The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-08-24

THE first article in the North Amer-
ican i,eview for August, was written
by Henry Ward Beecher, and
is headed Progress Of Thought in
the Church" 1t is remarkable pro-
duction, and if it had been written by
wording, would be called rank inf
deity. For instance, he says:
1t is in this way that the pulpit is changing its
becomes Of DEGREES Of Election and of Reprobation
audience of fathers and mothers understand what
Fatherhood is. No ingenuity or eoquence can per-
suade them that God, who for ten thousand years
has abored to produce infinite population damn
able souls, can with decency be called Father.
The common sense, the humanity, the
moral sense which have grown out of the Gospel
judging theology Little by little the pulpit shrinks
from medieval theology. Ministers first gloss it by
interpretations then they prudently hold 1t In
suspense, then doubt 1t, then cast 1t away.
And further on he says:
Much Of what is called infdelity is from the
errors of old theology. The Church, the Bible, the
Creed, have been confounded with Religion. Relig-
ion is the state of mans SOUL 1t is disposition and
conduct. Neither church, book, nor theology Is of
value except as educating Instrument. They have
NO sacredness Of their own. They mere servants.
ty, has an inherent sanctity. But the popular i'm
preston has been assiduously cultivated that
falls into indelity who longer accepts the reign
ing creeds, matter how just how pure how benef-
cent his life may be- Heresy is dissent from reign
Ing creed Courts and councils have again and again
decided that heresy is substantial ostracism. Men
may be proud, selfseekers, worldly, sef-indulgent
thus denying, in practical forms, every principle
Of Christian life, and yet be orthodox and of relative
good standing; but sanity life dissenting from
barbaric creed, is not worthy of sympathy or MEM
bership In the church.
Our is not in rebellion against clear, inteec-
tual statements Of religious truth. But there is
belion against medieval creeds 1t is not extrava-
giant to that revolution Is hand in regard to
the whole philosophy of Christianity, and that this
revolution is led not from restless impatience
restraint, nor by novelty, by worldly spirit
by the deepest moral consciousness of men who love
hood above all measure.
The signs are in the air. Men no longer preach
doctrines to which they swore in their ordination
vows-or they give to them meanings at variance
with historic fact 1t is beginning to be permitted
men to preach their own view Of truth unclpped by
creeds Sagacious and cautious are quietly SOW
ing seed which they know will by by DESTROY old
notions. Other testify to change by greater zeal
in teaching the old symbols of doctrine Every age
has a race who elect themselves to the care of
other mems beliefs who appoint themselves Gods
sherifs to hunt and run down heretics. They are
very busy Men ceasng to employ creeds as lines
of separation between sect and sect, and shaking
hands In higher fellowship over and across them.
Creeds have ceased to be employed
of piety. Orthodoxy confesses that truth no
longer be kept in church seminary by creeds, but
only by living faith.
We will publish the concluding
portion Of this remarkable article
next week.