The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-06
PROGRESS in THEOLOGY.
BY Rev. o. CONE. d. d.
(Abstract.)

This question can best be answered by
asking and answering another; viz, Is
theology scienceP For if theology is a
science it is necessarily progressive. All
sciences begin small and advance. be-
cause the human mind is incapable of
apprehending at once all the facts or
data and making at glance all the in
ductions which constitute science. A
science is a system Of principles, laws.
truths, formed by induction from OBJ
served phenomena. Several of the phys
ical sciences were cited as illustrations.
Theology is the science of God in his re-
lations to man and to the universe. It's
fret assumption is that God exists It's
data, its facts, it's phenomena, are the
totality of divine manifestations or rev.
elations. From these are drawn its prin-
ciples and truths. The fact chat God is
infinite and cannot be comprehended no
more constitutes barrier against a sci
ence of theology than the infinity OF
space against science Of space, or geon-
etry. The uniformity of space in it's
whole extent is, indeed, an essential
factor In science of space; and in like
manner the consistency OF God, the
divine constancy, is a necessary assump
ton in theology.
| Progress In science has two principal
factors-the objective, or the material to
be observed, and the subjective, or the
intelligence, the nature, which observes
and forms inductions. The former never
changes: the latter changes constantly,
and all progress arises through it's man
ifestations. 1t is through the develop
ment of keener intelligence, more accu-
rate observation, ripper nature, that
progress In science is effected.
Since, then, theology is science, and
consequently progressive, our theme calls
for the indication of some of the principal
lines along which theological progress
proceeds. And first, progress in the
ology Is made by more accurate obeer-
vations and inductions on the divine man
ifestainns. So far as God has revealed
himself IN the Bible, better exegesis in
the light of philology, history and lit
erature has led to great progress. A
more intelligent acquaintance with the
divine manifestations in nature has been
equally productive. The recognition of
law as the mode of Gods relations to the
world and to man, has profoundly mod
flied theological conceptions. It has
banished pestilent brood of theological
superstitions and substituted quarantine
and sanitary regulations and scientific in
vestigation for sacrifices and fasting and
prayer against plague and pestilence. It
has brought change over the spirit of
worship and modified man'sapprehension
of the universe.
Again, theological progress has been
effected by freer use of the reasoning
powers delivered from the bondage of
prepossessions. Certain propositions re-
specting God beng accepted, we are
able, in this freedom, to draw from them
their logical consequences. We no long
er admit mutually exclusive contradict
ories In our reasoning. Gods justice
| e@AN SoSohOoS OCAhB PO5ltCO5 we dIO I'LL
able to believe that he sanctioned the
determination of the Canaanites, or ae-
knowledgsd Saul as his prophet when he
hewed Agag in pieces before the altar.
Nor can We accept as a legitimate con-
clusion from his Fatherhood the doctrine
of endless wrath against his children, OF
even of eternal hardness of heart and in
difference toward them.
Progress in theology is also brought
about by refinement and softening of
the human sensibilities. As the human
heart comes to its rights and asserts its
authority, many an ancient, cruel dogma
is driven from the field. Man creates his
God in his own image. He who could
order the burning of Servetus was capa-
BILE of believing only in God who would
keep up the eternal fires. The new or
thodoxy which would extend probation
to the heather in the next world, is tes-
timony to the progress of the human
heart as we'll as of the brain. A curious
phenomenon presents itself, however, in
ohO uAoOuoSIOu VI tllS qu6StlUu WHICH ul-
vides the Congregationalist church. 1t
is complained that in certain quarters the
contributions to foreign missions are fall
ing off under the influence of the liberal
view of probation. Some of the churches
appear to reason that if God is going to
give the heather chance in the future
life they will neglect them in this. But
if he is going to punish them forever,
they will do all they can to prevent it.
They appear to work more zealously
against God than in line with his econ
omyl
The progress of our own theology was
pointed ont at some length-the advance
lndlcat ed in our present doctrine of SAL
walton on the early doctrines of salvation
by universal atonement and salvation
through death. Our exegesis was re-
ferred to as still needing a more scien-
tific treatment and capable of great i'm
provement-AddreSS at Michigan Con.
UentiOn.
The people of this country have