The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
Morals and Rellcion.

Morals are mans relations to man. Keu-
cion il mans relations 20 God To men nav
ing intelligent and cons ,tent views OF the
two classes of relations. morals and rehglon
are closely. and even necessarily. connecIeu.
They regard morals that do not ultimately
rest upon religious bases and sanctions rs IN,
complete and ineffective. while they regard
religion that does not enforce moral duties ~
superstitious mechanism. sentimental myau-
cism. or emotional excitement. However
they may fail TO carry 1t out IN practice ms
j. the theory held by all Christians. bnt uils
Is bv no means the universal theory. foI N
ample. pagan antiquity wholly dlsassociated
morals and religion. Their union IN the
Christian world is due ~ the preaching OF
Christianity. Says Mr. Lccky, IN ms Ills
tory of European Morals himself being
nationalist 49,:
The ethics Of paganism were part OF PM
losophv. The ethics of Christianity were
part Of a religion. The first were the specn-
iation of "a few highly cultivated individuals
and neither had nor could have had any IL
rect influence upon the masses az Mankind
The second were indissolublv connected with
the worship. hopes aud fears Of a vast relig-
ious system, that acts, az least. a. powerfully
on the most ignorant AS on the most cultlNA-
ted
No doubt il will puzzle many minds. 50 ia
milar are they with the Christian view OF
morals and so unfamiliar with the pagan
view. To conceive how practical conduct anu
religious doctrines and services ever coulu
have been theoretically separated rms sec
ond qu.tatiou from the same writer Will re-
heye the difficulty:
The objects Of the pagan systems were 70
f0rctell the future 10 explain the universe. 20
avert calamity. g. Ohtain the as-stauce OF the
gods They contained no Instruments Oh
moral teaching analogous 10 our institution
of preaching. Ut 10 the moral preparation Tor
he reception of the saclcment. or 10 COMES
sion or 10 the reading Of the Bible. or 10 re-
lgiou, education. or D. united prayer for Sor-
itual benefits. 70 make men ylrtuous was no
morethe function Of the priest than oi the
physician ON the other hand, thr pnilo-
s0ph cxp0eltlOns Of duty We're wholly I'M
connected with the religious ceremonies Oh
the temple"
Mr. Lecks gives the credit of making re-
lgion moral 10 the Gospel This is hls en-
puaticte,timonv
TO amalgamate these two spheres. 20 in
corporate moral culture with religion. and
thus o. enlist IN is behalf that desire to enter
low mean. of ceremonial obsoryluces, INTO
direct communication with heaven. which
experience has shown 90 be- one II the most
universal and powerful passions ~ mankind,
was among the most important achicvcmcrt
of Christianity Under IT'S Influence. doc
trines concerning the nature ~ God. the
Immortality If the soul. and the dunes "i
man which the uohlest inteilects of antiquity
could barely grasp. have become the trul,ms
of the village school the proverbs ol the cot
tagr ana of the alley
This amalgamation Of conduct and faith. Of
living and believing. OF behavior and worship.
OF mans duties toman and BIS duties 90 God -
in word. of morals and religlDu-"3~ The
greatest practical achievement ii Christianity
II wa. effected by means lt the nob.e-i teach
lug found mo the two lc~tameui~. Nnai NJ;
I.ecky calls tine amnlgamatiou of morals and
religion might perhaps be better called the
Abs lrpti0n of morals by religion. The Bible
contains mo- words answering 10 our morals"
and ethics" Religion c1mprehends the
whole. Nothing could surpass the strength
aud fervor If the language IN which Jesus
pr0clams the everlasting superiority Of moral
qualities To dogma and ceremonial obser-
vances Here we find one great cause. per-
haps the great cause. of tine carly triumphs
the Christian Church The primitive Chris
tans practiced righteousness ~ well as
preached 1t. and in the long contest with
paganism this gave them an immense adyan-
Christian Standard DISCIPLE