, 1876-12-02

the added experience OF three centuries
Therefore sixteen hundred must fall back
to its place, commended for the work it
has well done, but condemned for its
usurpations of authority in II higher and
broader present,
We are told that our argument is n
falacy, because the Church has divine
origin and speaks with the authority OF
inspiration. We reply, the State has as
divine an origin, and speaks with an in
spiration coming from rs high source
as the Church. Law is law. 1t is the
natural antagonist Of confusion, dissolU-
ton, and death. 1t is the divine energy
with which God holds this universe OF
muttudinous mOnads in harmony, by
law he lifts the dead, dull weight of
worlds into animation, and pours the
beam of his intelligence through them,
and lights them up with incXprcssiblc
grandeur and beauty. Law is his right
arm let il be withdrawn, and the inert
mass falls dead He has spoken the law
for the Church; he alone has spoken the
/ law for the State. Neither has come to
us by special revelation; both have
come pcncillcd dimly in Nature, and in
the heart Of man. The great work of
man is to bring them into light. One
| by one these laws have been clearly seen;
one by one, through the long ages, they
have been recorded in the human de-
positorics of learning, and applied to all
the arts of life; and one by one have
they lifted the load from mortal shoul-
dcrs, and elevated the brow and eye to
the Supreme Law-givcr and Power.
Coniucius, Zoroaster, Socrates and Sen
cca, Bacon and Luther,-caCh has had a
common fountain from which to drink ;
each has raised his portion Of the waters
Of immortality to the parched lips of
mankind. The Church and the State,
the expression of the moral and the in.
tellectual faculties of man, have alike
protited by their teachings.
Men will question all things that are
not absolutely proven. 1t is his nature
that he should question his reason can.
not operate, cannot discover, cannot al.
vance unless he does question. A few
facts are settled in the material world ;
those will not be questioned. That the
sun shines, that the water runs down
hill, that two and two make four, are
unquestiouable propositions. We never
see two sane philosophers discussing the
point whether these propositions are
true or not. The best form of govern.
ment, the age OF the world, the mosaic
cosmogony, plenary inspiration OF the
Scriptures, and the most efficient cannon
for naval warfare, are still open qucs.
tions with the mass of mankind, and,
being such, men will discuss them. We
cannot see how my Lord Bishop of Ok
ford can justly or possibly prevent it.
We who are not of the Church do not
wish to inquire into your Church regu-
lations, requirements, and government
but the moment that you assume that
all you teach is absolute and therefore
unQuestionabe truth, that moment We
say you oyerstep the bounds of moral OF
religious teachers, because you teach
that which you do net know. II you
will say that such and such is the faith
of the Church, and then give satisfactory
evidences of your faith. we will recog-
nize you as within your legitimate pro
vince, and accept you rs one of the
lights of the world, worthy to be fol
lowed so far as you declare the truth.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford is behind
the age when he will not permit men tc
doubt and question. No Church, nc
State, no creed, no institution, no me
Chanical science, and no industrial en-
teTprise can advance, If doubling ant
questioning are stopped. This is clap
ping the paddock upon human reason
it is saying to the sun, stand still it il
saying to universal vegetation, Cease de
velopment this instant, and stand for
ever ice-locked. The old theologie
have done good work, but they mus
give way to new ones if they woult
meet the progressive wants of mankind
The stolid calm of the East cannot fal
upon the West; agitation and move
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