The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-14
NUMBER go.

governed by the rule given by Jehovah,
embracing all that is needful to per-
feet life, yet, having broken, the law, are
justly left under condemnation, ran
somed from sin and death by the second
in the universe, the Son, the "Word Of
God"
In the majesty of exalted faith in one
supreme God, Moses turned from all the
allurements of Egyptian grandeur,
choosing rather to suffer afaiction
with the people of God than to enjoy
the pleasures of sin for a season." albeit
he might have reigned monarch over
that fertile land. Faith in Jehovah and
the Word "subdued Kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, escaped the edge of the
sword; women received their dead raised
to life again, and others were tortured;
not accepting deliverance, they were
stoned, they were sawn asunder, desti-
tute, afflicted, tormented; yet faithful
through all, bringing to these later ages
the higher faith and purity, the herit-
age of those willing to walk in their
footsteps."
Compare with this the waveriug un-
certainty and false light Of philosoph-
icsl reasoning and its devotees. Plu-
tarch, while he censured the gross ex-
cesses so common among the idolaters
Of his own time, was yet servils In the
observance he paid to the senseless idol
atrous customs snd'usages of priest and
people. Augury and soothsaying, the
sinister flight of birds, accidental rem
counters, the inspection of the intes-
tines Of beasts, all these and many more
were made the basis of positive calcula-
tion, by both king and peasant.
"Whatp' exclaimed Hannibal to
Prusias, whom he had advised to give
battle, but who was diverted from 1t by
the inspection of victim; shave you
more confidence in the liver Of beast
than in so old and experienced a captain
as amp"
Socrates, noble in intellect, profound
in philosophy, than whom the pagan
world has never produced = greater; his
soul enlightened by glimpses Of divine
truth which caused him to detest, in Sc
cret, the senseless idolAtry Of the citizens
with whom he held daily intercourse,
acknowledging at bottom one supreme
Divinity, yet worshiping that multitude
of Infamous idols, which superstitious
imagination had heaped together
through successive ages, holding Pc
culiar opinions, yet followed the multi
tudes in the temples.
Seneca was of the opinion that the
citizen might not worship 'as agreeable
to the GODS" but as enjoined by law.
Thus: he himself acted, and Socrates,
while secretly entertaining no faith in
pagan dsities, yet dies in the bosom Of
idolatry, protesting to adore all the gods
Of pagan theology. There were sophists
in those days, as there are now, who
professed to teach everything, claiming
to know everything. Indeed, there was
nothing they did not profess to under
stand. Theology, ethics, mathematics,
astronomy, physics, music, poetry, rhet-
oric, philosophy, and eloquenee were all
under tribute. Pupils, then and now,
learned, chiefly, to entertain for them
selves silly esteem, and lordly con-
tempt for everybody else, so that they
gained less in knowledge than in i'm
pertinence.
The narrow limits of this article ad-
NIT of nothing more than merely touch
ing the surface of this deeply-interest-
ing subject, but to sum up, we may
properly ask: What has ideal religion
accomplished for its most devoted fol-
lowers? Have they presented a lofty
morality, such as their professed admir-
ers would wish their own offspring to
imitate7 Have the inhabitants Of India,
through all the ages that scientists de-
clare have been devoted to the wonder
ful productions contributed to theolog-
ical literature, served to uplift the most
faithful adherents Of their teachings to a
plane Of pure and upright life and prac-
tice? Do the disciples of Buddha, or
Confucius, present evidence Of emo
bling virtues and elevatiDg conceptions,
as regards the creature and his relations
to the Creator, inspiring them with cor
rect principles for the fulfillment of
duty, as manifested by purity of life,
both public and private? Do those who
most admire this literature and its
teachings find all these exemplified in
the countries Of their origin and con-
firmed adoption? Is it a truth that
morality is the outgrowth of mans own
nature? Neither history nor our own
observations tend to encourage the idea.
In opposition to idealism and the
practice of idolatry, Biblical utteranee
furnishes steady, unfailing guide to
direct its followers into purity and
truth. Not an emotional religion, but
a tangible faith, that holds the sincere
student and disciple to rule that wher-
ever and whenever prscticed, never falls
to produce a most highly satisfactory
result, Of which even its bitter oppo-
nents cannot conceal their admiration
as they witness the effects of the beauty
Of holiness.
God affirms of those people who, in