Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-06-28
INSPIRATION.
INSPIRATION.
A Sermon Delivered by Rev. II. II.
Brown at Unitarian Hall
Jane s, 1890.

ations to either The Unitarian
therefore, while he asserts his owl
knowledge, refuses TO deny the pos
sibility in any direction of furthe
knowledge. He knows what maj
has done, and refuses to deny fur
ther progress IN any line. He knows
some of the revelations of God, anC
refuses to limit His further revela
tions. He accepts all facts, wherever
found, and believes that whatever
has been In human history can, and
will under similar conditions, b,
again. He holds that God Man and
Law are ever the same. "What
mau has done man, can do Law
Is universal. Prove that thing oc-
carred, and he knows that it wa,
done by law aud that knowledg,
will some time grasp the law and
make natural what seems super.
natural, aud common what Is now
exceptional.
In this spirit we approach the
question of inspiration. Is it n fact
If so, it is governed by law and is no,
exceptional and miraculous, but
natural and common.
Inspiration in the common
thought is limited to sacred books.
In our country geuera;ly to the
bible, though one sect has its own
inspired bible, aud to many Pro.
testants the prayer book aud hymn
book are only less inspired than the
old and new Testament.
But all claims made in Protestant
lands for the inspiration Of their
sacred book, do not equal the claims
made for the sacred books of the
other great religions of the world
lfclaims, numbers of believers and
age of the books prove inspiration
then some OF these books out-rank
the bible.
To the rational and scientific
thinker, VINO eau find in a compari-
son of these nothing exceptional to
distinguish one from the other,
there remains only for him the
choice Of accepting all as inspired,
or Of rejecting all.
But a study Of mental philosophy
and ofthe psychic phenomena OF the
ages, reveals the fact that there are
conditions of the mind differing
from the normal, under which the
intellect is awakened, aud thoughts
otherwise impossible are given forth.
Persons in these conditions have in
the past been considered favored OF
the gods, and borne among other
names tho7e of priest and prophet,
and have been considered rs being
under the especial control of a di-
vine affiatus, supernatural breath,
miraculous power, or the Holy
I Ghost.
+ That this condition is a fact, we
know and accept it, but we are no
more obliged 10 accept the ancient
Interpretation of 1t, than we are TO
accept the ancient Interpolation Of
the equally human manifestations
Of insanity, which was that of pos
session by evil spirits, or among one
people ST least, of favor Of the gods.
As we have outgrown ancient
ideas everywhere else, 50 we have
outgrown ancient religious ideas,
Accept fewer facts Of history, and
relegSte them to the realm
of the natural and there
therefore the movable, and if they
are desirable human conditions,
seek systematically TO cultivate
them,
Therefore, we accept the fact Of
inspiration. The bible is inspired
and 50 are all bibles. The prayer
book is inspired and - are all books
The last leader in this mornings
pAper is the product Of inspiration.
II believe God, Man and Law 10
be ever the same, then, once con-
vinoed that the bible is INSPIRED, and
finding nothing exceptional in its
pages, or in It's method of compost
Iions l am forced 70 this aSsurtion,
and deny the righ, of any person or
body to limit God, Man or Law, by
denying inspiration 70 sught else
but the bible.
And believe that in this claim
We are admitting all the bible
claims for itself 1t makes no claim
e. b. an exceptional and the only
inspirei book. Others make il for
the bible. The books Of the bible,
whenever the authors claim TO
write in an overshsdowing OF the
or "a spirit of the L.oRi, dictated
10 by the VOicS Of God ~ by an
angel are not exceptional. IL Was
cAnSn 81 that time to DO -, and
the books rejected from the canon
make equal claim. The claim for
inspiration is as graat in the apps
ryphs aud In fact gneAter in ESdas
than elsewhere. To admitting each
and all writing inspired, am In
harmony with every thought.
And doubt II the dogma OF in
sllnatiOn had ever grown 10 the ca
tent Il has, II the Ancient version
had mad, as now does the revissd
version; and Ne might here ask
Which of the two versions j. Gods
especial reVelatiOns