The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-05

in Revelation. But his criticism OF
modern Agnosticism peculiarly trench
ant II is time, he affirms to tell the
truth about the AgAostic philosophy,
which betrays science and theology
alike. ut is pathetic, it is tragic, to
behold sincere and lofty ethical move
ment seeking vainly to establish itself
upon an Agnostic foundation. Who can
not foresee the end of such movement?
Theism and Atheism are in the scales
and Science holds the balance" "Ethics
for man, If it is to possess any command
ing authority or create any supreme
obligation, must be rooted in ethics
for the universe; and ethics for the
universe must be rooted in Universal,
Divine Personality" ut is neither
more nor less than intellectually abb
surd, to declare the essential nature OF
Infinite Being 'unknOwable by man..
and the central principle of all Agnos-
ticism is shown to be in fiat contradic-
ton of the fundamental law Of science"
The most terrible consequence OF Athe-
ism, says Prof. Goodwin Smith, sis that
it leaves us fatherless and guideless in
an unreasonable vortex OF blind force"
1.-THE empire of nonsense" says Mr. Abb
bot, absolute and irredeemable non
sense, has already lasted too long in
philosophy, and wrought too much
harm, both in confusion of head and dis
tress of heart, to the great and precious
interests of which philosophy is
trustee" Scientific theology bold
ly accuses Agnosticism of being
the great intellectual sham OF
the century, the philosophical Cheap
Jack Of modern thought. The time has
come at last for general clearlng-up
with respect to fundamentals, and
resolute dispersion Of the smoke which
has been too long suffered to hang over
first principles"
So far as that goes, Mr.. Abbott rea-
sons unanswerably we'll. In the name
of Science, and looking all around at
facts about us and facts within us, rea-
son boldly affirms: With such universe
as this, there must be Person, whose
power, intelligence, purpose and char
acter have made possible the facts We
see. But If there be such q Person, by
whom all things were made, and in
whom all things exist, what more rea-
| sOnable than that He should reveal Him
self, not as a mere Power, but as Per-
son, to beings whom He has also en-
dowed with personality. And just this
He has done. The good tidings, Of great
joy for all people, is that He $50 loved
the world" that He has revealed Him.
self to it. In the fullness Of time the
Son came to reveal this infinite Person
as the infinite Father.
| 1t is but a narrow and broken reason
ing which afilrms that such a universe
as this must have Person to create
and sustain it, and then deny, or refuse
to believe, that He has left us, His per-
sonal offspring, in utter orphanage and
with no personal note or message from
Him to us. No, any Science, broad
and fair enough to take in all the facts,
is constrained to do more; to do as the
shepherds of Bethlehem did when, hav-
ing heard the angelic announcement
and the angels song, they said one to
another: ''Let us now 60 even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing that is
come to pass" The fact is, for any ex-
PLANTATION of the world where we are and
of the universe amid which we are, we
have to turn to the Christian revelation.
Chicago Advocate.