The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal, March, 1880

indro - Various

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe
Tout savoir sur nos offres

66 pages

English

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe
Tout savoir sur nos offres

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Christian Foundation, March, 1880 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license Title: The Christian Foundation, March, 1880 Release Date: February 14, 2009 [Ebook 28075] Language: English ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, MARCH, 1880*** The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal Vol. 1. No 3. March, 1880. Contents The Influence Of The Bible Upon Moral And Social Institutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Influence Of The Bible Upon Social Life And Social Institutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Law, Cause, And Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Inconsistency Of Modern Unbelievers Or Materialists. 14 Materialism In Its Bearings Upon Person And Personality. 17 Was It Right? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 It Only Needs To Be Seen, And Its Ugliness At Once Appears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Did The Race Ascend From A Low State Of Barbarism? . 27 The Flood Viewed From A Scientific And Biblical Stand- point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Mosaic Law In Greece, In Rome, And In The Common Law Of England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Informations

Publié par	indro
Publié le	08 décembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	18
Langue	English

Extrait

ehTChristianFoundation,,rOScientificandReligiousVol.1.No3.March,81.08Journal

ContentsTheInfluenceOfTheBibleUponMoralAndSocialInstitutions........................TheInfluenceOfTheBibleUponSocialLifeAndSocialInstitutions........................Law,Cause,AndAgent...................TheInconsistencyOfModernUnbelieversOrMaterialists.MaterialismInItsBearingsUponPersonAndPersonality.WasItRight?........................ItOnlyNeedsToBeSeen,AndItsUglinessAtOnceAppears..........................DidTheRaceAscendFromALowStateOfBarbarism?.TheFloodViewedFromAScientificAndBiblicalStand-point............................TheMosaicLawInGreece,InRome,AndInTheCommonLawOfEngland.....................DidAdamFallOrRise?..................DidTheyDreamIt,OrWasItSo?.............Miscellaneous........................152141719132720333831434

TMhoeraIlnfAlunednSceocOiaflTInhsetiBtuitbiloensU.ponItisprofitableforustooccasionallysurveythedarkarenawheremenhaveplayedtheirpart,inlonelygloom,withoutaSaviorandwithoutaGod.Paganmorality,beingwithoutthemotivesandrestraintsofrevealedreligion,andguidedwhollybythepassionsandthelightsofreasonandnature,isgrosslydefective.Ithasnosettledstandardofrightandwrong.Itisvaintolook,inallheathenphilosophyforanysettledprinciplesofdutyormotivesthatcommendthemselvestoenlightenedminds.Whatisthebasisandcharacterofvirtue?Whatisthelawofmoralconduct?Whatistheobjectwhichgovernsit?Inwhatdoeshumanhappinessconsist?Thesearequestionswhichhaveneverbeensatisfactorilyansweredbytheunaidedpowersofthehumanmind.TheannalsofPaganhistoryshowtherealresultsofalltheirspeculationsuponthesequestions.Theyarecomprehensivelypresentedinthefollowing:Theybecamevainintheirimaginationsandtheirfoolishheartsweredarkened.Theywerefilledwithallunrighteousness,fornication,wickedness,covetousness,maliciousness,envy,murder,deceit,malignity.Theywerebackbiters,hatersofGod,despiteful,proud,inventorsofevilthings,disobedienttoparents,withoutnaturalaffection,implacableandunmerciful.Theirmannersandhabitsweretheresultsofmerewhimandcapricewhentheywerenottheresultsofsimpleloveofwickedness.Theviceofonecommunitywas0[]18]280[

