Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 3.djvu/136

Rh against the errors of this theology, opposing them as Luther opposed the Pope and Roman Church, as Paul and Jesus the polytheism and pharisaism of their time; yes, as Moses withstood the idolatry of Egypt—not with ill-nature, with abuse, but with all the weapons of fair argument.

I know it is sometimes said that a minister ought never to attempt to correct errors in the theology of his time; that must be left to the laity or outsiders, for "the Christian church is to be reformed, not from within, but only from without," and " the minister has no right to disturb the peace of the churches by pointing out their false doctrines or wicked practices." Such counsel have I had from men of ts high standing " in the Christian pulpit, who practise also what they preach. Let them follow their own advice. But alas, if the deceitful lead the blind!

This destruction and denial is always a painful work. It is the misfortune of the times that now so much of it must needs be done, but the other part will be full of delight.

2. Of the Positive and constructant work in theology.

In general he has to show that theology is a human science, whereof piety is the primordial sentiment, and morality the act. A religious life is the practice whereof a true theology is the science. Here, as elsewhere, man is master, and learns by his own experiment; no man is so great as mankind, no scheme of theology to be accepted as a finality; the past is subject to revision by the present, which must also give an account of itself to the future. A real theology must be made up from facts of consciousness and observation, and like all science is capable of demonstration.

In special the teacher must set forth the great positive doctrines of a scientific theology, which is founded on these facts. To follow the five-fold division above referred to, he is to teach the philosophic idea of God, of man, of the relation between the two, of inspiration, and of salvation.

Of the philosophic idea of God. If the teacher be able-minded, and fitly furnished with spiritual culture, starting from facts of consciousness in himself, of observation in