heart opened in its confidence...

Some years ago, while serving on the vestry of a small Episcopal Church, a man whom I had seen often but rarely heard speak (he was a retired doctor and I had always seen him as somewhat aloof) mentioned in a meeting about worship that he went for the mystery. It was all he said but it had a big impact on me. Now, years later and a Unitarian, I must confess that I sometimes miss the focus on the mystery in the larger denomination. In our exalting of reason and rationality, it is too easy to forget the wonder of what we do not know. Ezra Stiles Gannett speaks of this in his sermon (from 1857) appropriately called, "The Mysteries." Some excerpts:

"1 Tim. iii: 9: " Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."

Our life is embosomed in mystery, the universe is wrapped in a garment of mystery. The unknown infinitely exceeds the known; the incomprehensible outweighs beyond all comparison the intelligible. To some persons this is an unpleasant fact. Yet, properly regarded, it would give them great comfort. Religion conducts us to the borders of mystery. Whatever direction we pursue in our religious inquiries, we are soon brought to a pause by limits which we cannot pass. With some persons this is a special occasion of surprise, disappointment, and complaint, while it should, on the contrary, strengthen their faith and enliven their gratitude...

...there are profound and solemn mysteries to which we are guided by faith ; and our persuasion of the existence of these hidden realities is one of the most comforting and strengthening elements in the soul's experience. Everywhere, as we have said, we encounter mystery. Why? Because everywhere we meet the thoughts of an Infinite Mind expressing themselves in the forms which He has seen fit to adopt. Now the thoughts of an Infinite Mind are not such thoughts as our minds can entertain. As no mirror which man could make would reflect an image of the sun that should correspond in its dimensions to the sun's magnitude, so no conception of ours can represent the Divine Intelligence...

Religion, then, has its revealed truths and its hidden truths. In the former we are interested as rules of life ; how, it may be asked, can the latter become sources of benefit? By the assurance they give us of God. By the assurance they give us of God. The unknown belongs to Him whom no eye hath seen...

This difference between known truths and truths unknown, or between faith and mystery, is one of great practical importance. If properly considered, it would prevent a large amount of presumption, bigotry, and unbelief,—the bigotry and presumption of some persons driving others into the opposite extreme of unbelief. Truths which God has brought to light through the gospel, we may press upon the reception of men, by all the arguments which reverence and gratitude towards God, or love and hope for man, can prompt us to use ; but our solution of the mysteries which He has kept within His own knowledge, or has disclosed only to beings in a higher condition than ours, should be proposed with a modest distrust, as possibly or, at most, probably true, and only, therefore, worthy of attention. Let this rule be observed, and three-fourths of the controversies which have tormented the Christian Church would disappear...

There are mysteries in religion, and I am glad that there are ; for by them is my heart opened in its confidence towards God. In him is mystery that no created mind can comprehend; and therefore may the universe of created minds trust while they adore. There are mysteries of which the gospel is an intimation, and for them I am thankful; for by them I am established in my conviction that it came from the Being whose ways are past my finding out. There is that in Christ which I cannot understand. I dare not attempt to explain all I read in the New Testament, as if it were a child's elementary reading-book... what is above and beyond my reason, I expect to find there, and I will gratefully receive it. There are mysteries in my. life, — God be thanked that they are many; for so does He multiply the proofs of my dependence on Him, and the testimonies of His interest in me. There are mysteries in my spiritual experience. If there were not, how poor would that experience be,—poorer than my social or my bodily condition ! He who is impatient whenever he encounters the unintelligible must be continually offended with himself. He who would live without mystery must live without faith, without religion, without God."

Amen and blessings