The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-08-31


eth mercy as he peaseth, for the glory of his sove
egn power over his creatures to pass by, and to
dain them to dishonor and wrath for their SIM to IL
praise of his glorious Justice" (Chap ill.,, 3,
SID
+. To one who employs moral sens
bred in the sweet spirit of Jesus Christ
this extraordinary representation O
the divine nature, and Of the plan O
creation, seems like an unreal dream
Yet, it represents the work Of goot
men, OF heroic men, in an obscure age
when absolute monarchy furnished
the ideal of God, and when the citize1
had no rights which the king wa
hound to respect. From such me-
diaval horror all Christian men should
fly toward the rising revelation in sci,
ence, of Gods true work in creation
with thanksgiving and gladness.
This doctrine of the Fall of Man in
Adam is not, as may be imagined, an
extreme and antiquated notion. It is
fundamental to the whole orthodox
theology of the world. The system
could not stand moment if it be ex-
ploded. 1t may be summarily said to
be the wording theory of the Christ
ian Theology, as much to-day as it
was five hundred years ago. Every
man entering the ministry of the
Presby terian Church is obliged to
swear to hold and to teach it. There
is no difference in that respect between
the Catholic and the Protestant creeds.
Within the memory Of this genera
ton these hideous doctrines were
preached widely and vigorously. The
outburst of Indignation with which
they were received was regarded as
proof that mans unregenerate heart
was at enmity with God. They may
still be preached, but no longer with
commanding sovereignty, but apollo
getically. They defend rather than
assert themselves. But, in the main,
this view lies silent in the pulpit like
a corpse in sepulcher. Here and
there good deacon remembers when
such sound doctrine was set triumph
antly forth, to the confusion Of here
tics and infidels, and longs to hear
again the refreshing sound. But the
new generation, whether of clergy or
laity, will not worship it. Yet it is
to-day the only exposition, clear and
thorough, of what the Church has to
say as to the origin Of man and the
method of creation.
Not only is the method of creation
thus disfgured, but over against it
has been erected a scheme of repara-
ion and redemption, if not so shock
ng, yet equally fictitious and delusive,
md destined to give place to nobler
7iew of divine nature and of Provi-
lence, and Of the divine thought of
;he redemption and elevation of man
lind.
The tendency of recent scientific
and disclosures respecting
he mind of man, and his origin and
lature, will be far more pronounced
lpon the theories Of theology than
lpon the institutions of religion.
christian churches are legitimate Or
for the development of
eligious emotion and for the applica-
ion Of truth to our daily life. Those
hurches which are organized for de-
oti0p will be less disturbed than aca-
emical churches which have hitherto
lined only to expound and defend
reed. But, churches whose genius it
8 to develop religious thought, as dis
inguished from religious emotion,
will gradually change, and the devo-
ional element will take the place
argely of the theologic, and the eth
cal the place of the philosophical.
When the creeds of the past era
lave passed away we shall enter upon
he creeds Of a new era. These will
iffer not alone in their contents from
ormer doctrinal standards, but they
will differ in the very genius and
method Of construction. Our reign
ng creeds begin with God, with moral
government, with the scheme of the
Universe, with the great, invisible
calm beyond. These are the weakest
places in creed, because the matters
hey contain are least within the reach
# human reason, and because the al
eyed revelations from God upon them
re the most scanty and uncertain
The creeds of the future will begin
where the old ones ended: upon the
lature of man, his condition on earth,
lis social duties and civil obligations,
he development of his reason, his
piritual nature, its range, possibili-
les, education-the doctrine of the
human reason, Of the emotions, of
he will-man as an individual, man
Ocial and collective; and from a sound
Of the nature Of mind, de-
-eloped within the scope Of our expe-
ience and observation, we shall de-
luce conceptions of the great mind
he God idealized from our best ascer-
ailments the sphere within
which our faculties were created to
ct with certainty Of knowledge. Our
reeds will ascend from the known to
he unknown, which is the true law
md method of acquiring knowledge.
Hitherto they have expended their
hief force upon that which is but
Iimly known.
The great fear Of the pulpit, that
morality will destroy spirituality, that
o preach earthly duties will destroy
communion with God, ecstatic visions
md the forms of transcendant devo-
ional experience, will have no neces-
ary realization. Morality is the in
ground of spiritual fervor.
Blessed are the pure in heart; they
hall see God. The root working in
he soil is mother of the white flower
Inning in the air. An elevated mo-
'ality blossoms into spirituality. An
,minent spirituality sends down the
elaborated sap to every leaf, fiber and
DOT that helped to create it. Already
he work is done.
Between the heaven and the earth
here stands God in human form,
>,,,, oe c,,oh wisdom hpnatl- !