially
in object or spirit or opinions or meth.
ods, but in point OF view. The liberal
sees things with an eye to his object,
aud makes means simply auxiliary. The
conservative secs means, prrcedrnts and
authority as primary, the objects AS sec
ondary. The two tendencies run through
human nature, and mutually checking
each other work out progress. In relig'
iCn more than ever before people are
united in their general purpose. 1t is
the bringing mankind into harmony
with God. Their apparent differences
upon the question Of the supernatural
are largely MISUNDERSTANDING of ln-
guage. Their Theological disagrerments
are surprisingly indistinct. They believe
in the same general elements oi a relig-
ious life, such rs love, reverence and
obedience to law. Still, everywhere you
lind our two great tendencies. Several
conditions will define the liberal posi-
tion.
~ The supreme purpose is divine
character The liberal does not insist
upon any special means or scheme Of sal
vation. Much less does he seek, first.
clearance from any supposed penalty and
character afterwards.
(2.) The sole standard ofjudgment is
character. Men arc iudged as had not
by any conventional test Of belief or cx-
perience, except SO far as their he(iets
and experiences go to make character
nor by their 'Hccepfance of Christ only
rs they become really like Christ nor
by any act or choice except 30 far as 1t
represents genuine character.
(3) The spinit or tempter demanded
is love.
(4.) The authority upon which the
liberal relics is the study Of facts, using
the word facts in its hroadest sense. The
whole study of theology thus undergoes
radical change. Instead of beginning
with hypothesis and proof texts, and
proceeding to reconcile facts, it now,
like every other science, begins with
facts wherever found and requires theo-
ries to conform.
(5.) Religious faith must I've rational;
as though by divine compulsion the
mind questions, doubts, and, If need be,
waits till it is able finally to rest in the
unity of truth.
f6.) Religious belief 10 real only as it
comes TO depend on each mans own ex
perience; i. e., because truths commend
themselves.
az Truths, convictions, facts, theo-
Eies, methods ordinance arc relatively
important according to the bearing
which they have upon character
(s) The future OF religion is free, he.
ing necessarily directed sad inspired, but
never bound by tho past Past facts are
good for their lessons, precodents for the
principles which they cover, authorities
for the eternal truths to which they
point.
o. Absolute truth lies always before
and not behind. 10 short, a past iufalli-
bility and comp,eted revelation seems
in the nature of things nuplilosophical,
and contrary to the facts.
If this liberal confession of faith is
widely inclusive, IL is all the better. It
would be hard to believe that in all
creeds and religions, men would not be
found to agree with it. Even the last
article when uudesstood and clearly
faced would probably command extern
sive assent.
The applications OF these principles
may readily he illustrated. The liberal
hal;nuna In Lhn p;hIn k.r AhnA ~ hiHh TIM