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

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all the logic which man is able to bring to bear upon the question. <strong>The</strong><br />

philosophy of the world of thinkers has mysteries, which it accepts as<br />

irresistibly proven or attested to consciousness, which are as impossible,<br />

logically, as the doctrine of the Trinity, or the personal presence of the<br />

undivided Christ in His Supper. All systems of Christian theology, even<br />

the lowest, acknowledge that certain things, which seem to reason <strong>and</strong><br />

logic impossible, are not only possible but actual; as, for example, that<br />

there should be a self-existent being. If there be one thing, which, beyond<br />

all others of its class, seems to the mind of man logically impossible, it is<br />

this very thing of SELF-EXISTENCE; yet it is most clear that we must<br />

choose between the idea of one self-existent or of a vast number of selfexistents.<br />

<strong>The</strong> normal mind of man, on an intelligent presentation of the<br />

whole case, at once chooses the former, <strong>and</strong> thus concedes that the<br />

impossible, logically, is the presupposition of all that is possible <strong>and</strong> actual.<br />

Because self-existence seems to us impossible, we are compelled to<br />

believe in the self-existent. We have to choose between, once for all,<br />

accepting the seemingly impossible, <strong>and</strong> thus having a ground for all that<br />

is possible, or, accepting the same seemingly impossible, multiplied<br />

infinitely.<br />

Creation.<br />

But having accepted the seemingly impossible in essence, by<br />

believing in God, we are again compelled to acknowledge the seemingly<br />

impossible in act, by accepting the fact of creation. Granted an infinite<br />

mind, yet does it seem impossible that by its mere will, material <strong>and</strong><br />

intellectual being should come into existence. We are compelled to<br />

acknowledge that out of material nothing material something is brought to<br />

being. <strong>The</strong> lowest thing that is, we argue, must imply preexistent mind, to<br />

adapt it to its ends; yet the highest thing that is, God himself, though He be<br />

an entity of perfect adaptation, is not adapted, but is absolute.<br />

Omnipresence.<br />

Another mystery recognized in all Christian theology is that there<br />

should be a substantial PRESENCE of this Being, such that the whole of<br />

His essence shall be in each part of the universe; <strong>and</strong> yet that there shall be<br />

no multiplication of essence or presence; that the entire essence should<br />

pervade infinity, <strong>and</strong> yet be indivisible; so that there is no

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