The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-29

Yor heDeS80ng A1oDsDsg,
JOSHUA 18ACY.
CIvILrxArlou AnD xnn nU1n.
The civilization Of Chrisssndom b Tie out
growth of the Bible. The political institu-
tons, the morals Of society, Tie ssaations Of |
the family, and individual character, |
have been, to an indefinite extent, inspired |
by and fashioned upon, the principles and |
IDEAS developed in the Bible. The light
which Eliminates Christendom, and has dis
sipated the darkness of its ancient barbarism,
and now distinguishes il from the gloomy Il.
norance Of the rest Of the world, still lying in
the depths of heathenism, shons forth from
the pages Of the Bible. And it will BE- found
that just in proportion 70 the diffusion Of the
Of the Bible, and TO the apprecia.
ton Of its truths, in the various nations and
communities Of Christendom, has been the
development Of the general intelligence and
pure morality which mark the highest type
of modern civilization. And this idea, finds
a still more definite application in the fact,
that in every community, that man will be
universally regarded ~ exhibiting the most
desirable development Of character, whose
heart and mind, and outward conduct, seem
most nearly to accord With the precepts Of
the Gospel, and to be modelled in closest imi.
tation of the founder of Christianity. And it
Is no objection, Notwithstanding the frequen-
cy with which it is urged, against the infu-
ence or the excellence of the teachings Of
the Bible, that it exercises but Q partial or
imperfect effect in moulding human charac.
ter. and does not always control those who
profess to abide by it. It is clear, on the
contrary, that the partial influence exerted
by the Bible, or the perversion of its teach>
ings, is no fault of the Bible, but rather
proof Of the pcrversity and corruption of
those who fail to imbibe its spirit and practice
its precepts. Its general effects are readily
traceable, and its special power over indi.
vidual character, in peculiar instances, has
attracted the attention of the least observing
in every Christian community.
Readers are familiar with the universally
received views in regard to the condition Of
the nations, now composing Christendom,
before they were brought under the influence
OF the Bible. They were wholly given to the
worship Of idols, and heather Deitiea aud
for the most part, these Divinities were per
sonations Of the worst conceivable char acter.
and exemplars in their own persons of most
intense and abandoned wickedness. Ii.
centiousnessand lasciviousness, pride, revenge
cruelty and drunkenness, were en,hroned in
the human heart, and Imagination, because
theySere glori6ed IN the persons Of Jupiter,
Wooden, Thor, Mars, Moloch, Belial, Venus,
Apollo, Bacchus, Pan. and thousands Of
other gods, and goddesses, whom they wor-
shipped. For, it is clear, that men will seek
to become like the beings they love, revere,
and worship; will conform to their example,
and will gradually become assimiIsted in char.
acter to their gods. Thus, corrupt human
nature, investing the deities formed by its
own imaginings, with its own most depraved
characteristics, worshipped the beings thus
dei6ed, and moulded, and fashioned human
society after their image.
Such was the deplorable condition Of the
region now included in the designation
Christendom-in the early ages. And, in
such state, it was not possible to develope
within itself the principles, or the motive
power of reformation. An external in.
fuence was needed, and that influence came
in the proclamation of the doctrines Of the
Bible, which penetrated society with a new
spirit, and moulded it in other forms.
The new system proclaimed, instead Of the
rabble rout of innumerable Deities of all i'm
aginable shades of character and vocations,
one supreme, eternal, omnipotent, all.wise,
infinitely holy, just, pure, and mercifui God,
the creator Of all things, and the Father Al
mighty Of all mankind 1t St forth Jesus
Christ, God manifest in the Hesh, the Re,
deemer of mankind, and the great teacher
and exemplar, in accordance With whose pre-
cepts, and after the model of whose life and
character, and in whose spirit, all men were
required to conform their own hearts and con-
duct. This teaching brought life and immor-
tality to light, and promised everlasting hap
piness to those who embraced It; and de-
nounced condemnation against those who re.
jected it. The motive power appealed to, in
the human breast, was fear, and love.
Under the proclamation of this new svs.
tenn, set forth in the Bible, the moralities and
PHILOSOPHERS, the ancient idolatries and suner
stitions, crumbled into dust and ashes; and
the forms and substance Of the social and
moral Institutions Of the early ages Of Eu,
rope, faded away like . forgotten dream. A
new religion, new morality, new philoso
ply, was developed and moulded and
fashioned into another spirit and other forms
the Developments of the human mind and
heart; and with varying power aad viv;dness
in different ages and countries, this system
has still held its sway over the onward march
of society through the asss; md to-day ali
that is noblest and best, in human ciyiliz,-
ton is directly tracesble to the Bible, as it,
original and perennial source.
The fundamental principle Of religion,
deveiopment,-fhat the vorshipper win he
come assimilated 10 character 8 IL oh;.c.
of his worship, through which m.pi;rd
became 50 degraded by the worship Of f.l,e
Gods, is recognized in the Bible injunc,iop.-
"be ye perfect, even ~ yoar sFsehsr 4.
heaven is perfsct;" and th.s, under The
christian system, the characters of -. -
sss'miiased 70 that Of pure, holy ed ben.,.
client Being. And the operation of sA;s -.
principle alone, indepsndeus Of anv a..
influence, which have NOT takes ;..o s.
account = I'll in this article, cosld not iail y
sievass sne character Of men, under ~ s.
huence Of the christian concept;on - n.;..
far above that Of men Who vorsa;r - ~.
hrutsd creatures of hssshsn uy,h.as.- ~.
he Bible conception Of God Who 800 8
sscrst aad y fevsrdsr fsll w. di;.s,s,-