The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-07
THE APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY


reform make the same appeal, rest upon
the same forces. They all predicate a
moral nature in man, appeal to that
nature, get their efficacy from moral
sanctions. We know that that form of
government is best which least offends
our moral sense. We know that that
law is just and good which is sane
toned by the general sense of right and
justice. We know that Christianity,
as a religion is best adapted to our
needs, because it makes its appeal to
this same moral sense and gets its
sanction from it. Jesus was never
afraid to appeal directly to this sense
of right and justice and truth for the
proof Of his teaching. He is not afraid
to say, "Take up your own life; let
that be the test of this doctrine; believe
nothing except what you can incorpo-
rate into action and test by experience.
If any man tells us anything except that
which if lived will prove in the end to
be best for humanity, then it is not
Gods truth. Gods vital, living trath
can be lived and so become power
unto salvation. This is the way in
which ye shall know Gods TRUTH
The great joy and glory of Christian
ity is that it establishes a thorough
understanding with the moral nature of
man. 1t appeals to the noblest senti-
ments of the soul, it enlists the affec-
tions, it takes up its abode in the heart
and makes it easy for US to live in love
with God and man. 1t must ever be a
sweet felicity on earth; ali! more than
that, it must be the secret of the
immortal joys that truth has this win
ming power over the spiritual nature of
man, SO we have revealed in this one
thought, not only the moving impulse
Of the worlds progress so far, but the
secret of the joys to come.
If we want to feel and realize this
blessed influence of truth we must
begin to live truthfully and then we
shall know. This is what Jesus did;
and it made him the savior of the world.
He lived Gods truth and so he knew
of it, was able to teach it and to become
its exponent to the world. He saved
himself, and in doing that saved the
world. Our supreme joy consists in
this blessed influence, which truth has
in the heart that it is so agreeable in
its nature to our human nature, and
so wins its way by winning the whole
better and diviner nature of man. tits
this fact that makes a revelation from,
or of, God to man possible. The Utmost
principle of revelation is that the mind
of God reveals, discloses, itself to the
mind of man.
Revelation is an unwilling of the
thought and purpose of God to the
thought of man. The mind and heart
are won by this revelation, enter into
and plant themselves there. What we
call progress, or, in broader terms,
civilization, is only truth winning its
way over human souls. Salvation in its
true sense is predicated upon the fact
that truth has this persuasion over the
inner aspirations and motives of the
heart, together with the belief that it
will finally win all to purity and holt
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All unconsciously the past genera
lions have been doing Gods will-that
is, truth has been winning its way
men have been learning more and more
to trust in it, and so, as was said, this
is the best day the world ever saw.
Tomorrow will be better than to-day
in proportion as the world shall learn to
trust more and live better.
This is the appeal which Christianity
makes that the whole world of mankind
shall live each day more truthful lives.
By making each PERSONS own expert
ence the true witness, it makes an indi-
vidua lappeal. If there is in reality no
way to know Gods truth but to do it,
then the real test between truth and
error is the test of experience, and the
only true witness to ones self, or to the
world, to truth, is each ones individual
life. This makes life very real and
earnest thing, fills it with divine fla
vor, makes it worthy the God who gave
it to US. In this privilege Of living
Gods life, our own lives are sanctified.
Through living such truth as we have
we are constantly acquiring more
truth, receiving new revelation from
God, so thought is heightened until it
reaches God and broadened until it
includes universal humanity. Revela-
ton is seen, therefore, to be, not a
bundle or catalogue of facts and doc
trines sent down out of heaven, but
gradual unfolding of universal truth,
disclosure of the mind, character and
purpose of God made in such way and
form that the human mind may seize
upon, and live by it. Progress is growth
in the knowledge of Gods character and
will. Salvation is the perfect under
standing of truth and the conformity of
life to it.
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