The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-14


est and final destination OF mankind.
IL.
We believe that there is one God, whose ma
ture is Love. revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ,
by one Holy Spirit of Grace. who will finally re-
store the whole family of mankind to holiness
and happiness.
We believe that holiness and true happiness
are insepaI ably connected, and that believers
ought to be careful to main! ain order, and prac-
tice good works, for these things are good and
profitable unto men.
Profession of Belief Proposed at Meriden.
/. We believe in the Universal Fatherhood of
God and in the Universal Brotherhood of Man
2. We believe that God. who hath spoken
through all his holy prophets since the world
began, hath spoken unto us by his son, Jesus
Christ, our Example and Saviour.
8. We believe that salvation, here and here
after consists in spiritual oneness with God
who will gather in Christ the whole family of
mankind.
I, ANALYSIS OF THE Two CREEDs.
For the terms profession of Belief
let us use the shorter term "creed,"
giving it it's simplest meaning of a
statement of belief. Now interpret
ing these two creeds in plainest fash
ion, what do they say? 1t is well
understood rule of law that an in
strument must be interpreted SO as
to bring out the meaning Of the
writer. We cannot properly read
into words meaning not intended
by their user. In determining that
meaning we must be guided by the
common use of the word at the time
and in the place where used. APP
plying this sound legal rule to the
Interpretation of the Winchester Pro-
fession, what does it say?
The first article is practically
statement that the Old and New
Testaments constitute our basis OF
authority in religion. That is no.
distinctly stated but is implied when
we consider the thought of the times.
1t was the universal usage of early
Universalists, as we'll as of orthodox
disputants and scholars, to rely OIL
the Bible for proof of every religious
belief. The one question was,
"What saith the Scriptures? 1t war
conceded by both parties that every
appeal as to belief must be made to
them. That, they said, determined
the issue. The difference between
Orthodoxy and Universalism was MOI
as to basis of authority, but as to the
method of Interpretation. Boil
agreed that every religious belief to
be authoritative must have its found
alton on statement of Scripture.
Reading this first article in the light
of this fact, it is evident that it was
meant to state not simply that the
Bible contains a revelation of the
nature of God, ETC., but that to it we
must look, if we would know what is
Gods nature and the duty and des
tiny of man. In other words, while
not denying the fact and validity OF
other methods of revelation, empha
sis is laid on the Bible as the chief Of
revelations made to man, and it is
constituted our source of authority
in religious beliefs.
The second article states d belief
in one God; defines his nature to be
love; declares him revealed in one
Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit
of Grace; and ends by affirming uni
versal salvation for man.
The third article affirms that truest
happiness depends on holiness and
enjoins good works as profitable un-
to men,
Turning now to the proposed creed
we find its first article to be wholly
new; in no wise a revision of any
article of the old creed. 1t states in
language which can not be misunder
stood or misinterpreted the grand
doctrines of the universal Fatherhood
of God and the universal brother
hood of man.
The second article is not so clear
1t affirms that Christ is prophet of
God, that revelation has been given
him by God and hence that his words
are truth and light; that he is also
our example and Saviour. Stating
this in another way, while acknowl
edging that God has not confined
his revelation to any one man or ma
ton, it affirms that the special revela-
ton made to us has been made
through Jesus; that among all the
prophets of God we are committed
specially to him; that we are not
Buddhists, Mahometans, ETC., but
are specifically Christians; that the
Universalist Church is a Christian
church drawing its inspiration prim-
arily from Christ.