The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-23
THE SPIRITUAL NATURE.

/
spiritual element as something mirac-
ulously conveyed into the soul at GER
tain crises of the religious experience
instead of component and constitu-
ent part of mans nature which is the
gift of God to all his children. What
we call Spirituality" is this element
aroused and quickened and rendered
responsive to the higher appeals
which come to it in the unfolding of
the entire nature of man. 1t is a
manifestation of the spiritual nature,
of the souls life, as morality is the
manifestation of the moral nature.
As love is the response of the heart
to an object that is dear to it, so
piety is the response of the spirit to
the divine, which may address it in
SO many ways that no one can name
or number them. 1t is the sentiment
fostered in the soul of man by the
touch of the Spirit; an echo of the
voice of God, calling for response in
the soul that He has created. 1t is
not, therefore, the manifestation of a
miracle wrought out amid the agonies
and strivings of the anxious seat, but
the natural fruitage in the life of the
seed planted in the soul when it
came from the divine hand of the
Creator. Or, again, it is the passing
of native gift into its normal and
happy activity. 1t is the opening of
special bud on the tree of life into
its intended bloom and fruitage.
Hence says the New Testament: ITO
be spiritually minded is life and
peace"
As the heart breaks out in love and
sympathy under favoring conditions;
as the conscience awakens from its
sleep and passes into characteristic
emotions; as hope answers to the
distant objects that dawn alluringly
before it, SO does the spirit warm and
kindle under all truly religious ideals
and this kindling or sensibility is that
which we may rightly regard as the
answer of the soul to the higher ap-
peals which are addressed to it. 1t
is the reponse of the divinity within
us in answer to that without us.
This religious sentiment, finding
its highest expression in the manifes-
tation of the spiritual nature, is the
most signal and saving estate into
which the life of man can enter. 1t
is a compound sentiment, each ele-
ment of which is beautiful contri-
button to the total result; and no
graver mistake could be made in the
light of human needs and joys than
to rob life of its spirituality or to fail
to educate those powers which bring
us into alliance with God and heaven.
For while this spiritual element is
rich and happy in itself and brings
blessed experiences to the soul, it re-
acts on all mans powers and changes
him into nobler being in whatever
sphere he moves or along whatever
path he advances. Thus it is that to
the spiritual forces and relations of
mans life no small share OF the
credit of all achievement in art and
poetry, music, friendship, citizenship
and civilization belong, for the inn
pulses that touch the divine reappear
in all these forms of victory.
Thus out of the divine into the
human, along the channels of this
great original element of mans ma
ture, are ever descending noble and
beautiful impulses which could never
rise out of the ground, but which
lift man in a sense above himself.
Materialism, which denies existence to
anything outside of physical relations,
shuts the gate against these higher
sources of inspiration and fails to ac-
count for the products of what is the
nobler part of man.
Hence it is that history shows us
no great atheist poet, painter or mu-
stefan, for these all depend for their
most successful achievements on the
inspiration that comes only from the
spiritual nature and the fine imagin-
ations and activities which accom-
pany it. That which descends from
above can not rise from below. The
materialism which denies the exist
ence of the spirit in man which Civ
eth understanding" hides the sun and
chills the air; but truly spiritual
frame of mind is a medium of finer
sunlight and warmth, and sheds
blessing ON all who encourage it and
are thus educated by the gracious