The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22
SERMON.
DOING GOOD.
BY GEO. L. PERM, DID.

TT may be rather difficult to be-
i lieve, but we have, really and
fortunately, one fact in the domain
Of philosophy and theology upon
which all parties are agreed, viz, that
when the right is discovered it is
best to do right-best for the indi-
vidual, best for society. Upon this,
as an abstract thought, all agree
the agnostic and utilitarian no less
than the Christian. And we shall
see that in this general, though NOM
inal agreement, religion tinds.a great
concession. For so intimately are
religion and right living connected
that virtue has generally been re-
garded as the peculiar charge of re-
ligion. But though there would be
general agreement upon our abstract
proposition there would be very
great diversity of opionion when we
should come to ask
l. What IS the basis of right?
One party finds the basis of ethics in
external authority, and upon that
foundation has built it's philosophy
and with that philosophy has con-
structed its motives. Another party,
rejecting all authority, finds its basis
of ethics in experience, and lays its
foundation there. While yet one
more party believes that the true
basis is to be found in intuition. In
general, however, these contestants
may be divided into two great parties:
those who rest in the authority of
the Bible particularly the New
Testament those who do not.
Notice,
D. Those aUho do not. This class
denying the authority of the Bible,
seek to find their basis of ethics else
where. Whatever we mayIthink..of
the tendency of their philosophy, no
one familiar with their thought can
doubt that they have been very use
full in furnishing at least Temporal
ry resting place for those who else
had found no place to rest; for even
the most earnest believer in the
Christian revelation can hardly hope
to see all resting in that authority.
There will naturally be some who
cannot accept it. These, then, I'M
less they are to break away from all
restraints and become lawless, must
find the foundations of right, for
themselves at least, somewhere else.
And however much their theology
and philosophy may differ from ours
we must believe that they have found
some satisfaction and at least tempo
rary rest in their theory of basis of
ethics. And though it has not our
sanction, it is far better than that
they should drift without sail or an
Choir. If a man is going into the
desert it is good that he should be-
lieve in real we'll of water in the
midst thereof, even though he is COM
PEELED to deny it on the authority of
a man who has been there and drank
from its cooling draughts. Notice
next,
% Those aUho rest IN the authority
of the Bible. But here there has not
been entire agreement. There have
been in the church three general di-
visions of thought. You will recog-
nize them by the three words, Faith,
Works, Feeling or Emotion.
(a) There has been the party Of
faith. And, strange as it may seem,
they have also been the party of dog
ma. In the name of faith they have
moulded for men certain opinions,
certain beliefs, and, as the condition
of right, have asked every one to &C.
cept those opinions.
And with persistence and en-
thusiasm worthy of noble cause
they have insisted upon those opin-
ions, not only as right in themselves
but as the condition of all safety.
With them the beginning and end of
right has been right opinions, right
beliefs. All the prosecutions of the
middle ages were carried forward on
that basis and by that motive. No
one was prosecuted because his con-
duct was not good; conduct was with
them matter of little Importance.
Conduct had little to do with life as
they understood it; they were living
for the future, and for the sake of the
future belief was the great essential.
If they had conceived conduct to be
important, then with great loyalty
they would have insisted upon GER
tain lines of conduct; but as they did
not believe it to be important, they
were comparatively Indifferent about
the matter, while the importance of
belief was constantly magnifed.
But there was another party stand
ing at the other extreme, and where
90 with the first faith was everything