]380[2TheChristianFoundation,March,1880thevirtueofanother;andrefinementinonewasunpardonablerudenessinanother.ThepublicfestivalscelebratedinEgyptaredisgracefuluponthepagesofhistory,beingaccompaniedwithshamefulpractices.EgyptwasnotedforcorruptmoralsasfarbackasthetimesofAbraham.AsiaMinorwasnobetter;unrighteousness,sensualityandluxuryprevailed.InGreecetherewasbrutalsavagenessinitsmosthideousforms;intheageofitsgreatestrefinementsinwasdressedupinthefineststyle.TheOlympic,PythianandIsthmiangames,whichwerekeptuptogivestrengthtothebodyandcourageinthebattle,weredebasingandcorruptingtothelowestdegreeofwretchedness.Theagesofancientheroismwerefilledupwithcrimeanddebauchery.Theywerefruitfulinincestandparricide,andallthedarkandgloomyeventswhichwerenecessarytomakeupthemostfearfulpictureofimmorality.ThemonarchsofAssyriaspenttheirtimemainlyindebasingcrimeandvoluptuousness.ThebrightestandbestdaysofBabylonwerenotoriousforlewdnessandaccomplishmentincrimeandiniquity;loadedwithriches,theysparednopainsandwithheldnomeansintheproductionofallthatgratifiedtheirlustsandfedtheirpassions.InBabylontherewasacertainwellknowntempleinwhichadulterywaslegalizedbycompulsorylawforthepurposeofincreasingthepublicrevenue.TheancientPaganreligionssanctionedandpracticedthemostdetestiblelicentiousness.Catocommendedyoungmenforvisitinghousesofill-fame.SuchwastheverybestphaseofmoralsandpublicmannersinthepureststateofRomansociety.Whatmusthavebeentheworst?Theworst!Well,Iwillgiveyouanideaofit.TheEmperorNerodrovethroughthestreetsofthecapitalwithhismistressinastateofnudity;andtheEmperorCommodusfirstseducedandthenmurderedhisownsister.Herereason,blindedbylust,wastheirguide.ThesepeoplewerenottroubledwiththatterriblebookcalledtheBible.Happy(?)state.Howwouldweliketohaveourhomesinthemidstofsuchfellows?Theirconsciencehadnofastenings,how

3couldtheirdoctrinesexcitetomoralvirtue?Howmuchbetteraretheprinciplesofmoderninfidels?Bolingbroke'smoralityisallembracedinself-love.Hobbesclaimsthattheonlybasisofrightandwrongisthecivillaw.Rousseausaysallthemoralityofactionsisinthejudgementweourselvesformofthem.Shaftsburysays,alltheobligationstobevirtuousarisefromtheadvantagesofvirtue,andthedisadvantagesofvice.Havesuchmoralprincipleseverreformedtheworld?Dotheyreformtheiradvocates?Didyoueverknowamantoreformafterhebecameanadvocateofsuchprinciples?DidyoueverknowamantoreformafterunderstandingandabandoningtheChristianreligion?IfanysucheverreformedtheirlivesaftersettingthemselvesonPaganground,byopposingChristianity,Ihaveyettolearnthefact.Itisthemoralityofawickedworldthatsimplyasksfortheprofitable,andnottheright;whichinquiresnotforduty,butforself-interestfortheopinionsofmen;itisabodywithoutaspiritawhitewashedsepulchresplendidonlyinsepulchralgreatness.Moralityrestsnotuponprinciplesthatclothethemselvesinvariousgarbstopleasethedifferentfanciesofthedifferentages,consultingsimplythespiritofthetimes.Suchmoralityisonethingto-dayandquiteanotherto-morrowitisvariableastheseasons.Itadaptsitselftotheoccasiontothehour.Itisverypliantithasnoconscience,butisalwayspopularity-seeking.ThemoralityoftheChristianreligionisverydifferent.IntheNewTestamentwefindamoralityaspure,loftyandunchangingasitsdivineauthor;itpurifiesandregulatestheinnermanmakethetreegoodandthefruitwillbegood.TheBiblesettlesthegreatquestionofduty.Itteachesusthattodorightistodothatwhichisrightinitself,frompuremotivesandwitharightspirit.ThesetwothingsGodhathjoinedtogether,viz:therightdeedfromrightmotives,andtherightspirit.Aman'sconsciencemaybesatisfiedwithouttherightmotivesandwithouttherightspirit,butthatisnotenough.0[]48

