Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker Discourse volume 1.djvu/356

Rh out of the soul, and make men the same as if they had never sinned. Each man must be his own Christ, or he is no Christian.

No sect has fully developed the doctrine that is legitimately derived from this absolute Idea. When its time comes it will annihilate this poor theology of our time, and give Man his birthright. Some have attempted the work in all ages, and shared the fate of men before their time. Their bones lie mouldering in many a spot, accursed of men. They bore a prophet's mission, and met his fate. Their seed has not perished out of the earth.

This doctrine in some measure tinges the faith of all sects with its rosy light. It abates the austerity of the Calvinist, the exclusiveness of the Baptist; does a great work in the camp of the Methodist. All Churches have some of it, from the Episcopalian to the Mormonite, though in spite of their theology. There is something so divine in Religion, that it softens the ruggedest natures, and lets light even into theology. The sects, however, which chiefly rely upon it, are the Universalists, the Restorationists, and Unitarians. But how poorly they do their work; with what curtains of darkness do they overcloud the holy of holies! What poor ineptitudes do they offer us in the midst of the sublimest doctrines; how does the timid littleness of their achievement, or endeavour, stand rebuked before Absolute Religion; before the motto on the banner of Christianity: What despair of Man, of Reason, of Goodness; what bowing and cringing to tradition! Are not men born in our time as of old, or has a race of Liliputs and Manikins succeeded to Moses, Socrates, Jesus, and Paul? But this must pass. The two former have at their basis the old supernatural theology, and differ from the strictest sect mainly in their exegesis; they would believe anything which the Bible taught. They are, however, doing a great work. But the latter are of more importance in this respect, and, though few in numbers, deserve a notice by themselves.

At first the “Unitarian heresy,” as it was presump-