The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-03
LOOSE THOUGHTS AND LOOSE
THINKERS,

self knowledge, and some respect for
others minds, would save many a
young preacher from subsequent
regret for eccentricities and crudities
conscientiously inflicted by him upon
his hearers. Is he to suppose the
whole congregation are waiting from
week to week for his next step in
metaphysical or theological thought
as new discovery Or might he
not feel somewhat sad in the thought,
that he cannot more quickly become
ripe minded; and be humbly thank
full to be allowed meantime to speak
the great admitted truths of natural
and revealed religion, while quietly
maturing his own perplexed thoughts
on metaphysical distractions and
moral casuistries, into gradual har-
mony with the central faith of his
heart? What he knows, and as far
as he knows it, let him teach and
communicate. Where he is learning,
let him not perplex others with his
crudities, but study diligently how to
mature them into mental and moral
nutriment, for his own soul first, and
then for those of others.
A man may think this way or that
way; but one way or the other, on all
great subjects, he ought to decide
before he helps others to think. The
great bases Of belief he should have
laid firmly for himself before he pro-
fesses to help others to build up their
faith.
In such further changes as may
and ought to occur to him in the
faithful progress of his own mind, he
should endeavor we'll to ascertain
each new or enlarged point of view
before he describes the mere glimpses
of new truth which he has caught in
his ascent. By speaking too soon, or
too fragmentarily, and too confident
ly withal, he may be unjust to his
own mature perceptions of the truth,
and also to hearers, quite as DESTROYS
and as capable of truth as he.
1t is one of the misfortunes of the
public man, be he statesman or
preacher, to be compelled, as it were,
to think aloud. Whatever change of
opinion he begins to undergo from
the time of his entrance upon public
life, the public are more or less aware
of it at once, and not merely when it
is completed. This publicity is un
favorable to calm reflection. Its
most frequent effect is to detain a
man in the bondage of his first
avowed opinions, and to impede the
natural progress of his mind. Thus,
| Sir Robert Peel's Inconsistencies in
his free-trade career were explain
able by his too early introduction in
to public life on principles of toryism
hereditary, but not personal. He
cherished the new, but still crude,
opinion, while adhering to the old
policy. An opposite course seems to
find favor with some theologians
who burst through the trammels of
their early beliefs-namely, that of
printing every loose thought as it
arises, and declaring themselves free
from the old belief before they can
say they have found new one.
1t would plainly he better for
the doubter-political or theological
alike if he could quietly retire from
publicity till he shall have found his.
new footing firm beneath his feet.
The Parliament or the congregation
can wait for his loose thoughts to
weave themselves into an even fabric.
A theologian, rash without need, de-
cisive only in negations, and having
nothing yet to offer to others minds
as fully satisfactory to his own, is
justly liable to the expostulation,
Thou that teachest others teachest
thou not thyself9"
1T seems to me-" says Professor
Andrew Norton, "a weighty offense
against society to advance and main
tain opinions on any important sub
iect, especially any subject connected
with religion, without carefully
weighing them, and without feeling
assured, as far as may be, that we
shall find no reason to change our
belief. l may be excused, therefore
for mentioning that the substance of
what follows was originally COM
mitte1 to writing more than ten years
ago, and that l have not since found
occasion to make any essential
change in my conclusions"
This is strong example of the de-
liberateness of thought and care
which is the duty OF those who speak
through the press on great subjects
to their fellow-men. Change and
| 1900. of 11so;0r 90 mo I,nou, kha