The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

work of Rationalism--to pretend to hold the Word, but to corrupt its sense,
so that the Confession and the Word should no longer seem to correspond.
The mischief seemed to be incurable; but God did not forsake his own
work. The evil brought its own cure. The mischief wrought until it was
found that the idea of men calling themselves by the name of a Church,
and yet claiming the right to assail its doctrines, was the idea of Infidelity
in the bud--it was Belial allowed to take shelter under the hem of the
garment of Christ. Any man who will read thoughtfully the history of
Rationalism in Europe, and of the Unionism which is now too often its
stronghold, will not wonder at the earnestness of true Lutheranism in
Germany, and of Synods which are in affinity with it, in maintaining a pure
Confession. He will have no difficulty in comprehending their
indisposition to tolerate indifferentism, rationalism, and heresy, under the
pretence of union. They cannot call bitter sweet, while their lips are yet wet
with the wormwood which was forced upon them.
History of Rationalism.
The history of Rationalism in our Church will show certain phases,
of which we will offer a hint:
I. In the first place, the doctrine of the Church was conceded to be
true, but its relative importance was detracted from. It was argued that
doctrinal theories should be thrown into the background, and that directly
practical and experimental truths, separated from their true connections in
the profounder doctrines, should be exclusively urged. (Pseudo-Pietism
and Fanaticism.)
II. From an impaired conviction of the value of these conceded
doctrines, grew a disposition to ignore the doctrines which divided the
Lutheran and Reformed Communions. The Divine Word was not to be
pressed in cases in which there was a reluctance to accept its teachings.
From this arose Unionistic efforts on the basis of a general Protestant
orthodoxy, and an assimilation on the part of the Lutheran Church to the
Reformed basis, tendency, and doctrine.
III. From the disposition to undervalue and ignore these doctrines,
arose the feeling that if they could be entirely set aside, there would be a
great gain to the cause of unity. Why