Now it can not be denied that the current churches are the legitimate children of the Catholic organization; which is the most extraordinary religious institution on the face of the earth, considered either as a political or as a moral combination of educated men and spiritual forces. However, there is a manifest difference between the progenitor and the children. This consists, simply, in the seemingly spiritual character of Protestant churches, also in the mental liberties which give rise to democratic institutions of educa tion, and to the still greater blessing of free, representative governments. Nevertheless, there are points of analogy between the parent and the offspring; which, as honest investigators, we should not fail to recognize and reveal.

As educated Protestants, we stand in open hostility to the graven images and idolatrous ceremonials of the Catholic institution. Wherefore? Because we hold image-worship to be utterly incompatible with true religion; and irreconcilable with all reverence due the one only and eternal God. Very well. We, therefore, divest our churches of all idols; and, in the same proportion, we abandon many forms, and leave ceremonial-worship to the poor, benighted, imbecile devotees of the Catholic religion. How is this? Do we truly, as Protestants, destroy all idols, and worship God only in spirit and in truth? Let us see. As logical and orthodox Protestants, we still adhere to certain cardinal principles in theology, as unequivocally essential to the soul's eternal salvation; also, as the divine doctrines destined to be universally recognized and potentialized, under the direct descension of the Divine energy-the Holy Ghost-to the final destruction of all heathenism, and the reconciliation of all things to the glorious liberty of the children of God.

These cardinal doctrines we have carefully examined, harmonized, pronounced them "good;" and deposited them in the theological armory, as our beloved [idols] dogmas or

sacredized essentials. The first essential is "original sin," recently defined as being supernatural. The Protestant church assigns to this idol a conspicuous position. It is necessary that the people should behold it frequently. Hence it is placed in demi-relievo, and learnedly described, at regular intervals, as the foundation of all troubles in this terrestrial sphere, as the grand cause of the unspeakable manifestations of divine mercy, detailed in Scripture. But here a question appears. Clergymen dwell devoutly on the glorious attributes of the Creator. They can not enough express their growing gratitude for the "Revelation" of the Divine will and promises. The advent of the only-begotten Son, too; this is the grand consummation of all deific love and wisdom-the ne plus ultra of all conceivable mercy and providential manifestation. But is it so? Strange thought! The realms of spiritual existence contain no such deformed conception of the deific nature and attributes. Ponder the supposition! Think you that man could ascertain nothing of the Divine Mind through this universe of life and animation? Was it necessary to plunge the human family into the depths of discord and degeneration, in order to reveal the Divine attributes to the human affections and reason? Was it first necessary to allow the race to generate every description of iniquity, and become dead in trespasses and sins, before the attributes of mercy, love, and wisdom could be manifested to the earth-children? If clergymen eulogize the effects, they certainly can not but condemn the cause and the occasion. It is no better than the oft-uttered assertion, that poverty and squalid wretchedness are expressly designed as means to develop and exercise the Christian virtues termed kindness, brotherly love, and charity; while, in real truth, poverty and want are the symptoms of a defective social condition, which symptoms, well-organized talents and industry will effectually remove; and then the

virtues may be normally exercised in the higher spheres of human life and interests. Nevertheless, the church idol"original sin"-must be kept before the people. The devotee must first examine, (for this is a glorious attribute or privilege of Protestantism ;) then believe; then, to be truly orthodox, he must worship. "In time of peace prepare for war;" which, in this supernatural department of human interest, signifies the preparation and formidable array of clerical talents and cogent argumentations, against the approach of the vast army of modern sciences and discoveries, whose leader and commander is REASON.

This

The second essential is "the Atonement," which is now undergoing extensive repairs. Several very distinguished and adequately qualified sculptors in theology, are now laboring, with a commendable zeal and integrity of motive, being actuated by the desire and design of elaborating a certain rationalistic "atonement;" which they confidently believe will meet the reasonable demands of the most intelligent and logical mind in Protestant Christendom. religious reformation has not escaped the attention of Dr. Bushnell. He has himself done something toward giving the Christian world a more comprehensible theory of "God in Christ;" though it can not but be regretted, that, in his effort to be both classical and natural, independent and truly faithful to the old masters, he has too deeply buried this beautiful and energetic work of art. Several Unitarians are now preparing to repair the idol of Protestantism. Unfortunately, however, they have resolved to copy too accurately many things from the prevailing orthodox pattern. The New Churchmen * are entirely settled as to the perfect and eternal interpretation of this supernatural problem. The interior import of all visible idols in the primitive his

* “The Seer,” the author's forthcoming work, will contain several impressions concerning this form of theology.

tory, is clear as the blue vault of heaven to their unfolded faculties; and so, like the Second Advent people, they devoutly and confidently await the "time" when the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, will come down, from God, out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband.

Nor is this all. The third essential is "faith;" which is also undergoing the most astounding alterations. This idol is situated, in the Protestant church, directly opposite to the other just considered. The recent efforts put forth to place this graven image upon a philosophical pedestal—to establish it upon the everlasting foundation of nature and reasonmay be regarded as the premonitory indications of the interregnum which is about to appear in the religious world. Men formerly received all spiritual nourishment, like infants, through the vessels of the affections; which is the primary or rudimental process; it is invariably characteristic of the most incipient and uncultivated stage of mental development. But having spiritually become men, like Paul, they very naturally "put away childish things;" and, among those things, numerous minds have been amazed to discover their creeds-the cherished idols of childhood. Dr. Bushnell is not alone in the field of altering the theologic faith. It is a precious idol to abandon; especially, when the mind has not attained to "the fullness of the stature" of passional and judgmental harmony. Hence, very many individuals have chiseled out a new form of religious faith. But when the deeper analysis comes, the same deformed and decrepit idol is revealed; which was first worshiped through the medium of the unenlightened affections. The exact truth is spoken when I say, that Christendom is now as a slumbering volcano! The conflicting elements lie underneath all this fair exterior. The thunders of a stupendous reformation are soon to issue from the now open mouth of the Protestant church. The supernatural faith will be shaken as a reed in

the tempest. New channels will be formed for the inflowing of new truths; and then, a long-promised Era will steal upon the religious and political world. It will come forth like the hurricane; but its action will be gentle as the breathing of flowers. It will sound like the thunderings of the mountainous water-fall; but its influence upon the world will be as the music of "many waters" to the ear of the care-worn and thirsty pilgrim. It will appear as a moral pestilence, breeding internal agonies and mental despair; but it will be as the spirit of a glorious divinity, floating unseen among us, "creeping, like the summer winds, from flower to flower." Such are the impressions which I receive concerning the approaching crisis. "Faith," the present idol of Protestantism, will be essentially altered, modified, and transformed into a milestone to indicate the highway and progression of humanity. Like the pyramids, it will stand as a monument of what the ages have erected in the human world; and, as such, it will forever possess interest to the historian, to the antiquarian, and the spiritual philosopher.

The fourth essential is "free agency;" which is being re-examined and logically prepared for exhibition. This is the greatest dogma in the orthodox church. It is an idol of the utmost importance. All theology would be flying in the wind, like the tempest-torn sails of a ship, if it were not for the potent presence of this graven image. It is a strange work of art! Blocked out by the old masters, subsequently chiseled by the professional artists in theology, and placed upon the pedestal of mere assertion, it has become the most favorite Idol in the Protestant institution. Should any rationalistic disorder or epidemic prevail, the "doctors of divinity" forthwith diagnosticate the pathognomonic symptoms of Free Agency, to ascertain conclusively whether the contagion really extends to the cardinal dogma, or to the others. If not; then nothing is said. If so; then comes a