The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-28
Sermon.
UNIvERSALISM GOOD TO LIVE BY,
AND TO DIE BY.
BY REV. B. f. ROGERS.
(Wausau, Wis.,

(Wausau, Wis.,
1.-THE truth shall make you Free" John viii. 81
The Univ ersalist Church holds to a
system of faith which it most sincerely
and devoutly believes to be Gods truth,
and believing it to be the truth, and
that truth gives freedom to the soul,
this Church is earnest in the advocacy
of it's doctrines. Men ought to be sim
cere in their professions, and especially
80 in religious matters. And, if they
hold to ideas, which they believe to be
eminently practical, and are calculated
to bless the world, they ought not to
hide their light under bushel. l
therefore have no apology to offer for
setting forth in sermon the views
held by the Universalist Church, and
urging them upon the earnest attention
of the public. In fact duty demands
this of me, as it does of every man
who holds to what he believes to be
Gods truth.
All religions are founded upon be-
lief in Deity of some kind, and the
religion throughout takes its coloring
in great measure from the character
attributed to its Deity. And as peo-
pie never rise above their religion in
the lives they live, the best possible
view of God we can obtain will give US
the best life. AS another has said If
the divinities are represented as vir-
tuous and noble, corresponding ex-
cellence and greatness of soul will be
produced among the people, and this in
proportion to their reverence for the
objects of their alteration. But when
the gods are imperfect or base, imper-
lection or baseness will belong to the
worshipers."
1. Universalism is founded upon an
exalted character Of God. AS we read
Revelation and Nature we believe a
benefcent purpose is manifested in all
things. While God is the Creator of
all things, and the Ruler and Judge
among men, yet he has tender and
affectionate side to his nature, as all
true, earthly fathers have; and there
fore Christianity calls him Father.
ssThere is one God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and
in you ALL" In the Sermon on the
Mount, Christ brings out most forcibly
the doctrine Of Gods Fatherhood. And
so he does in the parable Of the Prodi-
gal Son. God the Father of all is a
thought that pervades the gospel. And
this Father is being Of infinite love.
"God is love-" On this the Universal
ist Church builds its faith. 1t is its
corner stone. A God Of infinite love
and tenderness rules the universe. A
kind and merciful Father watches over
and cares for men. While "justice and
Judgment are the habitation of his
THRONE ? he is yet sgood to all and his
tender mercies are over all his works. y
Beneath all his power, wisdom, truth
justice, majesty and glory is the spirit
of love, giving tone and color to all his
acts. Love is not, therefore, a divine at
tribute, but is the essential nature Of
God. From love as the center of Gods
being radiate all his attributes, eacf
bearing the impress of his essentia
nature. His justice therefore is tn.
justice of love; his power, the power
of love. This is the teaching of Christ
ianity, and nature and experience cor
roborate this view Of God. AS Prof
Peabody says: "Science is fast encir
cling the earth and spanning the heav
ems with the apostolic inscription: GOD
is love.'n There is no evidence of 9
cruel, malignant spirit in any of Gods
works or ways; but a benevolent pur-
pose runs, like golden thread, through
all his providences.
'"rhy universal love,
Pervades creation on each living form,
Showers down its proper happiness"
No brighter or more attractive view
of God than this was ever published to
the world. God the Father Of ali, in
all times, in all worlds, now and for
everl Blessed thought 1t is what the
soul Graves, and must have to give it
satisfaction.
DR.. Charming once said: ''The deep
est want Of mans nature is some being
to whom we may give our hearts, whom
we may love more than ourselves, and
whose character corresponds to that
idea of perfection which is an essential
element in every human soul. To Sc
cure growing happiness and spotless
virtue, we need for the heart being
worthy of the whole treasure of its love;
to whom we may consecrate our whole
existence in approaching whom we en-
ter an atmosphere of purity and bright
ness in sympathizing with whom, we
cherish only noble sentiments in whose
character we find the spring Of an ever
enlarging philanthropy; and by attach
ment to whom all our other attach
ments are hallowed, protected and
supplied with tender and sublime
consultations under bereavement and