The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-13
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
WINTER EVENINGS.

''Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are Just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are OF good
report if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things. -PHILIPPIANs
iv: s.
1t has always been a matter of sur
prise to me, to see many Christian di-
vines, of the first learning and abilities,
employing that learning and those abili-
ties, and much of their time in forming
laborious systems of ethics from the laws
of nature, whilst they have the books of
the New Testament lying open before
them. In the old heather philosophers
this was well enough; in Plato and Aris
totle, in Cicero and Seneca it was laud
able and useful undertaking. But in
Christian, the undertaking is neither
useful nor praiseworthy, nor wiser than
if any one should choose to shut his eyes
in the brightest daylight, only to try if
he was able to grope out his way in the
dark. 1t is now as impossible for any
man to form a religious and moral sys-
TEN by the mere efforts of human reason,
as to see by dirty tallow candle IL the
midst of meridian sunshine. He must
unavoidably adopt the doctrines and pre-
cepts of the Gospel, and then mistake
them for his own. If his own are just
and true. they must be exactly the
same, and if they differ, they are unwor-
thy of notice. If we believe the doctrines
and precepts transmitted to us in the
New Testament to be revelation from
God, We cannot, without presumption,
search out for any other, nor even ac-
cept the same on an inferior authority.
Whatever may be their authority, their
unrivalled excellence is indisputable
The moral lessons of Christ are all so
concise, so clear, so unencumbered with
definitions and discussions, and enforced
by parallels so opposite and instructive,
that they are rendered not only superior
to, but unlike all which had ever before
been published to the world.
In emitting all unnecessary disquisi-
tions on moral and religious subjects, the
Apostles initiated the example of their
master. In the passage now before US,
the Apostle Paul, writing to the breth-
ren at Philippi, epjoins on them to
"think on, that is, not to forget to prac-
tice whatsoever things are true, what
soever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are
pure" sc. He takes it for granted, that
those to whom he wrote, as we'll as all
mankind, knew what things are true,
honest, Just and pure; and therefore he
does not enter into any metaphysical In
quiry into the abstract nature OF truth,
honesty, justice, and purity, whicn are
always useless, and do more harm than
good, as they never induce men to be vir-
tuous, and sometimes serve TO furnish
them with excuses for vices. Men dc
not want a knowledge of their duty, but
inclination to perform it. A definition o.
virtue will never make any one less profit
gate, nor will an inquiry concerning the
origin of property make any one more
honest no more than dissertation OF
LIGHT will make man see, or receip
for distilling whiskey will make hin
sober. L..