Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker Discourse volume 1.djvu/344

Rh in the Church, as such, and flouted the claim to inspiration when made by any modern, it is plain there could be no one Authoritative Church; all qualitatively were equal, resting on the same foundation. Then admitting freedom of judgment, within the limits of the Bible, and great latitude in expounding that; not very often burning men for heresy,—though cases enough in point might easily be cited,—and encouraging great activity of mind, it led to diversity of opinions, sentiments, and practice. This began in the Reformers themselves. Religion took different shapes in Ulrich von Hutten and John Calvin. Men obeyed their natural affinities, and grouped themselves into sects, each of which recognizing the great principle of all Religion; the special doctrine of Christianity; the peculiar dogma of Protestantism has also some distinctive tenet of its own. Soon as the outward pressure of Papal hostility was somewhat lightened, these conflicting elements separated into several Churches. Now neglecting those, with which we in New England have little to do, the rest may be divided into two parties, namely:—

I. Those who set out from the idea that God is a Sovereign.

II. Those who set out from the idea that God is a Father.

The theology and ethics, the virtue and vice, of each require a few words.

This party takes the supernatural view before pointed out. It makes God an awful king. The universe shudders at his presence. The thunder and earthquake are but faint whispers of his wrath, as the magnificence of earth and sky is but one ray out from the heaven of his glory. He sits in awful state. Human flesh quails at the thought of Him. It is terrible to fall into his hands, as fall we must. Man was made not to be peaceful and blessed, but to serve the selfishness of the All-King, to glorify God and to praise him. Originally, Man was made pure and upright. But in order to tempt beyond his strength the frail creature he had made, God forbid him the exercise of a natural inclination, not evil in itself. Man disobeyed the