The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-24

to the prince of evil for the means TO
make them Godlike7 Surely if an
evil tree cannot bring forth good
fruit, no great benefit can be expected
from such means in the reformation
of the world. The thing itself is evil;
and whatever it touches or influences,
must, in some measure accord with it.
Is not this one reason why wicked
ness prevails in the world so extern
sively as at the present time' Does
not the exhibition of cruelty serve to
harden the hearth Does not the
presence of licentious images, pro-
mote licentiousnesss Why then
should not the images of terror and
blasphemy, SO often set forth in the
descriptions of endless wretchedness
exert similar unfavorable influence
upon the minds and morals of the
people? That they do exert such an
influence is too plain and palpable to
be denied. And as long as those
images are set forth, that influence
will be exerted, unconsciously it may
be, but still with the most tremend-
GUS power for evil.
The question comes then,-What
shall be done to remedy the evil7 The
only remedy that can be effectual is
to destroy the corrupt tree. In the
language of Scripture it should be
said, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it
the ground?" Far less of wicked
ness would there be in the world if
this vile influence were removed. Let
the experiment be tried.
3. The text in another point of view
is applicable to man as indicating the
elements of his nature and the mo-
tives of his action. The text with it's
context was given to the disciples as
a means of discriminating between
true and false prophets. Beware of
false prophets" was the solemn ex-
hortation. eye shall know them by
their fruits" was the rule laid down
for Judging. "Do men gather grapes
of thorns or figs of thistles?"
This perhaps is the most sure mode
of Judging between good and bad
men; and yet, it is not, of itself, an
infallible criterion. Many people ex-
hibit fair character externally, but
at the same time have no sterling
principle in their hearts.
In making the application it is
necessary to speak of the internal
principles of action as varied accord
ing to the exhibitions of outward
conduct. These are the varied prin-
ciples from which proceeds the va
rious fruit exhibited in the outward
conduct through life. Behind all
this, however, stands the original con-
dition of the human mind, which
must have been constructed with
powers and capabilities essentially
good. On no other ground can the
good that is found among men, even
the worst, be accounted for. Indeed
when God made man and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life he
pronounced him very good. And this
declaration was unquestionably made
with reference to the essential ele-
ments of the human mind.
But there is speculative philoso-
ply K or rather theologico-m meta
physics abroad in the world, which
assumes that this inherent element of
goodness was lost to the human race
in the fall of their first parents. The
detection of the federal head in.
volved the whole race in guilt,
brought death into the world and
all our woes" And from thence, it
is affirmed, that every creature of the
human race is born into the world
under the curse, and involved in ORR
ginal total depravity.
this view is correct, and man is to-
tally depraved and incapable of doing
a good act, it follows that every part
of his conduct will be vicious. can
evil tree cannot bring forth good
fruit" And of course what is totally
corrupt in man cannot by any posi-
bility produce anything except its
own likeness. AS sure as total de-
pravity exists in the soul, so sure will
it develop itself in the outward con-
duct; and sensibly affect every action
of every man. And the advocates of
the system have found it neces-
sarY to take this ground in order
to be consistent with themselves;
and they have, therefore asserted
that every word, thought and deed
of an unregenerated man is vicious
and abominably sinful in the
sight of God. This system, though
prevalent in ages past in this and
other countries, is not much preached
at the present time. People have too