Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-27
The Fruits Of Christianity.

No stronger. witness to Christianity,
can be needed than the amazing re-.
suits which it has wrought in the social
condition of the world, especially dur
ing the first three Christian centuries;
and for the sake of strengthening our
faith, it is worth while recapitulating
some of these results as they are pre-
sented by Mr.. Charles L. Brace, in his
recent publications. Gesta Christi
AT the time of the coming of Christ
the Roman world was fast hurrying to
moral and spiritual decay. The evils
by which it was afflicted and against
which the first chapter of Romans
brings so terrible an Indictment were
not lnheeded by thePhilesop hers Of the
time, but even the most sangline could
suggest no relief. Plato, writing as
early as, three hundred years, before
Christ, lamented the situation in his own
day, and though he conceived remedy,
he did not imagine it practicable. The
evils might be broken up. he believed, by
the operation of three principles or moral
forces; first that of piety or love to
a Divine person; second, the desire for
honor and the respect of the good and
thirdly, the love of moral beauty, that
not of the body but of the SOU. "These
he, perhaps, romantic aspirations,
Plato declares, t.but they are the no.
blest of aspirations. if they could only
be realized. MATTERS have now come
to such a apass,p berconfessed, ;'thati
the enactment of such laws Gas might
proceed from these sentiments) seems
to be impossibie,I and never likely to-
take place.p This was a gloomy OUT
look, but It was NOT tinwafranted by the
signs of the times Plat6s lack of faith
wis not remarka able; it is only suipris-
ing that his diagnosis. was so correct,
and his idea of the remedy SO clear.
For as. a. matter Of fact it was. that
remedy which Christianity afterward
administered, and which proved effect
ual in arresting the. progress of decay.
''The three forces Of which Plato
spoke, says Mr.. Brace" were espe-
cially threwnfinto the world by. Jesus
The ideal for which. the philosopher
Ionged. but which he regarded as. yis-
ionary and unattainable, became mat
ter Of reality through Christ. ~ - -
Indeed, when these forces began, to
operate i'm mems hearts itrwas inpossi-
bfe that the. old vices should GO on. All
that was corrupt, sensual Oppressive,
inhuman, found itself antagonized by
the spirit of the Master, and as His
spirit spread and the community be-
came. ,leaFened,. the corruption, sensu.
atty, oppression, were, put away. The
REGENERATION did not occur in a year
or in q century, 4, But little by little
licentious npd barbarous practices were
stopped, gladatorial shows sunk in public
esteem, the position. OF Woman became
elevated, public charities were intro
dtcod. and the evils of slavery were
mitigated; until, when three hundred
years bad passed and Christianity had
reached the throne itself, It was posi-,
BILE to do what Plato had fancied could.
never be done, and enact the new senti-
nent on these points into law - T. =.
Now, for the first time.wfs the son
protected in his rights of life and prup-
erty, while the rights of the daughter
also began TO receive recognition. The
marriage tie was strengthened and di-