Obedience and Liberty [pp. 65-86]

OBEDIENCE AND LIBERTY.
we move. We cannot turn any way without being confronted
by these bans and interdictions.
But it is of supreme consequence to discover where, and upon
what, these checks are brought into play. In the language quoted
mention has been made of "crushing out," " faculties,'" " capacities," "susceptibilities," as though such procedure were actually a part.. of our Christian faith. Whereas our indignant
critic is wielding thunder which, to put it mildly, does not belong to him, when he asserts: "If it be any part of religion to
believe that man was made by a gocd Being, it is more consistaunt with that faith to believe that this good Being gave all
human faculties that they might be cultivated and unfolded, not
rooted out and consumed; and that he takes delight in every
nearer approach made by his creatures to the ideal conception
embodied in them, every increase in any of their capabilities
of comprehension, of action, or of enjoyment." Precisely. For
these are words of truth and soberness; logical inferences from
an incontestable premise. Our heartiest subscription is written
to every syllable of them. A distinguished professor, in one of
our theological seminaries, used to say of certain propositions
advanced, that he was not absolutely sure about them. He
thought they were true, everything pointed in that direction;
still they might not be. But of the verity of other statements
he was wont to make he felt so confident, so he was accustomed
to declare, that he would be willing to go to the stake on them.
So this would seem to be one of those truths in defence of which
a man could conscientiously face fire. God did give all human
faculties that they might be cultivated and unfolded. God does
take delight in every nearer approach to those ideal conceptions
of manliness and moral nobility which are embodied in them.
God is well pleased when there ix any increase in any of our
capabilities of comprehension and action and enjoyment. Not in
mockery did Godl make man. Such power, such affections, such
aptitudes, such aspirations, were put into the haluman soul, as it
was seen would be good for a fman to possess and bring into ex ercise. God's design, if there be any such thing as reasoning
back from Fact to Purpose, was that all faculties, that all sus ceptibilities, that all the mult plied- resources which we have of
body and mind and heart, should be developed and employed.
Not a word, from beginning to end, not one, about "crushing
-1874.]
73