106

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UNDUE SANCTITY BESTOWED ON THE LETTER."

tration of this doctrine, refer to the " ESSAY ON MAN.") (pp. 64 to 67, 73, 74, 151 to 154.)

That Christianity should be a stumbling block to the morally good, and a source of imposture to the bad, by its extraordinary divisions and subdivisions into numerous sects, differing from each other on very essential points of belief, is most unfortunate, and greatly to be deplored. In my opinion, this arises, in great measure, from our bestowing undue sanctity and importance on the " letter"—the word of man—or narrative of events, that are said to have occurred during the first age of the church. To reduce these different sects to one standard of belief, or one faith, an UNIVERSAL CREED is requisite; a Creed, that commands assent from every reasoning mind. To the attainment of this sublime Idea, and most important object, my studies have been devoted, my energies applied, and my means silently appropriated during a long life; from a firm assurance that I am doing my duty to God and my neighbour, by persevering in this momentous undertaking.

In laying down the following PRINCIPLES, on which the SACRED SCIENCE (rational religion) must be grounded, I hope to attract the attention of the contemplative and devout. That these suggestions may lead the learned in divinity, or Christian theology, to perfect and propound an Universal Christian Creed, by probing the spiritual doctrine of Jesus to its source, is the prayer uppermost in my mind, and I feel confident, that this most desirable object will not be abandoned, for the morning of rational Religion (pure Christianity), is dawning, and there can be but little doubt, that, in this reasoning age, the mid-day Sun of the Sacred Science (conviction), will illumine the efforts of the studious and indefatigable, in their search after everduring truth.

THE CHRISTIAN'S BELIEF.

Principle 1. I believe in God, the Creator of heaven and earth, whom we personify as our Heavenly Father; the first person in the Holy Trinity. (See No. 2, p. 17, and No. 4, p. 53.) And in the pure doctrinal truths revealed by Jesus, through the medium of the SPIRIT INCARNATE"'—an emanation from the Father, personified as

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THE RUDIMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY.

107

the only begotten Son of God,-the Christ-or moral soul-which is in eternal connexion with the Father. For " Spirit is born of Spirit."* (To elucidate the above, refer to No. 1, pp. 5, 12,* &c., No. 2, p. 30, and to No. 4, pp. 49, 50, and 58.)

Principle 2. I believe, that my divine or moral nature, (moral essence, distinct from matter,) is the " Spirit incarnate," my immortal Soul, ("GOD IN US,") begotten of the Father; wherefore His SON, or offspring; personified as the second person in the Holy Trinity.† (See No. 5, pp. 74, 75, and 76.)

Principle 3. I believe, that the Holy Spirit, or "Holy Ghost," within my human nature, personified as the third person in the Holy Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is my " CONSCIENCE;"

* Christians distinguish Jesus, who was born in the reign of the Cæsars, as THE Son of God; because he made known the great truth, that the "Holy Spirit" in human nature,-the " God that dwelleth in us," was begotten of his Heavenly Father. Christians believe that Jesus was the expected Messiah-our Saviour, because, the favoured mortal, through whose human nature the Christian Doctrine became manifest; in other words, through whom the divine word was made known to the human race. (See No. 1, pp. 7, 8, and 9.) Man's nature is neither wholly animal, nor purely moral; it comprehends the properties of both-the good and the evil principles-and freedom of the will to direct his course through this chequered life. (Refer to No. 1, pp. 2 to 8, No. 4, pp. 53, &c., and to No. 6, p. 85.)

+ This great Christian principle, comprehended in the position, "God dwelLETH IN US," in other words," the Kingdom of God, or God's Moral Spirit is within us;" that is to say, is a portion of our human nature; was revealed by Jesus; and is the Rock on which Christianity is founded. If we lose sight of this grand principle, we are not worthy followers of Jesus-the Christ. We lose the essential, and hold fast the earthly symbol; in plain language, we cling to belief in asserted events, while we lose sight of the "WORD"-the incontrovertible truths, that are now as they ever were.

The mortal body of Jesus must have succumbed to the laws of nature-(Cause and Effect, Action and Re-action, &c.) and have returned to earth; consequently, it is not now susceptible of transubstantiation at the will of man. "For verily, he took on him the seed of Abraham, (had an earthly Father,) and was made in all things like unto his brethren. Again, he was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and SON OF GOD with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, which is the brightness of God's glory, and the express image of his person :" pure, holy, and divine.

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NECESSARY ASSUMPTIONS.

the officiating spirit, or divine agency, operating between Mortality and Immortality-between body and soul! so pointedly alluded to by the Apostles, and, without which, the other persons of the Trinity would not be conceivable.* A reference to the Positions and comments in No. 2, and to No. 4. pp. 51, &c. will elucidate these Principles.

Principle 4. I believe, that at the moment of death, the living principle ceases to operate on the flesh; a change then takes place, as observed by St. Paul, (see " ESSAY ON MAN," p. 162.) " corruption cannot inherit incorruption," the mortal body-the Temple-or earthly house, returns to earth, and is an agent of New Life; at all events, it succumbs to the Laws of Nature-(Cause and Effect, Action and Re-action, &c.) (See " ESSAY ON MAN," pp. 44 and 45.) The spiritual body of St. Paul-the moral spirit,-or the immortal soul,is then freed from its connexion with the flesh, and ascends to "God's Kingdom"-the abode of souls-to pass the ordeal that it may please our Heavenly Father to ordain.

