The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-01-12
" THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEsT. -


The author Of 1.-The Witness of History to
Christ, in speaking of the assaults of inf
deity, says, that in the days of our fathers
these attacks came at intervals, were easily
di8tinguishable from each other, and were
sufficiently definite to be separately resisted.
He tells us it is not SO in the present day
that it is not " every now and then burst
of thunder and glare of lightning, but the
whole air is quiyering with electric fsmea."
lie adds, "nor is it any longer against this
or that treatise that we must defend the most
vital principles Of Christian doctrine; it is
against whole literatures, against whole phil
osopbies, against the vague doubts of emf
nent thinkers, against the innumerable
sneers, the repeated assumptions, the ever
varying criticism of a powerful and intellec-
tual preas."
This closing up of ranks for the purpose
of making combined assault upon the
Christian system, this concentration of
forces from the separate camps of philoao-
ply, science and historical criticism, marks
an epoch in the annals of controversy, and
adds intense interest to the era in which we
live.
But here one most significant fact arrests
our attention. Contemporaneous with this
irrup,ion of metaphysical and scientific skep.
ticism We see a corresponding activity on
the part Of the defenders Of the faith. Never
before was the Christian literature Of the
world enriched with nobler contributions
from the men, whose genius aud learning
c0nsecrased to the cause Of truth, have quail
fled them to enter the lists in its defence.
And never before was the gospel so dissent
mated by press and pulpit among the masses,
or received by them with 80 much readiness
of MAD and heart.
A6rilhant scientific lee urer coming among
US With the prestige of European reputa.
ton, attracts his admiring audiences night
after night; popular politician, invited to
address his fellow countrymen upon one of
the exciting questions of the day draws about
him the surging multitudes of great city;
but none can gather assemblies so vast, or
command their unAagging interest for days
and weeks together as do the men who bring
TO their fellows the messages of salvation,
"a cruciGsd Christ their only rhetoric"
This is phenomenon which often excites
the wonder and is always inexplcable to
men Of the world. But the explanation is
easy.
The truths of revelation, and the divinely
ordained institutions of the church of God
are SO adapted to the moral constitution of
man as to take hold of what is deepest in his
nature and entrench themselves there as
vital truths, without the possibility of dis
Judgment.
They live because they are fit to live, and
while human systems perish, they survive in
virtue of their innate vitality.
Il vas because Of tie Infusion Of certain
semaats Of truth into the false PHILOSOPHERS
l1d religions of antiquity, that they main
taiaed their ascendency SO long. Indeed it
is only tbs error in these systems that decays
whatever of truth they contain is indestru,ti-
bio.
The old classic pagan Sages, maintaining the
doctrines Of monotheism, Of the Immortality
Of the soul, and of future rewards and pun
shments-CoDfueius with his practical NOR
ais; Brahma with his belief in spiritual real
tiles; Bodiha with his reverence for law
Mahomet with his proclamation of the one
God; all these founders of faiths, by the
'uce sometimes of a single true fundamental
have been enabled to transmit their
systems through long centuries A little
;alt has sufHoed to conserve them, and when
heir dissolution can be no longer arrested, the
elements which gave then vitality will sur
i've the shock. Much more then must
Jhristiaui Y, which is truth without any
admix.ura Of error, outlive all the desola.
lions cf time and all the assaults of adverse.
lies. Take for example one of its institu-
ions-the Sabbath. Man must have one
lay Of reat in seven. His body demands the
which cessation from labor en-
ures. His mind equally requires the re-
re5hment Of Sabbatic repose. His social,
eligious inetinocs cry out for day when, in
he fellowship of kindred minds, Gods peo-
lie may worship together, and taste the
eff the communion Of saints. Of
IL the memorial days of the world the Sab.
,ath is the fttest to survive.