Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker Discourse volume 1.djvu/70

Rh rush at once, and joyful, to a martyr's fiery death. It is the best things that are capable of the worst abuse; the very abuse may test the value.

legitimate action of the religious element produces reverence. This reverence may ascend into Trust, Hope, and Love, which is according to its nature; or descend into Doubt, Fear, and Hate, which is against its nature: it thus rises or falls, as it coexists in the individual, with wisdom and goodness, or with ignorance and vice. However, the legitimate and normal action of the religious element, leads ultimately, and of necessity, to reverence, absolute trust, and perfect love of God. These are the result only of its sound and healthy action.

Now there can be but one kind of Religion, as there can be but one kind of time and space. It may exist in different degrees, weak or powerful; in combination with other emotions, love or hate, with wisdom or folly, and thus it is superficially modified, just as Love, which is always the same thing, is modified by the character of the man who feels it, and by that of the object to which it is directed. Of course, then, there is no difference but of words between revealed Religion and natural Religion, for all actual Religion is revealed in us, or it could not be felt, and all revealed Religion is natural, or it would be of no use.