The Portland daily press., 1884-10-08
Maine UnitarIau Co.eerer..

Ihe Unitarian Conference opened last even
ing in the First Parish church. After an an.
them by the choir. DIR. Hill read tho Scriptures
and offered prayer. DIR. Peabody took for his
text part of the closing verse OF Corinthians.
XIV. viz: Therefore"
This chapter is one of the most sublime
| rhetoric, but also one of closest logic. From
the grand doctrine of immortal life Paul de.
daces the necessity Of righteousness. Doctrine
il OF no practical value unless il lsads to oo,d
works; and on the other hand, moralitv lacks
authority and binding force unless ii ia backed
up by therefore" leading from RELIGIONS
truth. The grandest oil all evidences for the
truth OF Christianity is the beneficent work
Whlch IL mas wrought on human morals. What
was IT IN this religion which did this work
Certainly not the merely ritual part. Bnt
Just as certainly every truth concerning the
attributes OF God has its therefore" binding
on human character. On the other hand. doc
trines concerning the nature or mode of Divine
existence are without direct value But the
attributes of God are chiefly known as re-.
veaied by Christ. 1t is through His mani
Hesitation OF His Father that He exerts His
greatest power over man. This MANIFESTATION
OF God IS not only through jesus words, bat
more emphatically through Jesna' snirit and
Character. 1t is His character and not His
nature, nor His authority independent of char
acter, which compels our honor our reverence
our love and obedience.
Mans slniulness als,, revealed by com.
parison with the holiness of Christ. has its
therefore demanding repentance and cen.
feSelon before God. He approves the rioht
choice and condemns the wrong: sstberefore,,
we are Lot to postpone repentance and amend
ment, but at once to return to the right wav
reIflDution is present well as futa-e: i'm me-
date and inevitable.
Inc cluster of "therefores" which HANG
upon the character OF Jesus depend upon the
substantial truth of the four gosne,s and ~
the New Testament history in General. Nov
the critical and earnest debate upon the eos-
pels Tor the past fifty years has settled the
question that the gospels give cOrrecr nor
trait of the Beloved Son.
The truths which have sstbereforeo ara
thus those which are common to all denomina.
lions OF Christians. But it is the truths which
nave therefore,, and not the mere mega
tons OF error. The Unitarians must take
great care lest they emphasize the denial of
erroneous doctrines, to the neglect of the posi-.
i've truths which lead to righteousness The
terrible want OF moral strength shown in the
defalcations, embezzlemenfs, breaches Of
trust, &C., which are constantly reported
arises from lack of faith in the spiritual reali.
Ties OF retribution administered by an all holy.
just and al-seelng God. DULY the ''tberefore'i
drawn from the attributes of the Almighty
and Omniscient is strong enough to resist every
temptation
To-day the devotional meeting will begin at
a. M, followed by the business meeting at
9.45 a. M, the essay by Rev. DR.. Rowen.
American Unitarian Association and National
Conference, collation., essay by Rev. Mr.. Bur
rington, and Women's Auxiliary. The sermon
by Rev. DR.. Clarke will be delivered at 7.3O
n m