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friends the main points of his faith. We can hardly do better
than end the account with an extract.
MY CONFESSION.
The principles of our faith are common to all men, since, as
Tertullian said of old, “The soul of man is by nature
Christian.” In its broad aspect, stated for a circle of
intimate friends, my confession is as follows:—
We look upon it as our duty to sow around us in our daily
life the good seed, and to do loving deeds, even though that
should necessitate the giving of our lives for our neighbours,
our brothers.
We reckon as our brothers all who have anything in common
with us, without regard to creed, sex, or age, and without
recognising any privilege whatever which power, custom, or
culture may have conferred on us in the eyes of the world.
By good works we understand every kind of helpfulness that
we can show our fellows, by setting them free from spiritual
or bodily sufferings, lightening their severe toil, and spreading
among them the light of reason that illumines the path of our
life.
We observe no ceremonial rites, introduced and established
by Church, State, or ancient usage, since all these customs,
which are either outworn or have lost all significance, bedim
the light of life to reason. They often aid in quieting the
restless conscience by affording it a satisfaction in the
performance of certain outward deeds, intended to appease the
gods for past sins. Instead, we leave our conscience to be
plagued, without seeking to satisfy it with outer ceremonies,
until it becomes purged by repentance and renewed to
goodness.
We pass no judgments, have no law-suits, because the New
Testament enjoins that “if anyone smite thee on one cheek,
turn to him the other,” and that we return good for evil. If
any of our number sin, his conscience should punish him more
severely and justly than the courts and hangmen of this world.
We recognise no obligation to human Governments, because
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