Page:The collected works of Theodore Parker volume 7.djvu/158

154 this, yet each loves to attribute the deadness of tho rival sects to their special theology; it is Unitarianism which is choking tho Unitarians, say their foes, and tho Unitarians know now to retort after tho samo fashion. The less enlightened put tho blame of this misfortune on tho good God, who has somehow "withheld. His hand," or omitted to "pour out His Spirit,"—the people perishing for want of tho open vision. Others put tho blame on mankind; some on "poor human nature," which is not what might have been expected, not perceiving that if tho fault be there, it is not for us to remedy, and if God made man a bramble-bush, that no wailing will make him bear figs. Yet others refer this condition to the use made of human nature, which certainly is a more philosophical way of looking at the matter.

Now there is one sect which has done great service in former days, which, is, I think, still doing something to enlighten and liberalize the land, and, I trust, will yet do more, more even than it consciously intends. The name of Unitarian is deservedly dear to many of us, who yet will not be shackled by any denominational fetters. This sect been always been remarkable for a certain gentlemanly reserve about all that pertained to the inward part of religion; other faults it might have, but it did not incur the reproach of excessive enthusiasm, or a spirituality too sublimated and transcendental for daily use. This sect has long been a speckled bird among the denominations, each of which has pecked at her, or at least cawed with most unmelodious croak against this new-fledged sect. It was said the Unitarians had "denied the Lord that bought them;" that theirs was the church of unbelief—not the church of Christ, but of no-Christ; that they had a Bible of their own, and. a thin, poor Bible, too ; that their ways were ways of destruction; "Touch not, taste not, handle not," was to be written on their doctrines; that they had not even the grace of lukewarmness, but were moral and stone-cold; that they looked fair on the side turned towards man, but on the Godward side it was a blank wall with no gate, nor window, nor loop-hole, nor eyelet for the Holy Ghost to come through; that their prayers were only a show of devotion to cover up the hard rock of the flinty heart, or the frozen ground of morality. Their faith, it was said,