Part 14 (1/2)

Mr. Parker differs from me as to the use of the phrase ”Spirit of G.o.d.” I see practical reasons, which I have not here s.p.a.ce to insist on, for adhering to the _Christian_, as distinguished from the _Jewish_ use of this phrase. Theodore Parkes follows the phraseology of the Old Testament, according to which Bezaleel and others received the spirit of G.o.d to aid them in mere mechanical arts, building and tailoring. To ridicule Theodore Parker for this, would seem to me neither witty nor decent in an unbeliever; but when one does so, who professes to believe the whole Old Testament to be sacred, and stoops to lucifer matches and the Eureka s.h.i.+rt, as if this were a refutation, I need a far severer epithet. Mr. Rogers implies that the light of a lucifer match is comparable to the light of Theodore Parker; what will be the judgment of mankind a century hence, if the wide dissemination of the ”Eclipse of Faith” lead to inscribing the name of Henry Rogers permanently in biographical dictionaries! Something of this sort may appear:--

”THEODORE PARKER, the most eminent moral theologian whom the first half of the nineteenth century produced in the United States. When the churches were so besotted, as to uphold the curse of slavery because they found it justified in the Bible; when the Statesmen, the Press, the Lawyers, and the Trading Community threw their weight to the same fatal side; Parker stood up to preach the higher law of G.o.d against false religion, false statesmans.h.i.+p, crooked law and cruel avarice.

He enforced three great fundamental truths, G.o.d, Holiness, and Immortality. He often risked life and fortune to rescue the fugitive slave. After a short and very active life full of good works, he died in blessed peace, prematurely worn out by his perpetual struggle for the true, the right, and the good. His preaching is the crisis which marked the turn of the tide in America from the material to the moral, which began to enforce the eternal laws of G.o.d on trade, on law, on administration, and on the professors of religion itself.”

And what will be then said of him, who now despises the n.o.ble Parker? I hope something more than the following:--”HENRY ROGERS, an accomplished gentleman and scholar, author of many books, of which by far the most popular was a smart satirical dialogue, disfigured by unjustifiable garbling and profane language, the aim of which was to sneer down Theodore Parker and others who were trying to save spiritual doctrine out of the wreck of historical Christianity.”

Jocose scoffing, and dialogue writing is the easiest of tasks; and if Mr. Rogers's co-religionists do not take the alarm, and come in strength upon Messrs. Longman, imploring them to suppress these books of Mr. Rogers, persons who despise _all_ religion (with whom Mr.

Rogers pertinaciously confounds me under the term infidel), may one of these days imitate his sprightly example against his creed and church.

He himself seems to me at present incurable. I do not appeal to _him_, I appeal to his co-religionists, how they would like the publication of a dialogue, in which his free and easy sceptic ”Mr. Harrington”

might reason on the _opposite_ side to that pliable and candid man of straw ”Mr. Fellowes?” I here subjoin for their consideration, an imaginary extract of the sort which, by their eager patronage of the ”Eclipse of Faith,” they are inviting against themselves.

_Extract._

I say, Fellowes! (said Harrington), what was that, that Parker and Rogers said about the Spirit of G.o.d?

Excuse me (said Fellowes), Theodore Parker and Henry Rogers hold very different views, Mr. Rogers would be much hurt to bear you cla.s.s him with Parker.

I know (replied he), but they both hold that G.o.d inspires people; and that is a great point in common, as I view it. Does not Mr. Rogers believe the Old Testament inspired and all of it true?

Certainly (said Fellowes): at least he was much shocked with Mr.

Newman for trying to discriminate its chaff from its wheat.

Well then, he believes, does not he, that Jehovah filled men _with the spirit of wisdom_ to help them make a suit of clothes for Aaron!

Fellowes, after a pause, replied:--That is certainly written in the 28th chapter of Exodus.

Now, my fine fellow! (said Harrington), here is a question to _rile_ Mr. Rogers. If Aaron's toggery needed one portion of the spirit of wisdom from Jehovah, how many portions does the Empress Eugenie's best crinoline need?

Really (said Fellowes, somewhat offended), such ridicule seems to me profane.

Forgive me, dear friend (replied Harrington, with a sweet smile).

_Your_ views I never will ridicule; for I know you have imbibed somewhat of Francis Newman's fancy, that one ought to feel tenderly towards other men's piety. But Henry Rogers is made of stouter stuff; he manfully avows that a religion, if it is true, ought to stand the test of ridicule, and he deliberately approves this weapon of attack.

I cannot deny that (said Fellowes, lifting his eyebrows).

But I was going to ask (continued Harrington) whether Mr. Rogers does not believe that Jehovah filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of G.o.d, for the work of jeweller, coppersmith, and mason?

Of course he does (answered Fellowes), the text is perfectly clear, in the 31st of Exodus; Bezaleel and Aholiab were both inspired to become cunning workmen.

By the Goose (said Harrington)--forgive a Socratic oath--I really do not see that Mr. Rogers differs much from Theodore Parker. If a man cannot hack a bit of stone or timber without the Spirit of G.o.d, Mr.

Rogers will have hard work to convince me, that any one can make a rifled cannon without the Spirit of G.o.d.

There is something in that (said Fellowes). In fact, I have sometimes wondered how Mr. Rogers could say that which _looks_ so profane, as what he said about the Eureka s.h.i.+rt.

Pray what is that? (said Harrington;) and where?

It is in his celebrated ”Defence,” 2nd edition, p. 155. ”_If_ Minos and Praxiteles are inspired in the same sense as Moses and Christ, then the inventor of lucifer matches, as well as the inventor of the Eureka s.h.i.+rts, must be also admitted”--to be inspired.