Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-02-10
Soienoe and Rslirion.


And now let ue turn to another A.
pect and another relation Of the
Christianity of the present.
God is one God is true HCod
has manifested himself in wuraa. and
also In his works, it 10 impossible
that these two should be al variance.
Now We have before US Co.'s word
and Gods works; both for 10 to
study and understand, by his help,
as we may. The same sacred writer
who said Of the one, ''HoW / love
thy law, all the day long is my study
in it," also said of the other, 1.-The
works of the Lord are great, sought
out of all them that have pleasures
therein" Now this being 60, the 1t.
titude which becomes us, u surely
one of deep humility with regard 10
both. And what Is this humility,
practically interpreted? Surely,
frame of which should keep Us from
two rash procedures:~, Hrst, from
hasty adoption Of esude physical
theories and speculstions, and,
secondly, and no less, from cling
ing to superficial and inadequate in
terpretations of the text of the Scrip
lures. Science properly SO called,
and Scriptures properly understood,
are pefectly safe together. The de-
monstrabIy assured discoveries Of
science NAV again render it neces-
sary, as they have already rendered
it necessary in cases universally al
lowed. to understand Scripture ex-
pressions otherwise than than they
have hitherto been understood; to
suppose them popularity used, or
even to suspend our power of under
standing them at all. But any such
change will leave our Christian faith
just where it is. Who believes his
Bible less, because "Sun, stand thou
still" cannot be literally understood2
And if far greater notifications Of
our present understanding of the sa-
cred text have to take place in con-
sequence of new discoveries, what
single article of our Christian faith
will be affected? Surely, it is not an
attitude BETTING one ready to be
taught of God, to be timidly shrink
ing from the possible results of SCI
entific inquiry, and ever more cry
ing out that the Scriptures are in
danger. Do we think that we have
so completely mastered the sense Of
Scriptures, we who know only at q
distance of nearly score of centu-
ries, and In language different from
its original one, that We have nothing
more to learn about its lnterpreta-
ton? Do we suppose that that the
Holy Spirit who taught mankind Of
old, is teaching them nothing now !!
Because both these presu nptions
seem to be involved in what some of
our teachers are now telling Us.
Truth can take care Of itself with.
out me; and depend on it, some Of
the greatest eclipses Truth has ever
suffered have been owing to men
gathering around it, and nursing it,
Instead of giving it free course. i
am persuaded that such procedure
as that on which l have been CON-
rnenting is simply suicidal; and il
the Christianity of the present
persists in it, we shall have the fu-
ture trying to do without Christiani-
ty at all. For you cannot crush out
truth-you cannot forbid research ;
these will 60 on, as earnestly. az
frultfully, as they are going ON now
and if you proclsim them, what they
do not proclaim themselves, hostile
to Christianity, if you make an ene-
my OF that which ought to be one OF
your chief friends, you find the ad'
vance of scientific discovery too
strong for merely artificial and con-
ventlonal religion. For it is free
fettered by no prescription but the
laws of thought, and knowing nc
limits but the universe Of facts
while you, who ought to be the freemen
of the spirit, are behaving as bond
men of the letter.-Dean Afford.