The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22
For the Central Presbyterian.
Looking East.

Tor tne central Presbyterian.
Looking East.
The test of true religion lies in the
question, what has it done for Man? In
It's results, can it show there has been
a process of development from lower to
higher conditions of moral and spiritual
life. Not only the individual, but the
nation and race, must exemplify the con-
current testimony in its behalf. Has if
taken the common clay of humanity.
and transformed it into a vase of Won
drous workmanship, where from the
dead dust it holds, has come forth an
Amaranth-the flower of Immortality?
Has the nation awaked to newness of
life?" Has it grasped in its vision of
existence the higher destiny to which
we must aspire, and the contribution of
each for the eternal good of all /? Has
the race become distinguished by being
IN advance in all the attributes that en-
mobiles and dignifes mankind?
If it can show such record it must
be in accordance with the divine proce
dure that controls and governs the
world If on the other hand, it shows
that what Man is to-day he was thous-
and years ago, it must be evident such a
state of moral and spiritual stagnation is
proof of religion that long has wither-
ed at Its roots, or shrunk into the maud
lin and embecile utterances that belong
to the rites of superstition. Among the
monuments of antiquity the most strange,
weird, and peculiar is the Sphinx upon
the strands of Egypt. AS the poet says,
=" 1t looks straight on, with calm eter-
nal eyes. 1t seems the symbol of pagan
superstition. Has it seen any change
these many centuries in the character Of
its people? None at ALL The delusion
OF false belief has so deepened into the
soul that it has stifed the aspirations
to rise from their low estate. There is no
change, morally or spiritually, through
out the East, except where the light of
the gospel has been shed by our mission
aries. The responsibility of change in
such case rests not with them but with
US. For to whom much is given of them
much shall be required" They know
nothing of the religion of Christ which
yields that invigorating power to the in
dividual, the nation, and the race. that
must eventually become the Way, the
Truth, and the Life to every kindred and
people on the face of the whole earth.
Another structure meets the eye of our
contemplation. 1t is the Vatican. What
has the religion it represents done for
Man these long centuries before Luther
rose" The solitary monk that shook
the world"
With Macaulay we give it credit for
controlling the brute force of human ma
ture during the middle ages but like its
Pagan contemporary, it lapsed into an
engine of sacerdotal power. When man
Is confronted with too much AUTHORITY
his intellect is paralized and his heart is
hardened. This fact explains why the
great inventions and discoveries of the
Age did not occur in previous centuries.
1t is to the blessed result of that mental
spiritual, and political freedom produced
by the Reformation, that must be ascribed
the high vantage ground of the Protes-
tant nations-the universal charity Of
their people, the profound wisdom Of
their statesmen, that secures through the
prayers of their God-fearing Christians,
the civil and religious liberty we enjoy
and seek to extend to those who are sit
ting in darkness" Who are aliens from
the commonwealth Of Israel and strangers
to the covenant Of promise"
But we forget there is the claim Of
Infallibility." Suppose the present
Pope had been born in the city Of Rich
mond, and educated in a Baptist family
and become Baptist preacher, what
about infallibility then2 Suppose the
Rev. DR.. -, the Baptist minister in
Richmond, had been born in Rome, rear.
ed in Catholic family, and educated for
the Church, had become Pope, what
about infallibility then2 Why disagree
when each might have been in the Others
place? To put it philosophically, when
they were within the possibility Of oppo'
site conditions, they present the ludicrous
spectacle Of quarreling with themselves.
We revert to the crucial test-Which has
done most for Man2 The Reformation
with its Protestant alliance, or Paganism
and its offspring. A. S.