The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-04-03

ously, and bathed himself in cold watel
frequently, both by night and by day, in
order to preserve his chastity. Such
hermits and Nazarites which every age
and country have produced, certainly
seek mans supreme good in the contem
plative life. Therefore, whether you con
suit Jewish, Christian or philosophical
sources, or you ask the facts of history
you will always find that it is an open
question as to which is mans supreme
good, or, in theological phraseology, what
must one do to be saved2
After a brief reflection, any reasoning
man is forced to the conviction that this
question exercises a decided influence
development and course of society. Ev.
identity every man seeks the supreme
good, or that which he considers so, and
this is the underlying principle of his
character, and the motive power in his
doings. Take for illustration the honest
bigot, whose supreme good is concentrat.
ed in the idea of salvation hereafter, or
what he calls to enter the kingdom OF
heaven hereafter; it will give charac-
teristic course to his thoughts, feelings
hopes, wishes, mode of living, doings and
omissions. He, by natural passions and
social relations, will often come in con-
| fict with his own main principle, and do
| things evidently contrary to it; but if
his bgotry is honest and sincere he will
always come back to his main line of
conduct, as marked by his cardinal prin-
ciple, to reach what appears to him the
acter, and SO he will act in the main,
whether beneficial or nugatory to society,
and so he will influence the sum total of
practical life.
Take the honest and unsophisticated
materialist who believes the supreme
good of man is pleasure, to live comfort
ably, to fare sumptuously, to be excel
lently dressed and housed, to be honored
by others, and to have plenty of fun to
suit his fancy and appetites. Self-grati-
fcation is with him the supreme good of
man; if not everything certainly the
main object of his hopes, wishes, specula-
tions and exertions. 1t will make the
fundamental principle of his character,
and under ordinary circumstances you
can always predict how that man will act.
In the first place, the means of selfgrati-
ication will always be his main object;
namely, the money to purchase self
qualification; the office, position or bust
ness which procures the money to that
end; the chances opportunities or occa-
sions which afford him that pleasure,
either directly or indirectly, by gratif-
cation of his ambitions or appetites.
When an American statesman said
"every man has his price," he evidently
referred to this class of people, and un-
wittingly he gave the American people,
or rather its politicians, bad character.
Such materialist may be naturally sym
pathetic and compassionate, and conse-
quently also charitable to the poor and
needy. He may be naturally inconsider-
ate in moments of levity, and spend his
money in objects of benevolence as he
does in qualification. But the fund
amental trait of his character will always
be the same. Money will buy or sell
him, if the law and social considerations
can be overcome, pleasure and enjoyment
will lead him and he will be beneficial or
hostile to the interests of society in the
same proportion as his supreme good
corresponds or collides with those inter
ests.
It is not necessary, l think, to refer to
individual examples for illustration
Every intelligent man can easily think of
persons whom he has met to prove our
theory. Therefore, l may continue my
subject with this second proposition 1t
is of vital Importance to mans happiness
to have correct idea of mans supreme
good. If a thinking man has once set up
for himself principle of the supreme
good, his hopes and energies are more or
less concentrated in the realization of |
this ideal. If the ideal is false, and not |
even approximately attainable, it makes |
man disappointed, unhappy, and often
wretched. This, l maintain,
is the cause of most of the woes Detailing |
man. A man is in love with woman,
or vice versa, and thinks her possession
his supreme good he fails and ends in
suicide Another clings to the ideal,
wealth is mans supreme good, and ends
in penitentiary. Absalom imagined his
supreme good in the highest position,
and he ended suspended high on the
branch of tree. A false apprehension
of the supreme good is to thinking men
a fatal error over which tens of thou
sands lament in vain. "The folly of man
perverteth his ways and then his heart
rageth against God
1t is evident, therefore, that the su-
preme good must consist of an ideal,
which comprises both the happiness of
the individual and of society. That which
is the best for all and best for me is the
supreme good of man; that is salvation
in the theological phraseology, because it
saves mankind from misery and myself |
from disappointment. For this supreme
good of man, the ancient Hebrew Bible
has one word of two syllables "Ts' 'dakah,"
rendered in English, righteousness"
term which occurs more than two hund-
red times in the old Bible; and the man
dix" rendered the righteous man."
which is an attribute of God (Deut.
xxi, ~, no less than of Noah, Abraham
and other mortals, to say that in this
particular point man may be Godlike;
For God is righteous, He loveth right
(Psalms xi, y. And the
righteous is the foundation of the world
Proverbs K, 25), And the righteous
will live in His faith" (Habak i, 4). The
righteous shall never be moved" (Pro- |
verbs K 30). THE salvation of the right
teous ones is from God" (Psalms xxxvii, |
39). The hope of the righteous is Joy" |
proverbs x, 28), and The eye of God is
upon the righteous ones Psalms xxxiv, |
l6) In this wise the old Bible speaks of |
the righteous man, his hopes and his sal
vation.
Is there, indeed, salvation in righteous
ness2 Let the Bible answer again: "In |
the path of righteousness there is life"
proverbs xii, 2S), and this can only be
life everlasting righteousness exal- |
teth Nation" Ibid xiv, 34), because it
raises its individuals to eternal life
Righteousness delivereth from death"
(bid x, 2; xi, ~, because it elevates
man to Immortality. Zion shall be re- !
deemed by justice, and her captives by
Qsaiah i, 27). The work
of righteousness is peace" Ibid xxi,
lO. The righteousness Of the upright
will deliver them" proverbs xi, g. "By
their righteousness their soul shall be
delivered ezekiel xiv, II, 2O) And
the Holy God is sanctifed in righteous