Page images
PDF
EPUB

adjusting the elements, for the good of his creatures. And the blazing comet, which, as a fell harbinger of Divine wrath, drove our ancestors into hiding places, but invites us forth to wonder and trustingly adore. From the moon's approach to the earth, science has also taught us to have no fear, by the discovery of a law which forbids that she ever impinge upon it. And thus, from what science has already taught us, (and we are yet but upon the shore of knowledge,) we may easily infer, that, what is dark she will yet illumine, and, that in the highest and best sense, God, in Nature, does all things well. And with the Bible in one hand, we know that he does all things well in Grace.

But I must close this letter. I have dwelt thus long upon the supposed analogy between the principles involved in limited and limitless pain, because I know it to be a favorite resort of persons of your faith, and because, when considered, as I trust you will consider it-it plainly throws its entire weight into the scale against you. I have only one single word in conclusion. It is this, "think on these things.'

Truly yours.

LETTER XXVI.

THE THREE STAND-POINTS.—BIGOTRY, CONSERVATISM AND PROGRESS.

What

Three Stand-points-First, Bigotry-The Bigot Characterized -- His favorite syllogism-His creed, his rock-Bigots everywhere-Impervious to logic-Eyeless fishes - Not so the reader Second Stand-point, Conservatism-Conservatism characterized is, is best, and presumed about right-Getting along pretty well Fault with Luther, Knox and Jesus — Brahminical quiescence -Tempest-Feeling for the foundation - Skeptical — Living sinners and dead-Texts dropping out-Tendency to freedom-Alarm of the N. Y. Observer- Its correspondent — Universalism, on the heels of the revival of '57-The catastrophe!!—Third stand-point. Progress-Who occupies it? Why so few ?- Positive testimony needed-Exparte reading-Endless punishment flees as light comes -Drops of water save!-Questions to the reader.

DEAR BROTHER,

I think every believer in the doctrine in review, who contemplates its absurdities at all, must contemplate them from one of the three stand-points,Bigotry, Conservatism and Progress. His impression, of course, must depend upon which of these he occupies. For, in morals and religion, not less than in physics, does the view depend upon the relative position of the viewer. Boston, seen from the

“Monument," is very different from Boston seen from the State House, or Commercial street.

First, then, let us suppose the viewer of the difficulties we have been mentioning, to occupy the standpoint of bigotry. How then, is he likely to be affected?

The bigot is a person "unreasonably wedded," or blindly attached" to some religious creed; one who, hugging his peculiar faith, as absolutely true, and, of course, rejecting all opposed to it, as absolutely false, sees no occasion to open his mind to reasoning; but, impervious to logic, and blind to facts, his mind is a barren rock to the seed of any better theology. If a Pharisee to-day, he will be to-morrow, whether Servetus burn, or Christ be crucified. For, if at any time, coming suddenly upon some glaring absurdity in his creed, he is startled for a moment, he is sure to find speedy relief in his favorite syllogism, always at hand, thus:

1. Whatever lies against my creed, is false;
2. This absurdity lies against my creed;
3. Therefore, this absurdity is false.

And thus, completely satisfied, he slumbers again, as Luther, while yet but partially emancipated from the thraldom of the Papacy, when defending the doctrine of transubstantiation against Zwingle, satisfied himself, most provokingly to his opponent, by simply holding up a parchment on which he had

inscribed the words, "This Is my body," so the bigot easily disposes of all objections to his creed, by holding it up and exclaiming, "This Is true." Fixed fast in his faith, like a living creature on a rock, he can neither move nor turn round. Imbedded in thoughtlessness, his fossilization is susceptible of no check. Whether the points of his faith are true or false, they can no more be wrested away by the power of logic, than a star from the belt of Orion, or from the brow of Taurus. His creed is "his rock, and his fortress, and his deliverer." Under its "shadow he reposes." Within its defense he feels safe! And it delivers him from the inconvenience and danger of thinking for himself.

Such is the person, who contemplates the religious aspect of the world, from the stand-point of bigotry. And such persons, whether few or many, are scattered among all denominations. So that for a person to suppose that his denomination is free from them, were to show himself the bigot of his generation. If any of this class should chance to glance into these letters, very well. But wrapped in a covering, tougher than that which defends the monsters of the Nile against the attacks of the musketeer and the spearsman, they will hardly be affected by them. Having lived in darkness till they have become blind, as fishes in subterranean pools are said to become eyeless, whatever error

they have, must die a natural death. Its dissolution can be hastened, neither by facts nor logic. They will believe all that they agreed to believe. To do this, they feel bound, as by the most solemn of oaths. At any rate, they act as though they did. For they either decline reading or hearing anything against their views; or else, read as though they read not, and hear as though they heard not. Yet it is not for us to blame them. They may be honest, after all. They have our best wishes and earnest prayers, while we regret that, viewed from their stand-point, our writing for their benefit, must be vain.

But to this pitiful class, I think you, brother, do not belong. You are not so dogmatically sure that you are right, that you cannot listen to, and appreciate an opposing argument. But, while you will not bear the close confinement of the class mentioned, it may be that you shrink, somewhat, from roaming far beyond "the liberty of the yard," freely over the rich and inviting fields of theological enquiry. But,

Second; supposing such a discussion as the foregoing, to be contemplated by a believer in endless punishment, from the stand point of conservatism ; how is he likely to be affected by it?

And who is the conservative? The conservative, as we use the term, is a person who would keep

« PreviousContinue »