User:JimWae/Hayes

[Page 574]
 * May 17, 1890.--Writing a few words for Mohonk Negro Conference, I find myself using the word Christian. I am not a subscriber to any creed. I belong to no church. But in a sense, satisfactory to myself and believed by me to be important, I try to be a Christian, or rather I want to be a Christian and to help do Christian work.


 * In the summer of 1836 I went to Norwalk to attend the Methodist Academy

[Page 387]
 * CINCINNATI, August 21, 1851.


 * I have read another book--not yet finished--calculated to fill one with hope, "The Life and Works of Dr. Channing." The doctor may be in error as to some doctrinal points, but the great features of his system are founded on the rock of truth. If ever I am made a Christian, it will be under the influence of views like his. He says the test of Christianity is the state of the heart and affections, not the state of a man's intellectual belief. If a man feels the humility becoming one prone to sinfulness, looks above for assistance, repents of what he does that is wrong, aspires to purity of intention and correctness of conduct in all the relations of life, such a man is a Christian for he adopts the spirit of Christ's teaching and imitates His example; this too in spite of his faith, whether it be Calvinistic, Unitarian, Universalist, or Papist. That I can comprehend. The half of the orthodox creeds, I don't understand and can't fully believe.

[Page 163]
 * April 15 1845--[According to] D'Aubigne's "History of the Reformation," Christianity has two features which especially distinguish it from all human systems: (1) That the only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ. (2) That salvation is a gift of God--a matter of grace. .  .  . D'Aubigne constantly affirms that, in his opinion, the Reformation was the immediate work of the Divine hand.


 * Now, it seems to me that Providence interferes no more in the greatest affairs of men than in the smallest, and that neither individuals nor nations are any more the objects of a special interposition of the Divine Ruler than the inanimate things of the world. The Creator gave to every creature of his hand its laws at the time of its creation and whatever can happen in accordance with those laws He doubtless foresaw, and it cannot be supposed that his laws are so imperfect that special interpositions are necessary to render them capable of fulfilling their design, nor that it is possible for them to be violated. The Reformation like other revolutions was agreeable to principles which have existed since the world began.

http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/hayes/Volume05/AppendixB/NATIONALPRISONASSOCIATION.txt
 * He was an adherent and member of the board of trustees of the Methodist church at Fremont, Ohio, and for many years a member of the board of trustees of the Methodist college at Delaware, Ohio, but he was not a communicant

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 * October 15. Wednesday.--The election yesterday passed off with a fine day and full vote. The returns seem to indicate a rousing Republican victory.


 * Our County Bible Society holds its yearly meeting soon. As one of the vice-presidents of the general society of the county, as a non-church member, a non-professor of religion, I may say why men of the world, friends of their country and of their race, should support the religion of the Bible--the Christian religion. To worship -- "the great Creator to adore" -- the wish to establish relations with the Omnipotent Power which made the universe, and which controls it, is a deeply seated principle of human nature. It is found among all races of men. It is well-nigh universal. All peoples have some religion. In our day men who cast off the Christian religion show the innate tendency by spending time and effort in Spiritualism. If the God of the Bible is dethroned the goddess of reason is set up. Religion always has been, always will be. Now, the best religion the world has ever had is the religion of Christ. A man or a community adopting it is virtuous, prosperous, and happy.


 * Byron has said, "If our God was man -- or man, God--Christ was both"; and continuing he said, "I never arraigned his creed, but the use--or abuse--made of it."


 * What a great mistake the man makes who goes about to oppose this religion! What a crime, if we may judge of men's acts by their results! Nay, what a great mistake is made by him who does not support the religion of the Bible!