Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/22

16, shaped and colored by it, as surely as the earths in our solar system are warmed, enlightened, electrified and held in their orbits by the central luminary which gave them birth, and around which they all revolve.

When, therefore, we have learned what any system of theology teaches concerning the supreme Object of worship, we have mastered the central doctrine of that system; and from this we may draw a pretty just conclusion in regard to all the rest. For when the central doctrine is wrong, the others growing out of it, adjusted to it, modified and colored by it, cannot be right; and when this is right, the others cannot be very far wrong. Besides, the doctrine concerning the proper Object of religious worship is intensely practical. It exerts a mightier influence on the character of the believer than any other doctrine. We cannot escape its plastic power. We cannot help becoming conformed, in some measure at least, to the character of Him whom we worship, or rather to our conception and cherished idea of his character. Our souls are gradually and unconsciously moulded into the likeness of our cherished ideal. If partiality, self-seeking, arbitrariness or vindictiveness enter into our conception of the Divine character, our own character will inevitably be affected by such conception. If we think of God as stern,