, 1876-12-24

and tho memories Of the Bethlehem manger
which it symbolizes.
SPECIAL PRov1DEECEs AND GENERAL
LAWS.
The brief discussion which TIE CHICAGO
TRIBUNE has had with the Rev. A1r. ATKN-
SON upon the question of direct Divine
Agency as connected with the burning OF the
Brooklyn. Theatre has brought the doctrine
Of Special Providences into such prominence
that it is difficult to avoid further reference
to it. So far as Mr. ATKINSON is concerned,
the discussion is virtually at IN end, as he
only returns to the same point at each at
tack, confessing his inability to explain it;
so far as the general doctrine Of Special Prov
licences and general laws is concerned, how
ever, that is always open There is no doubt
that the great mass Of the laity and the
clergy in all countries believe in Special
Providence. In former ages it was the be-
Lief OF the whole world. In the days Of
ancient Greece and Rome there were only
a few Of the philosophers who disputed it.;
and it is the personal faith OF the mass of
mankind today, principally because it is
simple faith, easy Of comprehension, re-
curing little education, reflection, observa-
ton, or culture to accept it. and because it
corresponds with the. acts Of rulers
and potentates in large degree. In the
original state Of society it WIS never be-
reyed that the world was governed by gen.
eral laws, either divine or human. The
Romans approximated to general laws con-
cerning many. things, with their Pandects
and the Code of Justinian, and the Medes and
Persians, with their unalterable statutes; but,
as rule, the world was governed by the ca
prices and arbitrary moods Of King, Emperor,
or despot Those moods constantly changed
The potentate was accountable to no one.
He rewarded aud punished according to his
own royal pleasure, and changed his mind
when he pleased Even the Greek concep-
ton of ZEus and the Roman Of JUPITER was
that Of an interfering deity, continually vacil-
1ating and changing his purposes, setting
aside all rules and laws, following no stated
moral code or custom, and rarely inaicting
any vengeance less than that Of death.
These views, as We have stated, have pre-
vailed in all ages. The clergy have believed
and taught them, and even at this day many
men of scientific attainments, general cul-
ture, and broad and liberal views, still at
tribute much Of the accidents and calamities
of life and the phenomena Of nature, regular
and irregular, to special interpretations Of
Providences.
With the Reformation, there arose a anall
body of thinkers who took issue more or
less with this doctrine. The school has
gradually increased until now there are
large numbers in all Christian sects who
more and more ascribe the accidents, mys-.
teries, and phenomena that besst life to gen.
eral laws Of the Almighty, and have arrived
at the belief that He governs the universe By
these laws. They assume that the Power
which can create this world and all the suns
and systems of the universe, and people
them, can govern them by general laws, and
they furthermore assume that it is more
reasonable and better subserves the purposes
of the Divine Wisdom that all the affairs of
the earth, and tbs phenomena Of life and
mature; the growth Of vegetation and ami
mails; the 9isitations Of earthquakes,
irruptious, storms, and cyclones; tile
revolutions Of planets aud comets and
the ebb and flow of tides, and the forces
which hold the heavenly bodies in their
courses, should take place under general
Laws rather than that the laws Of the world
should be set aside or interrupted for human
or incomprehensib1e reasons. Of course,
there are as many grades Of belief between
the extremes of Feticism Of superstition and
the philosophy which believes in an unyary-
ing law as there are grades Of human char
acter; but the tendency ut the present day
among the enlightened laity and candid
clergy is against the doctrine Of Special Inter-
ference, Among the most powerful thinkers
in the new school is BUCKLE, who was one Of
the first to definitely proclaim the doctrine
that what seemed to be mere chance, or &C.
cident, or Special Providence, or mystery,
was nothing but the recurrence of natural
causes acting under general laws As
homely illustration, every Gfe-insurance
company acts in accordance with BUCKLES
doctrine. Even if the managers believe
that the taking away OF human
life is Special Providence, they go on
calculating the length of life and the chances
of death, and insure that life under their be-
lief in general laws. In point Of fact, nearly
all persons have a practical, six-day theory
which ignores Special Providence. and
seventh-day religious theory which refers
everything to Special Interference. A fire
comes and deyastates city. Immediately We
put the practical theory in operation during
the six days Of the week We look for the
natural causes, and ascribe the calamity to
strong wind and drought, to the large num-
ber Of wooden buildings, to the deficiency Of
water, to the inefhciency of the fremen, Or
to gross carelessness, aud then commence
to fortify ourselves against recurrence Of
those causes in the future. On the seventh
day, however, we calmly and deliberately
ascr1be the calamity to the interposition Of
Divine Providence, on account of peoples