Article February 27, 1902 Issue

Communion with God

Theodore Parker with contributions from Macdonald

Sometimes a man makes a conscious and serious effort to receive and enlarge this communion. He looks over his daily life; his eye runs back to childhood, and takes in all the main facts of his outward and inward history. He sees much to mend, something also to approve. Here he erred through passion, there sinned by ambition; the desire from within, leagued with opportunity from without, making temptation too strong for him. He is penitent for the sin that was voluntary, or for the heedlessness whereby he went astray,—sorrowful at his defeat. But he remembers the manly part of him and with new resolution braces himself for new trials. He thinks of the powers that lie unused in his own nature; he looks out at the examples of lofty men; his soul is stirred to its deeper depths. A new image of beauty rises living from that troubled sea, and the ideal of human loveliness is folded in his arms. "This fair ideal," says he, "shall be mine. I also will be as whole and beautiful. Ah, me! how can I ever get such lovely life?" Then he thinks of the eternal Wisdom, the eternal Justice, the eternal Love, the eternal Holiness, which surrounds him, and now fills up his consciousness, waiting to bless. He reaches out his arms towards that infinite Motherliness which created him at first and has preserved him ever since; which surpassed when he fell short, furnishing the great plan of his life and the world's life, and is of all things perfect cause and Providence. Then, deeply roused in every part, he communicates with the infinite Mind and Conscience, Heart and Soul. He is made calmer by the thought of the immense tranquillity which enfolds the nervous world in its all-embracing, silent arms. He is comforted by the motherly aspect of that infinite Eye, which never slumbers in its watch over the suffering of each great and every little thing, converting it all to good. He is elevated to confidence in himself, when he feels so strong in the never-ending Love which makes, sustains, and guides the world of beasts, and men; makes from perfect motives, sustains with perfect providence, and guides by perfect love to never-ending bliss. Yea, the tranquillity, pity, love, of the infinite Mother enters into his soul, and he is tranquil, soothed, and strong once more. He has held communion with his God, and the Divine has given of the Deity's own kind.

Theodore Parker.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

About six years ago I was crushed to the earth, as it...