The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-05-08

as the body, to God as well as man. will be sub
jected to the sharpest examination, and will
stand or fall according to their ability to stand
the test of enlightened reason.
The old doctrine in regard TO the Holy Scrip
spired and holy in every word. so lOngas men
knew nothing about astronomy or geology
there was no scientific difficulty in the way of
belief But when these sciences became known
human opinion underwent great change, and
it was demonstrated to every intelligent mind
that some of the statements in the Bible could
not be literally true. Many minds We're start
ery that the world could not have been created
| in six days of twent nty-four hours, and many in
effectual efforts We're made to disprove the con-
clusIon or to shield the doctrine or verbal inter
probation from attack. These efforts were vain.
The doubts extended to other parts of the Bible,
and the doctrine ofinsplratlon has been greatly
modified Throw discredIt upon one point of a
| doctrine and you awaken doubts about every
other point. As the doctrines OF religion are
supposed to be drawn from The Bible all creedS
have been shadowed by doubt. They are re-
garded more as human opinions than as the
dicta of infinite wisdom. They subjected to
the test of their own authority. Scripture is
quoted against Scripture. and this battle of the
texts has weakened the force OF the authority,
has brought the mind into perplexity, and has
reason for final decision.
When the doctrine of the Trinity is proposed,
| we are confronted with contradiction of the
simplest conception of the mind, and the very
| elements of numbers. Three units OF kind
are more than one Three apples do not make
one apple, nor can one apple be three. One
being, whether divine or mortal, cannot be
three beings T5e mere statement m ,o OF sucn cha
| terry. 1t may be taught by the authority of the
Church, and the mind may give a formal assent
I to it. But it is not q mystery ii is contra
| diction, and the enlightened mind rejects it.
| The more closely the principles of justice and
that it is not justice but injustice, to punish the
innocent for the guilty. No court in the world
| would follow the doctrine of VicariouS atone
ment in administering punishment. To con-
| denim the innocent son of a murderer TO deaf h
! and to let the guilty man go free, would be the
| greatest possible outrage on justice aud human
| ity. The doctrine has undergone many chan
| ges to meet the demands of an intelligent con-
! ception of justice; and these changes must
! continue until doctrine of human salvation is
gained that Wiil stand the est Of reason sis and
! humane feelings revolt against the old arbitra-
/ ry and cruel doctrine concerning the punish
| less torment There is no proportion between
the CRIME and and the punishment.
! The causes of unbelief are not hostile to
Christianity so much as to false ideas of Chris
! tiantty. Protestauts and Catholics identify
| their creedS with Christianity, and hold that
| Christianity must stand or fall with them
| They think that every blow aimed at them is
! aimed against the Kingdom of Heaven But
| they assume too much. Christianity is older
than creeds. 1t lives in the immutable princi-
| pies the Divine order embodied in the Divine
! nature, and finited in mans; and no change in
human opinion can affect it.
! In conclusion, Mr.. Giles said 'Slepticism
| tends to improvements and is one of the most
promising signs of the times that men are be-
| Ginning to examine their beliefs and 10 subject
them to the closest scrutiny. Unbelief is not
| confined to the ignorant and immoral, or to a
| few learned scientists. 1t has extended to the
bers ofany Church who fully. accept the doc
| trines it teaches. But nowa- days this does not
injure their standing in the Church. Unbeliet
was once a bar to fellowship. 1t is so longer
There Is a Widespread and growing Indifference
TO doctrines. The sharp lines that once defin-
| ed them are fading away; the doctrines them
selves are losing their conference. They are be-
| coming weak, watery, diffuse, and void of vital
power. Unbeief is not confined TO the lay
members OF the Church. On the contrary, it is
| more prevalent among the ministers than
among their flocks. They avoid many topics
that were once their principal and most effect
| i've themes They try to avoid difficulties by
| dealing in vague generaliies, by teaching NOR
alIty. II they teach the old doctrines. it is with
| a mildnesS timidity, that show there is no
| heart in their teachings. Doubts cast their
| shadows over every mind, and even the litera-
ture of the Church is imbued with doubt. The
| remedy for ignorance is knowledge the reme-
dy for skepticSm is rational acquaintance with
such subjects as are involved in doubt. 1t is
| not disease that will cure itself. 1t will not
| die out by being let alone. 1t cannot be abol-
| ished by disparaging the i'm mportance of true
knowledge upon the most momentOus ques-
tions touching the welfare of humanity. The
remedy i infidelity, the unbelief of the heart
consists in living according to the light that we
| have. There is no way to Heaven save through
! Gethsemane and over Calvary"