"Let us heed only such teachers as refer us, not to their creed, their assembly, their style or book of worship, as final or sufficient; but to the Spirit of truth, beauty, goodness,— the universal, infinite, pure, and loving Spirit of God...
The Spirit itself has necessary external channels, — temples, rites, and appointed days, — as well as a secret apparition. All Christians practically own the need and value of some sensible method and concerted order of praise, prayer, and teaching, for united and affectionate devotion. Nevertheless, we may consistently disown, and discard from our practice, and resist, that imposition of the pomp and excess of ritual which eclipses the hidden Deity, and drowns his whisper in the heart. Indeed, my aim in this essay is, against all lower judgments, to affirm the existence of a great and growing number in the community, for whom the plainest style of adoration is the best. We, Independents, in our dependency on God, deny that any more of mechanism and repetition and symbolic display than we already possess and use is needful or would be profitable for ourselves or our children. Men are, indeed, still too gregarious...
Undoubtedly there are ways and means, as well as a direct illumination, of the Spirit; but the Spirit is not to be limited to ways and means of any name or kind or number. What the procession of that Spirit is, when it began, how far it goes, how many minds or ages it includes, or where it shall end, who shall tell? Jesus did not commence it; historical Christianity did not create it; it is uncreated. All its prophets have never been mentioned to us. To make us more sensible of it is the office of our faith. I can only, in a few poor words, indicate its presence or describe its work."
Some of those "few poor words" tomorrow... Have a blessed Sabbath.
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