The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-02
TIM DIsPENSATION.
Rev. DIR. Hiden Discusses Its Educationn'
Power.


."The Educational Power OF the Ola us
pensation," was Rev. Or. Hiden's theme
at Grove-Avenue Baptist church sunday
night. text. Galations. ill.,, a: De
law was our schOolmaster TO bring Us
unto Christ"
God is an educator. this is shown ID
nature Youth is a preparatory schoo'
for mature life. God establishes schools
in stronge places. The inside 81 a"
egg-sholl is not at first sight d prom
Using place for an institution OF learn
ing. and yet it would be well for our
age If half the colleges turned out grad
yates as well prepared To begin life as
Is the young partridge when no leaps
OUt Of the shell.
God educatcs men by teaching then
something in the schools OF nature prov
dence. and redemption. and lie Is J.
no hurry, he takes his time. our moo
ern fashion of hurrynG over COLES
course Is not according to the alvin
plan. ] was once in conversation WIZ
a man who was Boosting Of The eXtmina
ton he had passed on optics. IN one
our State institutions of learning. l ash
ed him. What is a haloy and ne az
swercd: Light freezes up around IL
moon and makes "A ring; aud hat. IS IL.
reason halos are confined TO high iat
fudes, as il is not cold enough 10 freez
light near the equator. That man ma
graduated IN optics under StoneWal Jach
son.
IL have heard Of the conductor who, a.
the train ran into the great emporium
of the West, cried: Chicago! thane
cars. Twenty-Five minutes for divorces
and If our hurry continues in educationa
matters. We may lear. 'Hcidelhufg
Change cars, Fifteen minutes for Amer
lean professorships.'
"God cducates nations. The carly MS
tory of people. as well as the carly
literature of a language, commonly give
clear Indications Of infancy. The his
tory of the world is the story Of tht
education Of man i'm the school of PROV
dence. and the Bible is Coils plan for
the religious education OF the word.
STAGES AND GRADE.
"Now Just as I'm every wise scheme O.
secular education there are stages Or
grades. So in the Divine scheme, the Ga
Testament is preparatory TO tho New
The law was our schOOlmastor to bring
us unto Christ. In Second Timothy S.
10. we learn that Christ brought life ar.
Immortality TO light through the GosUe.
This is a great advance on the C.- T0s
lament teaching. The covenant Of laR
led up TO the covenant of grace. Law
is educational. The best men i'm TIE
community are largely free from the
restraints Of law. They perform thar
duties from moral motives. with which
human law cannot concern itself. lls
man whom nothing hut the law rcstians
from stealing is "a thief at heart. Ilf
the average man and the bad man ar
restrained by law. and as these make
up the great body of the people. We
prudence.
what we call the moral tone Of the
laws of any society must be adapted 10
the general moral condition Of the poo.
pie. uhis moral tone cannot reach
perfection in any society of fallen Boo.
ings; and yet the ideal of all systems O
law should be. and commonly is. per.
feet justice to all. Departures from ih.s
ideal occur in every scheme OF practical
jurisprudence.
The legal dispensation' fulfilled these
conditions. Its ideal was perfection, ana
yet the Mosaic law of divorce was SO
modified by Christ that his own disciple,
said that celibacy was better than mani.
age under conditions so strict. The No.
sale law had been adapted 10 the hard
ness Of mems hearts.
AN EDUCATIONAL FoRcr.
Inc lQCdl or ptIitNtlOn III the Oh Jaw
operated as an educational force. o. hv
elevating the moral tone OF the people.
and 90 by showing them their dcprav-
~. l, IS true In morals and in religion
as well as in the intellectual development
of the race that self-dissatisfaction IS a
necessary condition Of progress; an.
hence we see the profound philosophy %
abe fact that conviction for sin is fhe
first step towards Christian life. Saw.
ages are satisfied, and hence do not i'm.
prove. The men who are best satisfied
with their moral condition are those Who
nre most destitute OF any apprecaron
OF morality. The contemplation OF "a.
ideal perfection Of Gods law, and their
failures 10 keep II. aroused IN men a
feeling OF self-condemnation and hence
n desire for a better scheme OF lie
Men are not made virtuous by acf o.
Congress. Even Gods perfect law fau.
ed 10 make them good.
"Now. the average hoathen could have
no such ideal OF perfection; for heath. o
are morally saVages. however highly cu.
tivatcd Intellectually. They had no r,c.
ognized and authoritative standard OF
moral weights and measures. The jew
had thls In the most available form "a
well-digested code OF revealed ana Wit.
ten laws.
."rhe commandment came, sin revived
and men died TO all hope OF a perfeo,
personal righteousness. ana were thus
shut up to the righteousness OF God
which Is by faith In Jesus christ"