Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-08-03
PROGRESS OF THOUGHT IN THE
CHTRCH.

oplnlon christians are escaping from
the era of superstition and credulity.
Experience and reason are combining
to overthrow beliefs. s'Little by
little" says that gentleman, .sthe
pulpit shrinks from medieval theol-
ogy. Ministers first gloss it by new
interpretations, then prudently hold
1t in suspense, then doubt it, and then
cast it away
At the head of the influences pro-
ducing such results, Mr.. Beecher
places the doctrines of 1.-The Conser-
vation of Forces" and of ssEvolu-
tion,' both of which he is certain are
satisfactorily established.
At length, says he, 1.-The flood of
ignorance has abated, and the dove
of truth has solid ground on which to
put its foot. The study of the human
mind from the side of physics, as
well as metaphysics, is productive of
changes of the most radical and i'm
portant kind. The two first chapters
Of Genesis have been sword in the
hands of theologues of old with which
to fight the discoveries of modern
astronomy. Next they were sharpen
ed against the advent of geology.
Now again, but on more tremendous
issue, theology resists evolution. 1t
is an honest resistance. To admit
the truth of evolution, is to yield up
the reigning theology. 1t is to
change the whole notion of mans
origin, his nature, the problem of
human life, the theory of sin, the
structure of moral government as
taught in the dominant theologies of
the christian world, the fall of man
in Adam, the doctrine of original sin,
, the nature of sin and the method of
atoning for it,
Again: Theology has manly re-
garded the revelation in scriptural
record as sole and conclusive. To
lean on ones reason has been de-
| clared to be snare. Has God done
nothing for two thousand years
That God speaks through the Script
ures is not denied. But when by their
use men have grown to larger reason,
higher morality, deeper spirituality
to wisdom of life unknown to an
tiquity, is the revelation of God
| through this advanced and purified
nature of man unworthy to be con-
current with the old and to give to il
clearer and more rational interpre-
tation? The Scriptures have authority
only concurrently with educated hui
man reason and rational moral sense
On any other supposition, the church
becomes temple, the Bible an lido
and priests and theologians the des'
|potic interpreters Of its meanings
There is also ian effusion of ten
derness toward man, and espe cially s
revulsion from the old representations
of eternal torment, so important il
the convictions of energetic priests
and flaming revivalists. From sucf
. medieval horror, all christian mer
should fly toward the rising revelation
: in science of Gods true work in ere
! alton, with thanksgiving and gladness
Even if the truth of evolution led t.
unbelief, 1t could not be so bad a
that impious and malignant represen
: tation of God and His government
). which underlies allmedavels and mos
of modern theologies, the most as
founding part of which is that God
when He had created innocence AM
:. inexpcrience, permitted it to be Gle
r bauched, and went ON to transmit t
!, the whole of the human race, throug
all time, the degradation, sin an
r suffering of the divinely destroye
I. e1perimentalists Instead, then, o
: dreading the prevalence CT this scien
o tific doctrine, christian men shoul
; rush to it, as release from the hide
:, Gus nightmare of the ages. We ar
. taught by theology that God planne
:, corruption; that it has been His busi
e ness for ten thousand years to pre-
duce infinite sin and suffering; tina
e there was distinct purpose i'll God
i. that this world should produce in
: Vulnerable wretched souls, whose 81
II resulted from the condition of thei
r. creation, for whom no remedy wa
&c attempted, who were made with th
distinct and avowed purpose of ful
nishing material for another and afte
/. world, designed and built for the pul
!. pose of torment endless, and increas
# ing forever.
u We have long known there wcl
i tendencies and infuencies, such s
!. have been set forth by Mr.. Beechel
7, at work in various sections, and eve
.e congregations, especially in some {
puritan origin, and in large cite
T among the rich and infidel. Ha
Mr.. Beecher, therefore, raised no,
: of warning. against them, we shoul
Y not have demured. We are amazet
u however, at his advocacy of then
:. and were he as young and infiuenti'
i as he has been, should greatly fes
the results of his teachings. I As it II
we are satisfied he cannot injure r,
i ligion more by his writings than hs
8 been done by his acts.