The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-15
THE STANDARD OF MORALITY.

THE STANDARD OF MORALITY.
That some fixed, Interchangeable, and
universal standard of morality is needed
for the welfare Of society is quite evil
dent. In the world of trade we must
have some certain and well-known
standard Of weights and measurement;
without it ineXtricable confusion would
take the place of order in the CONNER
cial world, Men who tamper with the
standards of valuation or measurement
are Justly regarded as foes to society
A merchant who would insist, in buy
ing goods, that the yard should contain
fifty inches, and, in sailing, but thirty,
would he regarded either as a knave Or
fool. Yet, strange to say, men who
recognize the necessity OF fixed stand
ard by which to determine values in
trade, are:ready to assume the position
| that in determining moral values they
are at liberty to exercise their own
pleasure. What they think to be their
own best interest is to tx the standard
! of right conduct. This is to assume the
position that there is no IKE /. absolute
law of righteousness, and that the
moral world is left in hopeless confu-
sion; II this We're true, nothing could
be more dlshp artening and dreary than
the outl0rk Of the future for human
society. With each individual law
unto himself, ard human nature as We
KDOW it to be, it would require no
special wisdom to predict the rnin
that would surely follow. VIII ryVrr
partial experiment has been made ia
ttis direction the results have been so
manifest as to fill society with appre-
| IF tho moral
world has no higher law than that
which is the result OF mans experience,
the varying product of his own nature,
then indeed ne who attempts to live q
moral life is left to the guidance Of
ignorance and folly. The lot Of the
beasts, who accept the unchanging law
OF nature, is more enViable than his.
But, happily for man, We have perfect
standard OF morality law of truth and
righteousness, complete in all its parts
One appeared among men who kept the
law of the Lord perfectly, and who
stands before the world faultless and
holy. If, then, we would know what
true morality is, we musician Of Jesus.
It was his delight to do the will of God.
He recognized but one high, glorious,
and inhexible standard of duty-the
will of the eternal Father. He is at
once the test and teacher OF true NOR
atty. He is the law of righteousness
incarnate. What is Christ-like is right,
and what is not Ohri. t-like is wrong.
The great practical question for all
right doing is simply this: What will
please Christi" He who sincerely sets
such standard before him, and earn
estly and lovingly seeks to guide him
self by it, will certainly be led in the
way Of righteousness in all things. Ii
is rule for business life as we'll as q
religious one; it makes all service-tnat
done in the shop and field, as well as
that done in the sanctuary and closet
of prayer-a holy service, because it is
done to please UhrlSt.-The Md Cont.
nent, (Presbyterian).
THE NATURE OF GOD.
It has been ssid that the universe
with all its beauties and grandeurs, as
seen in the starry heavens, is not, after
all, the most striking manifestation of
God, ncr the most convincing proof of
The existence OF God. 1t is the spirit of
man which is the best, as it is the pri-
mary manifestation of God. If we
would see what God is, and learn the
most that we can about Him we must
study not matter, bnt mind: not nat
lral science, bnt mental science, not the
physical creation, but the moral crea-
lion; not the relationship of things out
w8ri, but those of the inward life of
man. Man is God son. He is the i'm
age of God. The resemblance is close
and disclosing. Till we study him we
hall fail in our search after Gods
Hature and character. There may be
evidence of Gods person. knowledge
aud skill in the frame, order and adap
| taIion of external nature; but to find
moral preference, compassion, sympa