New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-13
CHRISTIANITY AS A REFORMING POWER.

CHRlS1lANIl1 40 II MI OI'mANp AOh
REV. PROP. I. HARRIS JONES, PHI. D.
There is q close connection between religion
and morality; the higher the religion the purer the
ralty it produces. We can Judge the from the
other as we know the tree from the fruit and the fruit
also from the There many in the present time
who deny not ory the existence Of this connection, but
also its possibility and not only its possibility but its
desiraOity. They must be kept apart inasmuch as
they are totally unlike, having no point In common
withieach other 1.-THE one referring TO this woFld the
other to another state Of existence. The harmony OF
morality is disturbed by connecting 1t with the foreign
element ofIregion. This is ancient heIesy
which prevailed TO considerable extent In the ancient
world The Greeks did not hesitate TO attribute 10 their
gods the most henOus crimes and the most dsgraceful
still they represented them as the defenders OF
the public morals, the morality OF the State being
under their protection Morality accordingly has religion
not for its source root principle but somewhat In
ternay connected with 1t. Such morality cannot be OF
long continuance, more than tree having no root
but tied externally to the SOIL can help railing at the
first gust wind blowing upon 1t. IL was impossible
for the Greek form idea concerning this con-
nection nasmuch his conception Of God well as OF
man was wrong and incorrect. Man NOS regarded
"a OF importance IN himself individually, but only
member OF society, subject OF civil government; In
fact bisrelatontO sod not taken into account only
hreaton TO the universe, TO the State and society
Again the Greek God was a Panthestic and not per-
~
stances and in such connection neither religion
morality fourished; and at the time Christianity ap
neared the moral aud religious world was going TO
ureok and ruin. The ancient world having done Its
utmostlto found morality It's own basis failed In the
s,,emnt. and having possessed no powers Of moral
elevation sunk by its own weight, ana was the
.oans Of its own destruction. Christianity
nraatbed a new spirit moral power into
a World actually running itself We may regard
"A the fundamental thought Of Christianity that moral
NV should have for its foundation religious element
and which IL proved the absolute necessity that the ior
,ner sboud draw It's nourshnent yea, the very power
OF LIFE from the latter, It began new epocn III Tue
worlds history Already in the moral law OF the od
Testament IN the Ten Commandments winch contain
the shortest and most comprehensive compendium VI
ethics this connection OF morality with reHoh Is "o
knoviedged the first table referring TO our outy 70
God and the second 70 our duty TO man. What tne Ou
Testament has in germs, in the New we ma III i"ii
growth and development In Jesus morality has reacheo
As eliminating point In beng 80 thoroughly inoorpo
rated An His character and history 1t Is invested with
persopsl and living interest The moral law formed IN
Him tabernacle 70 dwell In But His life IN thoeerylce
Of man was life In God; holy source OF His life in the
world was His life IN God.
The superiority OF the OLD Testament religion over al
heather religions moral systems lies In me truIh
that regards the revealed will Of the holy God as the
absolute positive principle morality, by which man Is
cDe ineOrnoratNd In tho law Of the letter and stand