, 1878-02-22
BIBLE FATALISM.

pIication which our friend Mr. Deem
makes Of the quotations from the
Bible in his communication on fa'
talitv. We think that they can be
taken as bearing a specia relation to
it. The first quotation, that of Mark
Y. l3. concerning the destruction oI
the herd of swine, shows indeed that
thev pcrished "bv reason Of an lrresl't
able power." But it seems to us that
the occurrence was a manifestation
of power on the part Of Chrlstfor the
purpose of convincing those around
him of the authority he possessed as
the annunciator of special mission
AS for the second quotation, that
from Mark tx. 20, it is susceptible OF
an Interpretation warranted by the
pathology of the case. The young
man who was subject to fits, which
to-day would probably be regarded
as phase Of epilepsy, may have IN
herited the disase, or it might have
been produced through indiscretion,
or the lack of physiological knowl-
edge, so prevalent in that early time,
With our present knowledge OF
disease in view, knowing that n.y.
gienic measures are preventlve-that
where epidemics were wont to pre-
vail at certain seasons Of the year,
care in the matter Of cleanliness and
diet has rendered them almost un-
known-the doctrine Of fatality IN Its
morbid physical relations has lost its
f,rce in very important particular.
The case of job which Mr.. Deem has
cited we regard as beyond the realm
o logica! discussion. On its very
surface it includes psychological mys'
teries into which we are not able to
penetrate.
The "parable of the sower'' is
occasionally referred to as illustrat-
i've of the chronological princlplepof
special endowment, but we canSot
take the fatalistic orapsolute view of
parts oft which Mr.. Deem is inclined
to take. Further, the soil which
produces vegetation and the food of
man is nothing more than disinte-
grated rock, rusted metal. So"rock,"
as typical of an obdurate nature, in
dicates a condition which is avoid
able or susceptible of modification.
Instances of reform from life of the
most vicious characterize almost daily
presented to our consideration.
Even men who have been born and
nurtured amid criminal associations
have, by the operation of moral in
fuences been entirely changed; so
that whereas the thoughts of such
men previously were "only evil con
tinuall y" they became earnest, active
agents for the good of others. Christ
uttered grand moral truth in Luke
vi. 43, where he said good fruit can
not be expected from corrupt tree;
but he nowhere says that the tree
could not be improved by proper TIL
lage. We are reminded OF an illus
tration he gave in another place, of
the vineyard and the husbandman.
The Lord of the vineyard comes year
after year vainly looking for fruit
from certain tree, and finally or
ders the vinekeeper to cut it down;
but the latter asks forbearance and
an opportunity to give the tree
special care, and then if it still prove
barren, he will cut it down.
Organizations differ in capacity for
growth, vet in all cases improvement
appears to be the tendency of nature.
Even idiots are susceptible Of train.
ing and development. Many child
pronounced fatally diseased by the
faculty, has, through the watchful
care ola trusting mother, blossomed
into health and remarkable mental
vigor. No one who 10 familiar with
the birth and childhood OF the late
DIR. John Todd should despair OF any
human organization.
Human life seems somehow or
other not to be entirely amenable 10
what logicians and scientists define
As Law. We find strange things hap.
pening. There are aow and then
uutcroppings Of totally different
phase oE character from what bad
been saDguinely expected. We hear
people saying Of this man or that
womsn, "WhO would have expected
one born a. be or she was would
have tslped out 30 welly7 There j.
a something within ~ which some
h0w Or other tends upward. Call IL
FoRcE 10 you viii, or PENcIFIE--it
appears % have a lac oi Us owu. the