The germ of these conclusions, or necessary assumptions, is discoverable in the "spirit" of the Sacred Volume, when rationally interpreted. We need not be surprised that the Fathers of the Church were occupied, during the first five centuries, in consolidating Christianity, nor wonder at some false conclusions in founding that most extraordinary confederation-the CATHOLIC CHURCH; which, until in later times, when employed as a political engine by the Popes of Rome, benefitted exceedingly the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and other portions of the habitable Globe; civilized

* These three personifications, or manifestations of " ALMIGHTY God”—an indivisible and illimitable Spirit-made evident to my reasoning powers by deep inward research, constitute the Godhead-the Omnipotent Creator; consequently, whilst human nature perdures, that is, whilst "God dwelleth in us," our mortal body is, figuratively, the temple of "God's Holy Spirit;" and Almighty God, is rationally personified as Father, Son, and HOLY SPIRIT. Should human nature cease to exist, the two persons, (Son and Holy Spirit,) made manifest by the great Christian principle, GOD DWELLETH IN US, will be a non-entity: freed from human connexion, these two persons in the Holy Trinity, are not conceivable. This great moral agency will then subside. Further to illustrate this grand principle, refer to the seven first Positions in No. 2. Pre. pp, xvi. and xxi. No. 1, p. 5, No. 2, pp. 21, &c, No. 4, pp. 49 and 57, and to No. 5, pp. 73, &c.

the Goths and Vandals, protected the unfortunate, clothed the naked, and fed the starving population. Thus practically exemplifying the two great commandments of Jesus, our duty to God, and our duty to our neighbour.

Pure Christian practice will lead the mind to appreciate the saving doctrine of Jesus-our Lord and Saviour; for the spirit of the Christian dispensation faithfully extracted from the New Testament, is grounded on a settled conviction of the intimate connexion between God and Man-between our Heavenly Father, and His offspring-the spirit incarnate-His begotten Son. Did we not feel this intimate connexion with our Heavenly Father, (for" SPIRIT is BORN of SPIRIT,") we could not conscientiously repeat the Lord's Prayer-the only prayer Jesus thought it requisite to teach his followers. That human nature (Man) is in active communion, through the medium of the "Spirit of God in us," with our Almighty Father, must be admitted by those who supplicate their Father in Heaven for mercy and forgiveness; otherwise, they must be classed with the generation of hypocrites, denounced by Jesus. (Matt. xxiii. 13.)

I have purposely avoided introducing historical matter with the DOCTRINE advanced in the FOUR PRINCIPLES herein stated; which comprehend the rudiments on which to ground an Universal Creed. If the doctrine be evident to the reasoning mind, it needs no support from the narrative of miracles. If it be incomprehensible, the relation of ten thousand would not tend to make it evident, so as to become satisfactory to all human beings. Doctrine, or pure principle, to become universal, must be rationally defined and illustrated.

Jesus-the Christ, made known the basis of the CHRISTIAN ATONEMENT, by revealing his saving doctrine, which opened to mankind the road to eternal bliss, and pointed out the mode of life most certain to obtain pardon for sin, at the throne of mercy. By this propitiation, which he sealed with his blood when he submitted to become an expiatory sacrifice for the regeneration of mankind, he justly became our Redeemer and Saviour.

We must pursue the path our REDEEMER has pointed out, to ATONE for our Sins, and to merit forgiveness, when the inward man-the Spirit-departs this life, and ascends to the judgment seat of the Heavenly Father. To prepare ourselves for that day, we must confess

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BELIEF IN EVENTS NOT NECESSARY.

our manifold sins before God, through the medium of the " Spirit incarnate”—the divinity within us. Sincere repentance will then take place, and likewise retribution, which comprehends restitution and satisfaction to the utmost of our power, for injuries committed and duties omitted; coupled with a new life devoted to Christian love and charity, which will induce, on our part, forgiveness of trespasses against us, and the suppression of the feelings of hatred, envy, and malice. We (the inward man) must pursue this course to merit forgiveness of a merciful God, and to obtain eternal life, when the mortal body shall have returned to earth. The inspired writers have enjoined this course, together with a firm belief in the pure doctrine of Jesus. On the performance of our duties, we must rest our hope for contentment here, and for a happy hereafter. The reader may profit by perusing the commentary on the resurrection of the dead, in the " ESSAY ON MAN," (pp. 161, &c.,) in which the great question, "what will become of us-the essential or inward man—after the termination of this mortal life? is considered.

I shall sum up this portion of the Christian Examiner, by observing, that the pure principles of primitive Christianity, which the Apostles taught-the saving doctrine of Jesus-would have become inoperative as regarded the great mass of the Christian world, had it not been for the strenuous efforts of the Catholic Church. For sixteen centuries before printing was invented, the people were so illiterate, that they could neither read nor write; and could consequently form no rational opinion on the miraculous events related in a book they had no knowledge of. Their belief or disbelief in events, which are said to have taken place under the government of the Cæsars, must have been very unimportant to God and to Man; their salvation and redemption from sin, surely could not depend on their belief in events they had no means of judging of. The events that are said to have occurred to Jesus, and certain of the early converts, are not RELIGION, nor can a conscientious belief in them be necessary to salvation.

Fortunately for that numerous class, the zealous tuition of the Catholic Priests instilled into their minds the redeeming doctrine of Jesus-the Christ-the divine word, that commands the assent of all reasonable beings who will devote their minds to Christian tuition. It