4TheChristianFoundation,March,1880Itisnotenoughforamantohavetherightspiritandtherightmotives,unlesshedoesthatwhichisrightinitself.Consciencemaybewarpedbymalevolence,selfishness,prejudice,oreducation,untilthemanisledtodothatwhichisdetestableinthesightofGod.Thetimemaycomewhenthismanwillregrethisfoolishness,andseethathewaswrong,likeSaulof.dloRightthingsmaybedonefromawrongspirit,andwrongthingsmaybedonefromarightspirit,butthemoralityoftheChristianreligionconsistsindoingrightthingsfromrightmotivesandinarightspirit.ThegreatmotivethatgovernsusasChristianmoralistsisthefactmadeknowninthesewords,Godrequiresit.Youmaytalkofthedignityofcorrectmorals,oftheirbeautyandvirtue,andoftheterriblenatureofvice,andofthedemandsofawell-governedselfishness,butalltheseareweakcomparedwiththeauthorityoftheSupremeBeingwhomChristiansloveandadore.Ifwewouldreformmensuccessfullywemustbringtheconscienceunderthestrongbondsofobligation;wemustextendtheauthorityofthegreatLawgiverovertheunderstanding,overtheconscience,overthememory,overtheimagination,overtheentireinnerman.Thisalonewillstopthegerminationsofsin,andcheckwickednessinitsconception.Thisisthetap-rootofthetreeofvirtuethesourceofvirtuousprinciples,demonstratingthetruthfulnessoftheaxiom,Makethetreegoodandthefruitwillbegood.Simpleadvantageisnotthefoundationofvirtue;ithasanatureasidefromitstendenciestoworldlyprofit.Otherwisevirtuewouldoftenceasetobevirtue,andvicewouldoftenceasetobevice.Ancientlythereweremoralphilosopherswhopleadthatutilitywastheonlyfoundationofvirtue.PaulspeaksofsomewhosupposedGodlinesswasgain.Suchamoralitywouldbethemostuncertainthingintheworld;giveitwhatnameyouchoose,itismereselfishness.

TheInfluenceOfTheBibleUponSocialLifeAndSocialInstitutions.5Man'sentirenatureforceshimdirectlyintoasocialstate.Heisdestituteofthestrengthpossessedbymanyoftheloweranimals,andnaturallyunableforwantofspeedtoescapetheirattacks,socareforlifeleadshimintotheclosestallianceswithhisfellows.Childhoodandoldagenecessitatedependence,andhiswants,duringthoseperiods,bringhimunderobligationstoothersduringhisstrengthandmanhood.Thesocialstateisalsonecessarytothedevelopmentofhisintellectualnature,andsomeofhisnaturalaffectionscanbeexercisedonlyinsuchastate.Benevolence,gratitude,complacencyandheroismarenotexercisedinaninsolatedconditiontheyarecalledoutonlyinmutualassociationswithourfellow-men.Thenoblesteffortsofintellectualstrengthandofhumaningenuityaremadeunderthemostpowerfulinfluenceofsociety.Thusencouraged,menhavecollectedarmies,foundedkingdomsandgovernedthem.Insuchkingdomstheartsandscienceshaveflourishedinagreaterorlessdegree,andimperfectmoralshavecrownedtheirlaborsandliftedtheirmindsashighastheirunaidedpowershavepermitted.SuchhasbeenthebestconditioninwhichtheScriptureseverfoundthesocialstate.Thestructurehasbeenincomplete,restinguponnosolidbasis,andonlyimperfectlycementedtogether.Suchastateofsocietyhasalwaysbeenaproperobjectforthemodifyingandcontrolling580[]

