My love and sympathy for you is undiminished. Changes do not sever our
hearts. I cannot but respect your self-reliant, independent, and therefore
progressive efforts to become more and more assimilated to Christ's
glorious image. I rejoice whenever I find one who dares to rely upon their
own organization, in the investigation of truth. In other words, one who
dares to be an independent thinker. * * *
Yes, you, Mrs. Fisher, in your individuality, are just what God made you
to be. And I respect every one who respects himself enough not to try to
pervert their organization, by striving to remodel it, and thus defile
God's image in them. To be natural, is our highest praise. To let God's
image shine through our individuality, should be our highest aim. Alas,
Mrs. Fisher, how few there are, who dare to be true to their God given
nature!
That terrible dogma that our natures are depraved, has ruined its
advocates, and led astray many a guileless, confiding soul. Why can we not
accept of God's well done work as perfect, and instead of defiling,
perverting it, let it stand in all its holy proportions, filling the place
God designed it to occupy, and adorn the temple it was fitted for? I, for
one, Mrs. Fisher, am determined to be a woman, true to my nature. I regard
my nature as holy, and every deviation from its instinctive tendency, I
regard as a perversion--a sin. To live a natural, holy life, as Christ
did, I regard as my highest honor, my chief glory.
I know this sentiment conflicts with our educated belief--our Church
creeds--and the honestly cherished opinions of our relatives and friends.
Still I believe a "thus saith the Lord" supports it. Could Christ take
upon himself our nature, and yet know no sin, if our natures are
necessarily sinful? Are not God's simple, common sense teachings,
authority enough for our opinions? It is, to all honest souls.
Indeed, Mrs. Fisher I have become so radical, as to call in question every
opinion in my educated belief, which conflicts with the dictates of reason
and common sense. I even believe that God has revealed to his creatures no
practical truth, which conflicts with the common instincts of our common
natures. In other words, I believe that God has adapted our natures to his
teachings. Truth and nature harmonize. I believe that all truth has its
source in God, and is eternal. But some perceive truth before others,
because some are less perverted in their natures than others, by their
educational influences, so that the light of the sun of righteousness
finds less to obstruct its beams in some than in others. Thus they become
lights in the world, for the benefit of others less favored. * * *
You preceded me, in bursting the shackles of preconceived opinions and
creeds, and have been longer basking in the liberty wherewith Christ makes
his people free, and have therefore longer been taught of him in things
pertaining to life and godliness. Would that I had had the mental courage
sooner to have imitated you, and thus have broken the fetters which bound
me to dogmas and creeds. O, Mrs. Fisher, how trammelled and crippled our
consciences have been! O, that we might have an open Bible, and an
unshackled conscience! And these precious boons we shall have, for God, by
his providence, is securing them to us. Yes, Mrs. Fisher, the persecutions
through which we are now passing is securing to us spiritual freedom,
liberty, a right, a determination to call no man master, to know no
teacher but the Spirit, to follow no light or guide not sanctioned by the
Word of God and our conscience--to know no "ism" or creed, but truthism,
and no pattern but Christ.
Henceforth, I am determined to use my own reason and conscience in my
investigation of truth, and in the establishment of my own opinions and
practice I shall give my own reason and conscience the preference to all
others. * * *
I know, also, that I am a sincere seeker after the simple truth. I know I
am not willful, but conscientious, in my conduct. And, notwithstanding
others deny this, I know their testimony is false. The Searcher of hearts
knows that I am as honest with myself, as I am with others. And, although
like Paul, I may appear foolish to others in so doing, yet my regard for
truth, transcends all other considerations of minor importance. God's good
work of grace in me shall never be denied by me, let others defame it, and
stigmatize it as insanity, as they will. They, not I, are responsible for
this sacrilegious act. God himself has made me dare to be honest and
truthful, even in defiance of this heaven daring charge, and God's work
will stand in spite of all opposition. "He always wins, who sides with
God." Mrs. Fisher, I am not now afraid or ashamed to utter my honest
opinions. The worst that my enemies can do to defame my character, they
have done, and I fear them no more. I am now free to be true and honest,
for this persecution for opinion and conscience' sake, has so strengthened
and confirmed me in the free exercise of these inalienable rights in
future, that no opposition can overcome me. For I stand by faith in what
is true and right. I feel that I am born into a new element--freedom,
spiritual freedom. And although the birth throes are agonizing, yet the
joyous results compensate for all.
How mysterious are God's ways and plans! My persecutors verily thought
they could compel me to yield these rights to human dictation, when they
have only fortified them against human dictation. God saw that suffering
for my opinions, was necessary to confirm me in them. And the work is
done, and well done, as all God's work always is. No fear of any human
oligarchy will, henceforth, terrify me, or tempt me to succumb to it.
