The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-26
,etter llfe-these are some Of the adj.

both by geographical position and by
distinctions of race is in every way re-
markable. 1t is not alone among the
Hebrews that the idea of renewal of
life through sacrifice appears; nor is the
doctrine of divine deliverer, appearing
among men through the mystery of di-
vine incarnation, peculiar to them.
These have their parallels in the early
religious system of India. The doc
trine of the trinity is also discovered
there; but it was in Egypt that it began
to take shape in the hands of Christian
writers. To pass in review the points of
resemblance between the Jewish and
Christian system and the doctrines and
traditions of other religions would be
task of great labor, requiring volume.
In an article like this, nothing can be
attempted but an imperfect generaliza-
tion.
Contributions to the Natural History
of Religion are coming forth from many
different quarters, and constitute al
ready a large body of literature.
Though it is q science comparatively
young, it is recognized as one of the
most interesting and important that
can engage human attention. Combi-
nation of the testimony rendered by
mans spiritual faculties in different
epochs and races is one of the most i'm
portant branches of the study of human
culture. At every step we are met by
the astonishing identity of the religious
sentiment of mankind under its vary
ing historic forms. One of the ablest
writers in this field says: ''It is only
from this standpoint of the universal
in religions that they can be treated
with an appreciation worthy of our free
dom, science and humanity. The cor
ner-stones of worship, as of work, can
no longer be laid in what is special, To-
cal, exclusive, or anomalous; but in
that which is essentially human, and
therefore unmistakably divine. To be
convinced of this will of itself forbid our
imposing religious partialism on the
facts presented by the history of the
soul. In all religions, millions of souls,
beset by the same problems of life and
death, must have seen mans relations
with the order of the universe face to
face. In all, the one spiritual nature
must have found utterance in some
eternally valid form of thought and
conduct" 1t has been we'll remarked
that religion, being the purport of ma
ture, has been at all times terminating
in every vital energy of man; so that
its elements exist at some stage of evo-
luton, in every great religion of man
kind.
1t is obvious from this that it will not
do to designate as false all religions ex-
cept our own. The source and object of
all religions are alike. They come from
the divine personality of man and his
inextinguishable instinct to seek God,
off" as st. Paul says, "hsply they
might feel after him and find him."
Since these are the springs and charac-
teristic traits of all religions, in what
does the excellence of Christianity co.,
sist, and where is its superiority?
Jesus is the great central figure of the
Christian faith. The extraordinary
fullness of divine and human life in him
is what gives this religious system its
great and distinguishing power. 1t is
not that the Christian religion can lay
claim to an exclusive revelation; for all
truth may be called revealed truth, and
as far as other religions contain truth,
they also are revelations. The Chris
tian religion introduces no new element
into human nature. It's distinguishing
excellence is that it unfolds more fully
than any other religion the natural as
piratiOns of the human soul. These il
, draws out, cultivates, and develops to an
extent no other religious system has
reached. The Sermon on the Mount
educed no new truth; but it was an ap-
peal of transcendent force to the spirit
ual nature of man; powerful express
sion of the fundamental principles oi
our higher moral being. Every moral
truth that man can apprehend must be
the outgrOwth of his own nature, and
] the utterances of the founder of Chris.
tianity take such powerful hold on the
hearts of men, simply because they are
the most successful efforts ever made tt
give expression to human yearnings fol
the higher life.
: We may fitly close this hasty sketch
with the following extract from one o.
the works already quoted: eff the
swarming myriads of India and Mon.
golia are to be converted to Christian.
ity, it must be done by returning to the
. original methods. We must begin BY
recognizing and accepting the truth
:, they already possess. We must be will.
; ing to learn of them in order to teach
them. Comparative theology will be,
come the science of missions if it hell
to show to Christians the truth apC
good of creeds outside of Christianity. >
SIGMA.
Portland, November 10, 1875.
Non H.nCrrrNrC lodr eoho.I