The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-26
slmost all denartmen of labor. II has great

riad its calculat;ous to the utmost depths OF
time and space. Il has been enabled FULLY to
explore every scene and every object OF crea-
ton within it's reach. II has sounded the depths
OF the earth, and counted the cycles Of its du-
ration. 1t has studied, dissectsd and classified
the myrlads of its animal and vegetable pro-
ductions-it has delved into the mountains and
plunged into the caverns OF our globe, and
made diligent inquiry as to the age OF its rocks,
minerals, gems, and fossils-it has analysed
the invisible atmosphere, dissected the sun
beam in its descent, arrested the fierce light
ming in its course snd made ii q speedy mes
senger OF intelligence among the nations Of the
earth. Aided by Science, ii has invented in
strnments that seize the pencil of light, de-
pict landscape. or paint a portrait-that in
spect the distant stars and bring them near
OF water or an atom OF dust. II has evoked
power from the limpid water SURPRISING that OF
the Fabled Gods, and set it to work to drive
the mastery ships, draw the ponderous cars,
print books and papers nnumerable, and serve
man in athousand other ways. But as to the
great and important questions OF human duty
and human destiny, Science has no voice to
speak. 1.-The Botanist may analyze and name
the myriads of plants that beautify and adorn
the surface OF the earth, but he can never tell
who started the vital fluid in the veins of the
herb and flower" The Geologist may indicate
the cycles that measure the period Of human
existence on earth, but he is unable to tell who
wrote the rock-covered page whose hieroglyph-
les no delights to translate. The Astronomer
may gaze into the awful depths Of space and
discover within the limits OF telescope vision
not less than two billions OF worlds, but he is
unable to discover the character OF the Almigh-
ty Architect by whom these ponderous orbs
were built and projected into space. Outside
the Bible (the volume OF Gods own inspira-
tom all is fable, legend, myth. Science points
out to no man the path of duty and moral rec
titude, it dispenses no cheering light to dissi-
pate the gloom and darkness that envelop the
cherries habitation OF the Wondering dead
1t is even powerles to promote moral purity or
to lessen vice.
AS heather nations have advanced in clviliza-
ton and in a knowledge OF the arts and scien-
purity and religious debasement. In proof Of
this statement, we need only to refer to the
bloody aud obscene customs generally prevail
ing among the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and
Romans IN their palmiest days of civilization
and refinement Many Of the people in these
kingdoms were distinguished for their Literary
and Scientific attainments, and yet they wor-
shipped gods whose conduct was represented
as profigate in the extreme. Mercury was re-
garded as thief; Saturn is said to have de-
voured his own children while Vulcan was
famed by being tossed out OF heaven by Jupi-
ter for taking part with Juno when he and she
were engaged in a quarrel. The system Of
poetical theology was full OF the genealogies,
the vices, the adulteries, The contentious of
their gods. There was scarcely anything in
nature so vile or 60 foolish az not to be wor-
SHIPPED as god by some OF the heathens.-
And these false delties we're often entreated by
costly offerings on splendid affairs, to favor the
indulgence of unnatural lusts, the preparation
OF murders. the robbery of the orphan and
widow. The religious worship paid these idols
was IN many cases cruel, bloody, and impure to
a degree which decency forbids us to express.
Human sacrifices were generally prevalent,
Murder was common, and Suicide was advoca-
ted as a right by such distinguished lights as
Seneca and Cicero. Brutus and Cassius both
defended and practced this high crime. Plu-
tarch praised Cato for self-murder. Scion, the
most celebrated of the Grecian Sages, gave
parents permission by law to kill their own
children. Lycurgus, the Spartan lawglver, who
was highly extolled by Aristotle and spoken of
by Plutarch as wise and perfect man, encour-
aged thieving. lie sanctioned the murder of
weak and deformed children, and he also en-
couraged the murder of slaves Plato, Socra-
ties, Xenophon. Scion, and Zeno. are all repre-
sented as dreadfully impure, and Cicero de-
clares that the Philosophers not only practiced
but even gloried IN crimes Of great magnitude.
Plato, who was regarded as a kind Of god
among the philosophers, sanctioned the muir
der of infants by their parents lie also main
tanned the lawfulness OF lying, and he coun-
seled governors to lie to their subjects and en-
emies. He even recommended practices too
abominable and impure to be publicly named.
Sallust, the Roman Historian says: Luxury,
avarice, and pride, ensIaved the youth they
wantoned IN rapine and prodigality, underval-
ued their own and coveted what belonged to
Others and trampled on modesty, friendship
and continuance, and threw off all manner OF
consideration and restraint Men and women
LAID aside all regard to cha stty." Both Zeno
and Cleanthes taught that children may as
lawfully roast and eat their own parents as any
other food Such Is the civilization and such
the morals OF those, who, without the light OF
divine revelation and without the knowledge OF
the true God, walk in the light of science and
philosophy. The insuficiency OF
HUMAN REASON
- divine guide must also be apparent. Rea.
son is defined as the faculty which apprehends
and afirms the reality OF necessary, universal
spiritual, infinite and eternal truths. Webster
says, 1T is a faculty of the mind which en-
ables the possessor to deduce differences from
facts or from propositions" Reason, no less
than courage, is blind without knowledge
Where there are no data, no premises. O,
course no conclusion can be deduced. Correc,
premises are always requisite to correct conclu
sons. II propositions radically false be taker