Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-06

special communications OF the Divine
mind st, Paul says that God "bOre wit
ness, both with signs and wonders, and
with divers miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Ghost" while in every age since
the appeal has been made to men TO tx.
anime the claims of the Scriptures al
the light of these same evidences. And
after both mind and heart have been
fully convinced OF the Divinity and au-
thoritv of the revelation, how may we
hope TO understand the messages which
il brings and the doctrines which II
teaches but bv the exercise OF reason
Other means know are needed. These
Scriptures speak to the conscience, and
therefore fully TO grasp and feel them
the conscience must be enlightened and
pure; they contain deeply spiritual
truths. and therefore TO have a full
spiritual insight into them and full re-
ceptivitv for them the whole being must
bespiritually quickened: and the conscl-
ence can be enlightened and purlhed,
and the whole being can be spiritually
quickened, only by the Holy Spirit OF
God. But the necessity of these cOndl-
tons being fulfilled does not set aside
the necessity also OF the exercise OF reas-
on. In instructing men in the very
deepest mysteries OF this truth the Holy
Spirit operates on their minds accord
ING 10 the laws OF their own being; and
one of the most fundamental laws OF
mind is that il gains clear and definite
knowledge only by the exercise OF Its
reason. The highest and most unim-
peachable authority cannot communl-
cate doctrines TO my mind unless | un-
derstand them; and | can understand
them only as | reason upon them.
And precisely the same remarks will be
appHcable 10 the Church. That she was
Organized, at least in all her broad tea-
lures, by the Apostles acting under the
immediate inspiration OF the Spirit OF
God | cannot question. She thus was
clothed in her very inCipiency with Di-
vine warrant of being and authority.
But she too, like the Scriptures, submit
ted TO the reason OF men the evidences
and proofs of her Divine authority.
Indeed, the evidences and proof
i'm the case OF the Scriptures
were precisely the same as those in the
case OF the Church, for it was into her
hand that the Scriptures were delivered,
and 10 her was given the charge OF con-
serving, defending, and teaching them.
And now that she has been so tattered
and torn, and that so many sects have
arisen. each one maintaining if possible
more resolutely and loudly than the
other that it has the strongest and clear
est proofs of ApOstOlicity and Catholi-
city. and is the most faithful representa-
tive of the one undivided primitive
Church, in such a state of affairs as this
how is a man or woman who would fam
seek refuge in the primitive Divine Or
glnism to certify to their minds and
hearts which one of all these Clamoring
sects speaks truth? Surely only by the
free exercise Of their reason in eXamln-
inc these claims at the light of Gods
word and of comparative history. And
If there are men and women who are
unable to prosecute such an eXamlna-
ton, and who because of this inability
90 astrav, and wander in by-ways where
there is no richness OF spiritual pasture
then such men and women will un-
doubtedlv suffer much loss. but then
also will the guilt OF their loss, lie at the
doors OF those who first produced and
who have since perpetuated
these bewildering and darkening
schisms i'm the once undivided and
Catholic Church. And so | would TO
God THAI every Christian organism in
the world would to-day honestly earnest
Wand prayeriully ask itselfthe searching
question: Lord, is it II"
Now the importance and necessity OF
men and women being permitted to en-
iov this free exercise OF reason might be
argued on many grounds. Su,h Il right
and privilege is necessary for instance
i'm order 10 true accountability to God To
our fellow men, and to ourselves. And
because men are accountable TO Go !, to
their fcllow-men and to themselves, there
fore should they enjoy this liberty. II
| could shift upon any powers whatever
outside of myself my accountability then
might | with some degree OF lmpunlty
Weld 10 those powers the full govern
ment and absolute control OF my whole
inner and outer life. But as | am UNI
der the most solemn obligation to appro-
pirate to mvSeli the truth of Col and to
obey His laws, therefore | must have
the right 90 exercise my best faculties
i'm discovering what that truth and those
laws are. As no one can stand be
tween me and the whitening curses OF
society ii | grossly offend 1t; as no one
can become my SubStitutiOnary sacrifice
if | crimlnallv violate the laws OF the
state: so must have the full liberty TO
secure 10 myself that moral refinement
and culture that will make me worthy
member of the former and that knowl-
edge of moral as we'll as civil law that
will qualify me for the discharge OF the
duties and the enjoyments OF the rights
and privileges Of citizenship in the latter.
And as am morally bound to cultivate
my whole complex nature-my intel
lect, nv affections, and my tastc-to the
highest degree possible, then must not
any power, let it claim authority from
what source it may, presume to hinder
the free exercise OF any OF my lawful
powers or to smother any of my lawful
instincts. If | were not, | say,
bv the laws of God, OF society,
OF the State and OF my own being
held accountable in all these spheres
of life | might yield the absolute
government OF my nature and life TO
powers outside of me, and become SIM
ply machine or rs a puppel at the end
of Il string. But rs am held thus ac-
countable. and rs no one can receive aS
nv substitute either the rewards oil
obedience or the puniShmentS for dis
obedience, so must be granted the Tree
exercise of my reason and the free use
of all the legitimate faculties OF my be-
ing.
And this liberty is necessary in order
to the spread OF struth and the pro,
rreSs of civilization. 1t has been the
great force in the production Of both
these effects in all past ages. 1t was the
exercise of free reason by the old
Greek philosophers that swept away the
many and inconsistent gods ofthc poets,
and elevated the nation nearer to 4
grasp OF the Divine unity. 1t was the
exercise OF q free reason 10y Socrates
that scattered the subtitle and frivolous
discussions Of the sophists, and brought
out from the rubbish a moral philosO-
ply lor the practical government OF the
life. Ii was the exercise of 4 free reason
i'm interpreting the word of God and
primitive history that kindled the fire
of the Reformation, and enabled the
I',..I;-I nation IN throw off the civil