OF ALL RELIGIONS.

TO THE READERS.

Is Proposed a Conference through publications until the Fourth of July, and then a Universal Convocation of representative wise men, as delegates from every religion of the whole earth, for summing up after full discussion and deliberation, who are willing to compare and contrast all the knowledge of their every religion, with that of the Knowledge of The New Jerusalem descending from God out of Heaven. And that this be done upon the Centennial Grounds, at Philadelphia, U. S., 1876.

Goodness is the very attribute of loving only the dominion of good and truth; and the overthrow only of all that is evil and false; and that fears no discussions, light, knowledge, comparison, or contrast whatsoever.

Let us bring Peace on Earth and Good-will to men," by making, through reformation, all our religions ecumenical to all sincere and honest men.

The Divine Way is to Reform Religion, "That they all may be one, as Thou, FATHER art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that THOU hast sent Me. And I have given to them the glory which Thou hast given to Me, that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected into one; and that the world may know that THOU hast sent Me."-John 17:21,23. Show precisely your belief with its

reason.

Do you ask for the signs of authority? "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16. "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. Neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Then let the judgment be accordingly, that, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down. 27 All fruits are therefore now on trial, and "Wherefore ?"-Because, their fruits ye shall know them."

'By

Are not all trees known, estimated, and tested, without exception, only by their fruits by all men? And this universal and rational rule, is the sole and divine rule for testing every religionist, and his religion, before all men and tribunals. Fruit, then, is the sole sign of authority.

SENIOR PASTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN UNITY SOCIETY, BOSTON; AND

of

A SACRED TRIBUTE

PLACED UPON THE GRAVES OF

MILLARD FILLMORE AND CHARLES SUMNER.

"How are the dead raised up?"-1 Cor. xv. 35.

BOSTON:

PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON.

SERMON.

"HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP?". 1 Cor. xv. 35.

It seems almost impossible for man, or for angel, to state exactly how the dead are raised up. Jesus leaves the matter in the dark. The apostles do not attempt to explain it minutely. It is one of the mysteries that are peculiarly under the sole management of God. How? What matter how? It is the fact we want, not the means. How does the seed become the tree? How does a little mist grow into a star? How is the infant ever a man? Ah! tell me how Sift nature's secrets if you can. find out all about your mind, heart. It is impossible. Do not go into the future, asking how, until the past and the present are all plain. There is something very beautiful and very sublime in the spirit that rests content with realities, never attempting to make these realities tell the secret of their growth.

any thing is, as it is? Look at yourself, then your body, and your

A peach tastes just as good, although you know nothing about its history as you hold it in your hand, and as you are ready to enjoy its delicious flavor. A ship sails just as well, although you never could tell how it was made, nor of what timber it is composed.

I do not declaim against the study of reasons, but I merely wish to maintain that they are not absolutely indispensable. I wish to attest that man can get along very well without them.

If, then, we cannot tell how the dead are raised, why do we preach about it? why do we talk about it? and why do we think about it? Are we not wasting our time and our patience, and are we not foolishly beating the air?

This is really a serious question; for the whole world are guilty of dealing with this important subject, so that if it be a subject that should not be touched, the whole world will have to be summoned to the bar of judgment. Why is our mind given to us if we are not to use it? Would not the possession of thought be a mockery, if thought were never to be called out, and if its powers were never to be tested? These intellectual faculties that we possess must be constantly exercised, for thus alone can we master truth. If we smother reason, if we crush imagination, and if we chain judgment, we soon should become idiots. Every thing material and spiritual that we learn is gained through ideas. Thought is the acorn: invention is the oak. Dim fancies float in the brain. They are examined, they are sifted, they are caged, and then they are published; whilst the result is the explosion of error and the inauguration of some beautiful fact. The probable and the possible in this way become the actual. Thus, Galileo threw overboard the astronomy of previous ages, casting the priests into great dismay. He would not have dared to have acted from impulse, and, by some sudden gust of passion, to have taken his stand against the whims of the vener