]680[6TheChristianFoundation,March,1880influencesofapurersystemofmorality,foundeduponapurereligion.Whathasbeenthestateofsocietyintimespastwithoutthelightofrevealedreligion?ThereareevilsinthesocialstatewheretheChristianreligionexists,buttheyweretherebeforetheGospelofChristvisitedthoseplaces.ItisverycommonforunbelieverstochargethecalamitiesofthesocialstatetotheChristianreligion,butitisadishonorablemodeofargumentation.Theproperquestionisthis:HashumanityeverbeenwellorganizedinthesocialstatewithoutthepresenceandinfluenceoftheBible?Hasiteverbeenwellgovernedundersuchcircumstances?Havemenrespectedthesocialrightsandobligationsorproperlyunderstoodthemintheabsenceofrevealedreligion?HasthereligionofChristbeenadisturberofthesocialorganizationwheresocialrightswereproperlyunderstoodandregarded?orhasitsetasidetherightsandobligationsofmeninsociallifewheremenwereenjoyingpeaceable,happyrelations?Doesitslegitimateinfluencemakemenmorewickedandmiserable?AnhonestanswertothesequestionswillcommendthereligionofJesusChrist,anddohonortohimasourLordandMaster.TheScriptureshavebeenthemeansofestablishinginstitutionswhichhavestoodforcenturies.Wheresocietyhasbeendisjointedandoutoforder,withoutbondsoradhesiveness,theScriptureshavebeenintroduced,banishingdisorderandbringingpeaceandgoodwilltoman.TheyhavesilentlyoperatedinthesocialsurroundingsandgraduallyelevatedPaganlandsoutofPaganism.Theyrefineandcleansethecruel,givingthemhabitswhichmakethematoncesuperiortoallPagans.LookatRomeandPersiaincomparisonwithEnglandandAmerica.ThePersian'sreligionwasthebestofalltheuninspiredreligions.Theyworshipedtheirunknowngodinthesun,moonandstars.Intworeigningprinciplestheysoughtforanexplanationofthepresentstateofgoodandevilmixed,whichistheperplexingproblemthathasalwaysconfounded

7unenlightenedreason.ThePersian'screedonlyexercisedhisintellectandgratifiedhiscuriosity.Itbroughtnopowertobearuponhissocialrelations.Persianhistoryisamassofcrimes,sufferingandintolerance.Thegovernmentwasadespotism,andpolygamygavelawstothedomesticandprivaterelationsofthecitizens.AncientRomestandsforemostinallthatmoralcultureandphilosophyalonecandoforsocialinstitutions.Itsreligionwasgrossintheextreme,exertinganunhappyinfluenceuponthemasses,whileitwasdisregardedbythepriestswhotaughtit,theirsoleobjectbeingtoterrifythemultitudeandkeeptheminsubjectiontotheauthoritiesofthestate.ItwassaidbyaRoman,Ournationexistsmorebyreligionthanbythesword.ButuponanexaminationofRomanhistoryyouwillfindservitude,despotism,tumult,revolt,revolutionandslaughter,peaceandwar.Theambitionsofrivalstothethrone,andnewschemesofrulers,oftendelugedthecountrywithbloodandcarriedtheswordtoremoteandpeaceablenations,tillthehorrorsofcivilwarwererealizedinalmosteverypartoftheworld.Everynowandthenthepowersofsomegreatmind,irritatedbyhiscalamities,havingallthevicesandnoneofthevirtuesofhisspecies,wouldriseupandwreakvengeanceindeedswhichcannotbethoughtofwithoutsadnessofheart.HowmuchbetterwasancientGreece?HowmuchbetteraremodernPagannations?TheseevilshavebeenextinguishedintheratioofthecirculationandinfluenceoftheBible.TherelationbetweenthestateanditscitizenstheBiblerecognizesasofdivineappointment;thefoundationofcivilgovernmentisthewillofGod.GovernmentisanordinanceofGod.ThepowersthatbeareordainedofGod.Thegreatauthorofourrights,life,liberty,peace,order,publicmoralsandreligion,hasnotlefttheseintereststochance,anarchyorthesocialcompact.RulerswereordainedofGod,andarerulers,notfortheirownexaltation,butforthetranquility,virtueandpeaceofthegoverned.Where]780[