cams_benton_b028_f003_025_012

(4) [centered]

we must demur, reject, abhor – for this is fable – folly –
falsehood – abomination – wickedness – blasphemy – diab-
-olism! All things are god – one thing hardly more
than another – –. Motion is wonderful – has a
thousand varieties – meets us every where – therefore motion
may be deified & one may reverence the winds & worship the
lightnings [lightning's] glance. God is all beauty & all beauty is
God – – so one may exalt himself by adoring a butterfly
or paying homage to a rose-bud – or if he seek to pay
his devotions to the bright fire & curling smoke or the rising
sun – it matters not – he is doing homage to the Spirit
of beauty – which is God ~

Alas that men should besot themselves with
so great folly & wickedness – but the fact remains. Withal
they fain would make a show of being religious – their scheme
is so unreal lively & new & beautiful – but where are their works!
What holiness have they wrought – what goodness shown –
what purity attained – what excellence bodied forth! None,
none! It is vain, powerless, vicious, destructive! It has no
personal, spiritual, reigning, holy, God in it – whose
radiant glory fills all heaven – & shines in all his
works!

Objection – de. [describe] perfect man = God

(4) [centered]

we must demur, reject, abhor – for this is fable – folly –
falsehood – abomination – wickedness – blasphemy – diab-
-olism! All things are god – one thing hardly more
than another – –. Motion is wonderful – has a
thousand varieties – meets us every where – therefore motion
may be deified & one may reverence the winds & worship the
lightnings [lightning's] glance. God is all beauty & all beauty is
God – – so one may exalt himself by adoring a butterfly
or paying homage to a rose-bud – or if he seek to pay
his devotions to the bright fire & curling smoke or the rising
sun – it matters not – he is doing homage to the Spirit
of beauty – which is God ~

Alas that men should besot themselves with
so great folly & wickedness – but the fact remains. Withal
they fain would make a show of being religious – their scheme
is so unreal lively & new & beautiful – but where are their works!
What holiness have they wrought – what goodness shown –
what purity attained – what excellence bodied forth! None,
none! It is vain, powerless, vicious, destructive! It has no
personal, spiritual, reigning, holy, God in it – whose
radiant glory fills all heaven – & shines in all his
works!

Objection – de. [describe] perfect man = God