The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-14

men. Paul tells US that it was designed tina
man should dwell on all the face of tn
earth" There was a natural tendency t
congregate in one place. But if difference
of speech alone dispersed them, as men come
to know letters, and to study language, the
separation would not so likely be permanent
as if physical differences were Superadded to,
or rather made fundamental to, an altered
mental constitution. Physical differences Of
color, &C., by their prominence, would gene
rate and keep alive race preference; and
thus secure race diversity and the inhabita-
ton of the various quarters of the globe.
5sh. We observe that the mental power
bears certain fixed relation to the size and
I form of the brain. A characteristic differ
ence, therefore, of mental constitution ar
cues characteristic difference of physical
constitution as its antecedent. There exists
also certain relation between intellectual
development and the human figure. But if
it be believed that the divine interposition
reached to an altered mental constitution,
what stanGa in the wsy Of the view that in
the account of the confusion of tongues we
are presented simply with crOwning result
of miraculous interpOSitiOn which reached
to the very foundations of the constitution of
mankind?
But passing to the mOOted question of the
origin of the diversity, we observe that after
the fall of man the law of unity in diversity
which we have observed in the plan of crea-
ton demands that his species shall be no
exception. And as in the Bible doctrine of
regeneration God does not create new
man IN toto, but by changing the very dis
positions of bis heart, the very foundation of
his moral nature, and thus makes all things
appear new, thus puts within hin new
mind, and in his mouth new tongue, and
turns his natural powers into new channel;
50 race-variety originated in the old stock.
We are prepared to see the one human
race split up into different varieties after
Adam had lost his high place as the head of
creation. 1t was a visitation in judgment in
that his family must be made subject to the
common law of diversity. Itsigul6ed mans
degradation. For the human family must
now exhibit the diversity in which the brutes
are created. Mans animal nature, has, by
mans own act, gained temporary promi
nence and triumph. But in this judgment
man also was visited in mercy. For by disper-
sion mankind was saved from still greater
Judgments, and doubtless from utter extinc,
ton on account of intolerable iniquity.
Finally, man belongs not only to the nat
ural kingdom, bat to the spiritual kingdom
also. The great plan and work of redemp-
ton is capable of restoring the descendants
of Adam to their original unity by virtue of
their connection with another Head, Jesus,
and by conformity to his image. He is the
great centre in whom all the divergiug lines
converge again and meet. Any view Of our
world which does not embrace Jesus, the
GOd.Man, must necessarily be an imperfect
view. He is the principal figure that has
ever appeared in it. Any solution of the
world which leaves Hin out of view, leaves
out of the question its chief factor. This
world is beWildering maze, looked at from
every point except one; and that point is
marked by a cross. His death is the prin-
cipal point of HIS life. When, therefore,
his cross was uphfted it marked the central
point of time and of the worlds history. All
the past looked forward to that Cross all
the future points back to it. 1t is the OBJ
jsctive point of hope of fallen world. "FOr
the sOhOls creation grOsneth and travaleth in
pain until now, waiting for deliverance from
the bondage of corruption" Death hath
reigued over "the whole creation" But in
the new earth wherein dwelleth righteous
ness" L" there shall be no more DEATH
Here, then, at the feet of Jesus lifted
up, is the true point of observation in our
study of the world. Here, to use the words
of Paul, we behold call things gathered to-
gether in Him" In our survey of the work
of creation, we perceive call things gathered
together in Him, in the likeness of Him
through Adam. Now after the great sin.
disturbance, the great end of the work of
restoration is the gathering of all things
together in one in Him " directly. There
fore the central doctrine of all revelation is
the atonement, !. E, at-One.msnt, the being
made one with Him.
When the great work of restoration is
completed at the resurrection, then We be
lieve the members of Christ's body of every
race shall lose their bodily diversity. Fer
all shall be fashioned after the image of "his
own glorious body" The restoration begins
upon the inner man, and shall end upon the
body,-the redemption of the body; waitin g
for which Paul says We grOan within our
selves with strong desire. Was this not the
process of the fall? The spiritual degrade
ton of the human race occurred at once
When Adam sinned all were separated from
God. Separation from God is death and
everything, every other idea of death was
involved in that. But through grace the
completion of human degradation as fam
} lily, as well as individuals was postponed 6
little while. So the redemption of the body
, is deferred little while; but in the unior
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