The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-10

archS. during the many centuries of the hebrew
Commonwealth, during the eighteen hundred years
of the Christian era has this wonderful problem OF
conflict between the power Of good and evil In the
soul of man been working itself out The expe'l-
ment has been with races differing in physical
peculiaritieS made more disSimilar through the
influences exerted by diversities of climate Ian
guage, superstitions and forms of government
Take as examples which barely indicate this line
of thought, the varieties shown to be possible In
the character and conditions of men as represented
by the filthy fetch worshipper of South Africa;
the stupid, half frozen Esquimaux; the ferocious
eannibal of New leland the tlmid, feeble, Sand
wich Islander; the crafty Hindoo; the concerted
Chinaman; the sullen savage of the ancient Ger
man forests; the exquisitely cultivated Athenlan;
the voluptuous Corinthian; the iron Roman; the
modern European, or citizen of Protestant Amerl-
ca-the latest opponents of Christian clVllza-
ton. Add to such conditions all the moulding ln'
Aueuces of war and peace, OF national prosperity
and calamity, slavery and freedom, and the wild
fanatieisms which have successfully swept the
world like mighty tides of the sea, and like those
Now it is evident that under these vastly diver
siGed conditions our race has had every opportun-
ity to exhibit its true character, aud show what 1t
had the capacity to achieve, and the philosophlc
student in impartially contemplating the result
must admit that in all these varied circumstances
human nature has been just what the Bible as
serts it to be; that Notwithstanding the modihca-
tons produced by physical, political, and social
influences, men have shown themselves in all lands
and in all ages to be morally depraved, incapable
of curing the corruptions Of their own hearts, or
of arrestng the evils which result from their own
wicked passions.
We do not agree with Horace, Carmen VI,
Ad ROmanos,) that the age of our fathers, more
depraved than that of our grand-tathers, produced
us, more abandoned still or that We, in turn, will
have children more degenerate than either; but
we do affirm that human nature has not Improved
since the Deluge. The human heart now is just
what it was in the days of RameSis and Pharaoh
Necho
But there is one other condition in which our
nature has been placed and which of all others has
been most favorable to it. If it ever could prove
its strength, nobility, and superiority to all the
charges made against it in the Bbe it would be
when human nature has not only been restrained
and elevated by the best influences from without,
but when new and gracious principle has been
implanted within by the spirit OF God. This con-
dition has been fulfilled in those who have been
renewed, and adopted into the family of God, and
made members of the body of which Christ is the
head But if in the Church itself with all these
restraints and helps there has been uniformly
such display of our fallen nature as to verify all
the declarations of the Bible with regard to hui
man depravity, then the argument is closed and
the demonstration complete.
Now let us conceive the Church to exist in Its
pureSt state. Let US suppose it contained no am-
bilious, designing men, no false professors, none
but the true children of God, still what is the re
suit? How many of those who were most illus
trious among Old Testament saints were free from
the in6rmities, the grevious sins, and occasional
outbreaks of deadly corruptious which grace had
indeed held in check but not conquered?
What exhibitions of weakness, of waywardness
of evil tempers, and of conduct most reprehensi
bic, do we find among the Disciples themselves.
And from the time of the Fathers of the Print
tive Church, down through the long line of con
fessors reiormers, and other standard bearers Of
the Church, have not the same in6rmities, falls
and exhibitions of the power Of indwelE ine ess
proved that it was true of the best men, d it was
true of the great Apostle, who declared that while
be delighted in the law of God after the inward
man, he found another law Ia constantly operative
principle of evil in his members warning against
the law of his mind, and bringing him into the
captivity of the law of sin?
Let the best aud purest Of men that have lived
bear witness Let them testify to the correctness
of the representatives of the Bible with regard to
our fallen nature, and with one accord they will
declare that it is all true of themselves; with one
consent they will bewail their natural propensity
to all evil their absolute dependence on the grace
of God for every good thought emotion, and act
of their lives; with one mind they will take up the
humbling statements of Gods word, in detail, and
with one mouth and heart acknowledge that they
have, without exception, found and proved them
all to be true.
This then is the conclusion of the whole trial,
and this the verdict rendered; whatever ad-
vances the world may make in science, art politi-
cal wisdom, useful invention, and mental culture,
whatever multiplication of the luxuries, refine
ments, and embellishments of life, the human
heart remains the same; the cure of its disorders
remains the same; and every individual of our
race must come one by one, bewaiug his fallen
estate, confesSing his personal guilt, humby
suing for mercy, and hoping for forgiveness only
through the atoning blood and righteousness Of
the Redeemer.
These are first truths, yet they must be con
stauty guarded and indicated, now that the rush
ing food of sentimental opposition to the old be-
liefs of the Church threaten to sweep away the
very foundations of the sacred edifce.