Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker Discourse volume 1.djvu/18

Rh Holiest on the souls of His creatures, affording moral help through the conscience, and spiritual light through the intellect. We call the first Grace, the second Inspiration, but they are one and the same; “the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”—the power by which we are “strengthened with might by God's Spirit in the inner man.” This Divine action cannot be accidental or miraculous, but normal and universal as gravitation itself; the most natural of all things, a fact implied in the relation of the Father of Spirits to His children; of the Creator to the creature which lives and moves and has its being in Him.

This is the second great doctrine of Theism,, or, in other words, the normal character of Inspiration. It is the key-stone of Parker's peculiar theology, and from it he deduced all his further propositions.

Thirdly, Inspiration being natural and universal, it is a thing of all nations and ages. Every good and perfect gift has come down from the Father of Lights, whether it was bestowed three thousand years ago or to-day, in Palestine or England. It was a real inspiration of God which taught Isaiah and Paul; and we may accept all their holy words which touch our consciences and kindle our piety as being truly God's teaching, worthy of all reverence and love. And it was also a real inspiration which taught Plato and Milton; and whatever words of theirs were great and holy, and touch our consciences and kindle our piety, they also we may take as God's teaching with reverence and love.

Thus the world is not robbed of its Divine Scriptures, but every good and true and helpful book becomes for us a Divine Scripture.

Fourthly, Inspiration is limited by the capacity and by the faithfulness of the souls which receive it. “As we draw nigh to Him so He draws nigh to us,” said Seneca. As the soul is large by nature and education, so large can its inspiration be. “The cup of ocean is full as the harebell.” But none can be infallibly, universally, absolutely inspired. Perfect inspiration could be received only by perfect beings fulfilling absolutely all the laws of mind and morals. In man there must always remain somewhat merely human, personal, fallible. The light