The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-08-18

light but to the Bible, the one great fountain
of light, without which all other knowledge
is disjointed and confused. For there IS no
branch of human thought or investigation
which does not ultimately discover connec-
ton with the Word of God. 1t is fortunate
for those of Sir John Lubbock's country
however, and of every other Christian COM
munity, who have determined to resist tne
truth of the Bible, that they are not alto
gether left to themselves, the very influences
Of Christian civilization, (of Gods revealed
TRUTH leading them to a certain extent anu
preserving them from the gross darkness IN
which, under favoring conditions, their DE-
termination to live without God would grad
ually euvelop them.
"The fundamental law of movement IN
humanity is to 90 away from God. And
there is degradation begun. The true civil
cation, the only civilization the world has
ever enjoyed, has only been reached in pro-
portion as people return to God.
Why can't these men see that the only
successful method for "the amelioration OF
society is the preaching of repentance, the
preaching of Christ's Gospel, pure and SIM
Pile; and getting men to become his follow
ers, in humility, in heart, and not merely In
name. All other theories, measures, efforts,
will only bring delusion, desolation, and
death in the ea&-~1
Verify the Ante DiluvianS thought by
climbing the highest hills and mountains to
do much for themselves, but they found out
when it was too late that their pride of heart
had led them to despise the only way of wis
dom; which was humbly to submit to God and
His Word about the coming Deluge. These
men are but repeating their folly, in GER
tain sense, however laudable they may make
their labors to appear. And it is from such
considerations as these, and from knowl-
edge of the decetfuIness of the human heart
as taught in the Scriptures, and exemplihed
in the history of the attempts to undermine
the Bible in all ages, that | am of the opin'
ion that these efforts, though sincerely be-
lieved in, as good and beneficial to man, are
. nevertheless actuated by that universal IN
dercurrent in human nature to get rid OF
the certainty of the Bible statements.
Just such efforts as these, marked by ex-
pressions of profound devotion to truth, and
by spirit of candor and just moderation,
t but prompted either by pride of intellect
, which rebels against the mysteries of re-
; demption, or by pride of heart which would
s be free from moral restraint, or by the natu'
raj craving for freedom from the terrors Of
e an evil conscience, or by all of these motive
L powers combined, unconsciously it may some
t times be to the actor, (for without the kncwl
1 edge of God man knows not himself JUS
such efforts as these, say, have from thu
e beginning characterized the successive strug
a giles of the world against God And so VI
= behold to day, in the efforts and conclusion
of these HteratS, however sincerely urged ii
s the name of truth devotedly sought for itE
d own sake, as in mirror, only the same ole
o Fundamental law of movement in human
n ity," an example of,some of the elements o
j. the process of degradation which have beer
IS fatally experienced by every heather people
under the sun.
It Nevertheless, the foundation of Coo
n standeth sure, having this seal, The Lore
!; knoweth them that are His The Church
J. of God is preserved amidst all her enemies
II Still thousands will go down through tn
: teaching of error and it therefore behooye
s us, if we estimate Alright the dangers of it
l. dissemination, to endeavor, in love to GU
d fellow-men, to expose't in its true colors tt
/ their view.
= The devotees Of Natural Science have mucl
g to say, and evidently with the feeling Of pos
It sessing the situation when they say it, abou
Is narrow minded relgionists. Now this or.
e for liberality is largely based upon the theor.
+ of an individualism without any super-natu
o raj standard of right and wrong, from which
it follows that every man may have his Owl
J. standard and be perfectly free from the con
e demnation of his fellows. This state o
i things exists, according to Sir John Lub
a book, among the COmancheS of North Amer
n lea, in parts of Africa, and elsewhere. Blu
70 we have not yet abandoned the Divine stan
It dard of truth and error; and they forge
y that liberality has no place in the matter
e when that standard is assailed. If they ex
pect of us, under the claim of iberality, tt
) concede them the largest liberty to hold ant
j. to teach their opinions, then we are as.libe
IS raj as they desire. If, however, they NEAR
d by liberality that we shall have as weak con
d victions about the truth of "aU Scripture
n as they have, and so interpose no warming
|, to men, then they must learn that we desir
n to be no more liberal than God is, thOugl
most men are.--,
d Of course l am not insensible to the grea
n value of Investigations in the many fields o
if science. Such investigation and inquiry il
y only an attendant upon advancing civiliza
- ton, and the result of mans elevation, ant
n the high duty of man. But as these abilities
: to enquire are the product of civilization, 81
k they must not be used to assault the Wore
|. of God, the parent of civilization and there
s fore the parent of their own existence.