The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-03-23

In which pagan offered or lost his life in defense of
his system.
but while vast majority of mankind is non-Chris
tian, still vast majority is non-pagan The Brah-
minis, the Buddhists, the Zoroasrians, the followers
OF Confucius, the Mohammedans far from being
Christians they still farther from being pagans,
in the sense of that term used above.
II.
THE BIBLE FATAL TO IGNORANCE.
There was time when the Sacred Scriptures passed
from the hands of the priest those of the populace
The dead languages resurrected long enough to
Wicklfe, the pioneers of translation, produced the
Word in the English tongue, and it about that
men could worship God If not strictly according to
the dictates of conscience yet in their language
That moment struck the kne of human ignorance in
Bible lands. At that moment few, of the upper
classes could read and more perhaps of the peasan
try. But the printing press came; the Bible
was among the first publications.; there was now an
incentive to study; the fountain op-ned; the
seeds. of the Protestant Church were being sown;
soon, the reformed religion boldly declared that men
were personally responsible and that they might be
justified by faith From that time intelligence, back
ed by the Word of God and fotered by the
Church. has constantly increased, and ignorance and
superstition have and withdrawn. In
England and Scotland there is national common
school system. and every boy and girl may be edu-
Gated. Un Prussia every boy and girl must be edu-
cated.) Prussia that nation was unknown two
hundred years ago among The powers of Europe;
Prussia that for time troubled by the machina-
tions the Mother Church is Protestant and
free and of the foremost nations Of the globe.
Protestant education has unlocked the deepest of
natures mysteries; 1t has bettered two continents
with railways; it has thrown bridges over mighty
rivers it has filled the air with the cang of ma
chinery it has robbed labor of its drudgery by MAX
ing toll inteectua it has multiplied the tongues of
teachers and preachers manifold through the medium
of the Christian press; 1t has filed our houses with
. hoe liubf fad
brilliant and smokeess lights it has builded school,
houses upon every hillside and churches in every
valley. it has done all that distinguishes from
those barbarous and heather nations that have never
felt the elevating and refining influences of Chris
tianty. Such civilization, such intellectual attain
ments are only found in those countries where the
Bible is free and open hook. Without pansing here
to these various lands, you will simply be
asked to note this great fact: That wherever the Sa
cred Writings free to ALL there you find
getic. enterprsing, progressive people. Truly the
Lords Word is foe to ignorance and is its best
instrument in procuring that wisdom which is more
to be desired than fine gold.
III.
THE BIBLE is FATAL TO SLAVERY. AND TO LEGAL
DISTINCTIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE PEOPLE,
PRODUCING Castles.
Entirely free from any taint of communism, the
Scriptures yet teach the absolute equal accounta
bity of all. No man serve God by proxy. 1t is
the doctrine of complete individual liability. Who-
| freely. The crowned king, the mitred bishop the
tattered heggar each be judged according to in
| dvidual merit. The Infinite Father recognizes no
distinctions, and the peer of the realm is held
in higher esteem than the humbest serf The poor
and despised publican If contrte is preferred before
the naughty purse-proud Pharisee The soul of the
toiling gallry-slave is dear to Christ that o
the most favored of earth.
Containing such doctrines these, intensified by
the divine command, whatsoever We would that
a Io
the Bible went forth when majority of men were
slaves, chattels upon the market to be bought and
sold other merchandise, but as the Word became
better understood. the CALLING chains of serviude
| began to weaken and decay. The time finally camt
for a decided movement and Great Britain took thu
lead; slavery in all her domain abolished. ant
it amsng the proudest of her boasts. that The
sun never sets upon the dominion of England, ant
throughout her vast he never rises upol
| a slave.
You are familiar with the apparent processes b!
which slavery was extirpated from the United State
and are ready to say that it because of the su
periorty of northern numbers and valor. Not who'll!
so. We honor vaor and bravery where ever found
but adore the hand that directs the valorous AM
guides the brave The idea that extinguished slaver
in the United States is as old creation and was
familiar thought the rude fishermen of Galliee VIII
walked. and talked and sailed with the Master O
Life This conquering thought invaded the immens
Empire of Russia and freed her millions of serfs an
is capable of still more momentous achievements.
We might particularze touching the development
political equality, but 1t is unnecessary In Grea
Britain, Holland, Denmark. Norway and Sweden
Prussia, the U. s. A. all people equal before tn
and alike entitled Its protection. This state
is general 1t is not intended to be affirmed tina
all exercise precisely the same municipal rights, bu
merely that all have the same complete and equs
protection. No where outside of Christendom ca
this condition of things be found. With these evi
dences brought sharply into view, and these might
results in Bible lands made apparent and in sue
vivid contrast with the circumstances of peoples
whom the Book is a stranger, who is so blind that
fails perceive the principle which causes the oil
ference between their lot and ours? Slavery an
legal inequality antagonize the Bible and must there
fore 20 down before 1t.
THE BIBLE IS FATAL TO PANTHEIsM AND INFIDEL
ITY OF wHATsoEvER FORM.
In illustration of this topic, we have as yet n
great national example. Pantheism has never oh
tanned any considerable foothOld either in Europe
learning have done everything in their power to Civ
1t credit and standing Even theological semina
ries do hesitate to indoctrnate their students
the philosophy of Plato.
True it is. that many men distinguished In thei
day have endeavored to engraft the nfdrlfty
Plato, some similar form of speculative though
upon the Western mind, but the adventure has nc
been attended by any considerable measure of success
and the authors are forgotten Chin and hume a
historians. kindly remembered, as fDfdel phfos
ophers they unread. Who knows Voltaire
other than the sprightly historian of Charles H.,
boon companion of Fredric, the Great? What mai
in this assembly, unless he be literary antiquarian
has read Spinoza, Kant or Fichte. or Hegel? An
coming nearer heme, who here has reveled in tn
perusal of Ralph Waldo Emersons transcend-ntal
ism? These men have written largely and eloquent
to prove Ihe Bible is fable. and religion amyt
where are their followers2 They have no following
With all their learning and elegance of dfction the
failed reach stir the popular heart. How sadl
humiliating be to Mr.. Emerson to witness hi
lofiiests efforts falling coldly and unnoticed by tn
great public, and then to the same great publ
stirred to the prooundest depths of Its emotions
the simple narrative of Matthew, the tax-gatherei
Emerson, the gifted of genius, conceiving him
self to be brilliant lights of the nineteent
century, forgotten in his lifetime and unread b
his own countrymen. Matthew, the unleftered, In
conspicuous publican, born in the ignorance an
darkness of paganism, remembered through the age
that have fed into eternity, with constantly IN
creasng tenderness of recollection, and read by mtl
ions of strangers blood and birth scattered tn
| eXpanse of two continents.
From the oblivion of forgetfulness to which tn
mass of infdel writings and writers have by common
consent, been consigned. Thomas Paine is to a de
gree exempt He has always had one class of readers
Bows Just in that adoleseent state Of immaturit.
which marks the transition from boy to man. largely
affect admire Mr. Paine's Age of Reason. They al
become ashamed of ii, in after life.
And now look around you-what are the results o
the mighty efforts put forth by these of surpass
ing genius? Compare the effect produced upon tn
world by their ponderous volumes with the grand re
suits achieved by the epstles of St. Panl. and then
say. if you that the Christian bible has beeI
shaken by the assaults of these foremost champion
Of pantheistic in6delity.
Did time permit, the argument might be extended
to include the materialisic unbeief of the presen
day with results entirely similar, but time will no
permit Let Christians heart fail for fear that th
Bible will not stand. Pseudo-Science has folded he