I am not now afraid that I shall be called insane, if I avow my belief
that Christ died for all mankind, and that this atonement will be
effectual in saving all mankind from endless torment--that good will
ultimately overcome all evil--that God's benevolent purposes concerning
his creatures will never be thwarted--that no rebellious child of God's
great family will ever transcend his ability to discipline into entire
willing obedience to his will. Can I ever believe that God loves his
children less than I do mine? * * * And has God less power to execute his
kind plans than I have? Yes, I do and will rejoice to utter with a trumpet
tongue, the glorious truth, that God is infinitely benevolent as well as
infinitely wise and just.
Mrs. Fisher, what can have tempted us ever to doubt this glorious truth?
And do we not practically deny it, when we endorse the revolting doctrine
of endless punishment? I cannot but feel that the Bible, literally
interpreted, teaches the doctrine of endless punishment; yet, since the
teachings of nature, and God's holy character and government, seem to
contradict this interpretation, I conclude we must have misinterpreted its
holy teachings. For example, Jonah uses the word everlasting with a
limited meaning, when he says, "thine everlasting bars are about me."
Although to _his_ view his punishment was everlasting, yet the issue
proved that in reality, there was a limit to the time he was to be in the
whale's belly. So it may be in the case of the incorrigible; they may be
compelled to suffer what _to them_ is endless torment, because they see no
hope for them in the future. Yet the issue will prove God's love to be
infinite, in rescuing them from eternal perdition.
Again, Mrs. Fisher, my determination and aim is, to become a perfect
person in _Christ's_ estimation, although by so doing, I may become the
filth and off-scouring of all perverted humanity. What consequence is it
to us to be judged of man's judgment, when the cause of our being thus
condemned by them as insane, is the very character which entitles us to a
rank among the archangels in heaven?
Again, I am calling in question my right to unite myself to any Church of
Christ militant on earth; fearing I shall be thereby entrammelled by some
yoke of bondage--that the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free
may thus be circumscribed. There is so much of the spirit of bigotry and
intolerance in every denomination of Christians now on earth, that they do
not allow us an open Bible and an unshackled conscience. Or, in other
words, there are some to be found in almost every church, to whom we shall
become stumbling blocks or rocks of offence, if we practically use the
liberty which Christ offers us. Now what shall I do? I do want to obey
Christ's direct command to come out from the world and be separate, while
at the same time I feel that there is more Christian liberty and charity
out of the Church than in it. I am now waiting and seeking the Spirit's
aid in bringing this question to a practical test and issue.
And, Mrs. Fisher, I fully believe, from God's past care of me, that he
will lead me to see the true and living way in which I ought to walk. I
will not hide my light under a bushel, but put it upon a candlestick, that
it may give light to others. I will also live out, practically, my
honestly cherished opinions, believing "that they that _do_ his
commandments shall _know_ of the doctrine." I also fully believe that the
more fully and exclusively I _live out_ the teachings of the Holy Spirit,
the more persecution I shall experience. For they that will live godly, in
Christ's estimation, "shall suffer persecution."
Mrs. Fisher, I fully believe that Christ's coming cannot be far distant.
His coming will restore all things, which we have lost for his sake. Our
cause will then find an eloquent pleader in Christ himself, and through
our Advocate, the Judge, Himself, will acknowledge us to be his true,
loyal subjects, and we shall enter into the full possession of our
promised inheritance. With this glorious prospect in full view to the eye
of faith, let us "gird up the loins of our mind." In other words, let us
dare to pursue the course of the _independent thinker_, and let us run
with patience the race set before us. Let us carry uncomplainingly the
mortifying cross, which is laid upon us, so long as God suffers it to
remain; remembering that it is enough for the servant that he be as his
Master. For "as they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
"Be of good cheer." Mrs. Fisher, "I have overcome the world." Blessed
consolation! Mrs. Fisher, the only response I expect to get from this
letter, is your silent heartfelt sympathy in my sorrows. No utterance is
allowed for my alleviation. And the only way that I am allowed to
administer consolation through the pen is by stratagem. I shall employ
this means so far as lies in my power, so that when the day of revelation
arrives, it may be said truthfully of me, "she hath done what she could."
Impossibilities are not required of us.
Please tell Theophilus, my oft repeated attempts to send him a motherly
letter, have been thwarted. And he, poor persecuted boy! cannot be allowed
a mother's tender, heartfelt sympathy. O, my God, protect my precious boy!
and carry him safely through this pitiless storm of cruel persecution. Do
be to him a mother and a sister, and God shall bless you. Please deliver
this message, charged to overflowing with a mother's undying love. Be true
to Jesus. Ever believe me your true friend and sympathizing sister,