Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-11-12

uerstanulng OF scriptures, ana there Is nc
understanding otherwise. They draw
their doctrinal belief from the Bible in the
light Of reason and conscience. This all
profess. What does this involve? Ger.
tainly the action of reason and conscience
in finding the truth so far as these doc
trines are concerned. But if reason and
conscience have brought forth the truth
In these doctrines, then why not trust rea-
son and conscience for the truth still:
Why stop with these. and cease to inquired
These doctrines have not exhausted the
infinite ocean of Gods truth. Unitarians
say reason and conscience must guide In
finding and Judging all truth, must guide
in searching all scripture, must guide in
judging all that is offered As scripture, and
all that is offered as truth.
just here. in the use of reason and con.
science, is the beginning of the Unitarian
divergence from other christian denomina.
tions. But other churches use reason and
conscience. Certainly. They would feel
aggrieved If it were said they do not.
The difference Is in manner and degree.
But here is the fact. These churches hold
systems of doctrines esteemed essential to
salvation, which dominate, or at least af-
feet. the use of reason and conscience,
which in practice con>train these. Those
who hold the doctrines may not be aware
OF the constraint. Those who hold the
doctrines most firmly may be least aware
conscience which leads beyond the doc
trines. which contradicts these, is dreaded
and stunned. Or if practiced by some,
and results in denial of the doctrines. then
it is condemned by the church. II must be
50, and cannot be otherwise There is a
tenderness in such belief which cannot toll
crate, which surely cannot hold 10 sym
pathy that which disturhs it. And so rea,
son and conscience must fall in with be-
lief, must seem 10 render help rather than
correction or hurt to this.
We cannot sufficiently honor. We cannot
sufficiently exalt reason and conscience.
God help us to keep these sacred ard use
them Alright. They have made the world
all that it is beyond a wilderness full Of
savages and wild beasts. Look over earth
and consider all that makes it glorious and
glorifes man. Count all that hlesses and
beauties life; reckon teld-, and homes.
and cities, and all these contain; behold
science and its discoveries. art and IL,
achievements; the things that comfort,
the things that adorn, the things that in
struct; and you but begin to see the end
less concourse of what reason has brought.
And justice and law freedom and right,
the state that shelters. and the govern
ment that protects, the strength Of civil
ization, the sacredness of obligation, the
duty of man to his fellow and of man TO
his God, are but conscience embodied in
Its fruits and its works.
And still above material greatness and
sp,endor of earth. above all that wealth
and power have built, richer than pal.
aces, grander than caihedrals and pyra-
mds, nobler than all that human hands
have reared is the human character that
has shown the height to which reason and
conscicI ce may raise man. And If a rcve-
lation Of Deity were written across the
sky in words that all could see and read
il is only reason and conscience that could
gather the import OF this. Reason and
conscience are Gods arrangement In man
by which His spirit shall become light and
guidance for men.
In this view we count loyalty to reason
and conscience first as loyalty to God, and
propose fidelity TO these in the pursuit OF
all truth. And this view and purpose
must prevail in the use of all means fol-
finding truth.
Now, prominent among these means, one
of the first to test this fidelity is the Bi
bic. The use of the Bible where that i.
found is of primary Importance in tht
study of religion. Where the Bible is not
still reason and conscience exist, and those
who are without the Bible are not without
light. Here the Bible is TO be approached
for the truth ii contains, for the purpos,
of finding that truth. 1t is proper to in
/ qure whence it comes, how 1t is composed
who are its authors, and what is the char
acter of these. 1t is proper to find why i
/ is Bible. We learn that the older portion
comprises all the literature of the nation
| from which it comes,-whch had not beel
/ lost, down TO the close of that portion
| life and sayings of Jesus, and letter
of his followers to persons and churches
! The whole Bible is made in a natural
human way by the gathering together b.
human hands of all these. We honor i
by honoring the truth it contains not b.
ascribing to it supernatural preparation
nor by sanctifying Its errors or its faults
and we honor it thus in seeking its trut
by the light of reason and conscience ap
piled to every part.
The name Unitarian is given to desig
nate belief in the unity of God. We hol
that the ultimate power in the universe
one, without division or distinction in i,
self that We can see or apprehend,- on
source and support of all life as far as W
can learn, one supply of all force, one or
gin of all truth, as we must conceive
that one in which creation rests, and W
live and move and have our being. w
regard this as the necessary conclusion O
understanding; as the ultimate bound O
research; as verdict of reason and cor
science alike. If science has learned an
taught anything, it is that the system O
the universe is one whole, vast, indeed, be
yond reach or conception, one universe
harmony of movement, one boundless az
tion of law, one infinite display of one ir
finite power. We are but on its threshol
here, our little earth grain of sand in il
greatness. We can behold in part mater
al splendor of a material universe; W
cannot enter within the deeps of ultimat
being to measure condition and divide sui
stance there. We only know that wisdor
must be infinite, good must be eternal, an
we name the one iuduite Being in whol
are these, from whom by these are a
things, God. The soul should bow befor
this Being, yet rejoice in the life that
part with him, and follow the light Of hi
spirit in itself illumining reason and col
science forever.
Unitarians recognize Jesus Of Nazaret