The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
JOHN KNOX AND scor1.AMn
Influence Of tho Scotch Reformer :
Practical Moral,ty

Wi LAND.
Influence Of tho Scotch Reformer on
Practical Morality.
| From Blackwood's Magazine
A system OF doctrine which is unreal or
fantastic must react niuriouslv one
would fancy, upon the practical morality
OF people. Morality in its theological
aspect" to borrow Prof Huylev,s
weighty words, lis obedience to the viii
of God" The will of God. as disclosed 10
the Scottish Calvinist, involved, il must be
admitted, some rathersingular conclusions
That the Pope was Antchrist that bish.
ops were servants of the devil, that
witches and waIIocks were to be burnt
alive, that works Of art were to be disdy-
ured and defaced, that actors of PLAYS were
to be branded and banished, that persons
who walked in the fields or qathered
''groserts" in time OF sermon were 10 he
excommunicated, that the Sabbath was n
season OF penitential gloom, that dancing
and other innocent pleasures were dc.
vice OF Satan, that belief in the real
presence was idolatry, and that the idola-
W was w VIC 'io ucd'il THESE were some
OF the definitions of Gods will, to which
the Scottish CalGihists, then and later
proceeded to give elect. The determine
ton to live in obedience to Gods will is
deserving of all praise, but it is obvious
that the quality Of The morality must de-
pend to some extent on the conception
that has been formed OF what that will re-
quires, and ID cannot, perhaps, be said
that in this sense, the relormer had any
appreciable advance upon the monk and
the pardoner.
No one now denies that fanaticism, in.
temperate zeal, cruel intolerance, ICON
oc9astic excess, characterized the rior.
nation in Scotland. Is ianaticsm good?
Are intemperance, intellectual narrowness.
ierocious invective, good? Are these the
legitimate fruits Of a moral and intellectual
revival? In this sensc, again, we have to
ask ourselves, was Knox's way best, or
WAS Lethington'sl Unless the plea of ur-
gent necessity IL admitted, there can be no
question Of what the answer must be. For
my own part, decline to accept the plea.
see no reason 10 doubt that the reforma-
ton (even in Scotland might have been
successfully conducted on other lines; that
a real reform OF abuses, moral and spirit
ual, might have been brought about with.
out the sacrifice OF intellectual breadth
ana veraclty, OF moderation, Of comprchen-
sion, OF Christian charity.
when We are told that Knox's refor-
nation was the cause Of all that is "best
and greatest" in the Scottish character.
We are tempted TO ask whether in point
OF tact the Scot since that time has risen
10 any high moral or spiritual lcvel2 Ii is
probable that under any form OF religion
or government the national caution and
the national shrewlncss would have IL 4, 10
material success and worldly prosperity.
But Is II just TO assert that the severe and
gloomy Puriianism OF the preachers has
impressed upon the national conscience
inner ideal OF duty or higher standard OF
purity II this could be truly asserted,
Then, indeed, the narrowncss, the fierce
ness, the bigotry might he forgiven. That
the life led by the Scottish commons"
since the reformation has been, as a rule.
simple, frugal, aud dcvout, would gladly
believe; but that II has been in many re-
spccts n manned and s,aunted life, want
ing in beauty and attractivcness and the
instructive refinement Of more favored
nations, M well as hard narrow and mer-
cilcss In judgment and conduct, cannot, |
am afrlid, be denied Nor do sobriety,
purity and cleanliness quite consist with
certain returns which have been taken 10
show rather unfairly, | believed that
among the nations OF Europe the country
men and countrywomen OF Knox are tile
most temperate and the most unchaste.