The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10

say of these men that the Universal
ist denomination is monument of
their earnest efforts. Where our
church has been built we are indebt-
ed to those who based their thought
upon revelation and drew their chief
inspiration from conservative rather
than radical sources. Indeed, we
may say with as much truth that the
great wave of enlightened religious
thought has had its origin with those
teachers who belonged to this valua-
BILE class of earnest missionaries
whom God raised up to the work,
the reformation of Christian theolo-
gy, and to bring us back to the en-
lightened days of the early church.
These facts, so well known and
proven by the history, and the pres
ent state of the Universalist Church
entities us to the indisputable right
of using the word evangelical and
applying it to themselves.
The term does not stand as an ex-
ponent of certain historical doctrines.
If Christian believes that his duty
and destiny are revealed in the Bible,
and especially in the New Testament.
he is an evangelical Christian. If he
does not believe these books and in
sist upon their truth, he has very
slender claims upon the use of the
word Evangelical"
When other churches represent us
as un-evangelical, we have justreason
to complain. They leave the i'm
preston that we do not differ with
them only, but that we cast aside
the Christian volume, rejecting its
teaching. To lay claim to the honest
right of the word "evangelical' we
have not the slightest wish to be
identified with the teaching of any
doctrine we have opposed; we alone
claim the right of setting ourselves
free from unjust and bigoted
charges.
now invite your attention to the
term from which the word "evangeli
cal" is formed. The word is derived
from two Greek words, en- and aggello,
and when put together they mean
"the beginning of good news
Euaggellion is the Greek word
which is translated by Gospel. The
Gospel and evangelical mean the
same. The Gospel is the good news
brought. The good tidings" of our
text is the Gospel. When we look at
the derivation of the word which is
translated by the word gospel" it
will become clear that our church
has some special claim to the use of
the word evangelical" We would
not deprive others of the name, which
would be an act OF narrowness, if we
should assume as much, but we
claim that our faith in the largest
measure represents the message
which was once delivered.
The angel that appeared on the
night of nativity said, Gear not; for,
behold I bring you good tidings of
great JOY which shall be unto all
people," Whatever Christianity may
become, and it's teachers have taught
in later years, upon the morning of
it's advent it was hopeful religious
message which it bore. 1t voiced
hope for all people upon the face of
the earth. When Jesus came to his
mature manhood he preached faith
which comprised all the hopes of an
cient Israel. Unless he had not done
SO he could not have pointed back to
a single prophet for his authority.
Isaiah had used this language: "He
will swallow up death in victory; and
the Lord God will wipe away tears
from all faces; and the rebuke of his
people shall he take away from off
all the EARTH" The same prophet
also spoke and said "Look unto me
and be saved all the ends of the
earth, for / am God and there is none
else. | have sworn by myself; the
word has gone out of my mouth in
righteousness, and shall not return.
That unto me every knee shall bow;
every tongue shall swear. Surely
shall one say, in the Lord have l
righteousness and strength, even to
him shall men come, and all that are
incensed against him shall be as
hamed."
Nor are these expressions of uni
versal hope, and the divine purpose
rare. In Isaiah iv chapter we have
this language: For as the rain
cometh down, and the snow from
heaven, and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth and maketh it
to bring forth and bud, that it may
give seed to the sower, and bread to
the eater. So shall my word be that