The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-06-09
Sentiment and Reason

"The heart" says Mr.. Beecher, "is
mightier than the head sentiment
is more important than reason, or
than science. We are living in an
age when there is great deal of
reason and of ressoning-thank God
for it; a great deal of talking of the
exact forms of physical science
thank God for that. L am as glad
that we are getting knowledge out
of rocks and their strata as Moses
was when he got water out of the
rock. He got it by the rod; we get
our knowledge by the hammer.
There is an impression, and especial
ly among the young, that reason is
safer guide than sentiment, but
that is an error. AS a philosopher
was walking up the Alps in the
light of glorious sunset his COM
panion SAID, Can you look upon such
scene as this and not feel that
there is a Godp And he replied,
81 feel it as much as you do, but If
you undertake to reduce 1T to 9
scientific fact, / cannot understand
It," AS matter ofsentiment he be-
iieved in God, but as a matter of
science he did not know. There is
a feeling creeping into all classes of
the eOmmunity-among lawyers who
have time between their briefs to
read, among literary men, among
editors and reporters who think
they know so much of everything
that there is a time to come when
religion shall he scientific when ev-
cry single data shall be attainable,
and that when we have q more per-
feet knowledge, religion will be in a
much safer condition; that then 1T
will be rational, while now it is
| largely empiric; and so it is,
but so is everything empiric.
If the babe would not suck
its mothers bosom till it knew what
the effect would be, we should have
very few babes; but they do it and
are satisfied, and do it again, al
though they do not know the reason
of it. There are two influences, one
sentiment and the other reason, and
| the question is constantly coming
up, which of these should lead ;
which is made authoritative, especi-
ally in matters of religion; which
ought men to trust and rely on
Both, 1 say; the reason is vitaliZed
by emotion; and emotion is assisted
by the reason. But if you separate
\ them which is the more important
1t is a divorce that never should
take place, but if it does, emotion is
the more important. In regard to the
lower forms, the reason is the
\ better interpreted; but when
4 you come to the highest
emotion is the truest guide
You never by any reason in the
world could ascertain what love
was. Who shall analyze it2 What
scale will weigh it? What is the
test that will tell whether it be gold
or copper washed? What is the
evidence of love buC loving? Moth
ing else and no man can approach
it IN any other way. The reason
itself cannot tell it; it can only des.
cribe the experiences that have been
in the way of loving. Reason
throughout the world, and especially
in the domain of science, has been
recognized as sn unsafe guide; and
everywhere throughout the world
sentiment has been shown tC
be safer. The sentiment of honor
keeps many men right who without
it would go astray. Hear what the
Word of God says, you who are
Wanting about reason, reason, rea'
son, till you reason yourselves out
of reason. Hear what the Word OF
God says: Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and
all thy strength and if there be
men who have been ashore ON the
sand-bar of infideaity, let them un-
derstand that the munitions of the
heart--the feelings-are better guides
| than the reason, but if that also be
added to these, SO that we know
what we believe and why we be-
lieve, all the better. The reason that
has been sanctified by the heart is
4 the best" -...... 10