Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-17
p.,.on-nnd Human Reason.
CThe Observations OF a Philosopher
Friend Of Ours)

Rea.on-nnd Human Reason.
CThe Observations OF a Philosophical
Friend Of Ours)
The devil insinuated to our Mother
Eve that the Almighty was not doing
fairly by her; that He was keeping her
hack from PRIVILEGES that would be-
sto,y upon her advanced Thought. He
suggested higher criticism that could
omen TO her divine secrets, and raise
her TO an equality with the highest
"God doth know" was his reason; and
He dare not let you know. If our SELF
educated parent would only break OF
from God. assume her dignity and tone
sbe would be on top, and he would own
her as his equal. Her reason was con-
WINGED She committed the act Of dis
LOYALTY; she ate OF the insane root that
took the reason prisoner. And 50 the
first act Of human reason was TO 90
homage to the slandereri and the oeVh
has been making a great deal OF 1t ever
since. ,.,-
our reason is the royal power within
us that raises us above all other ami
mails. and assures Us of our divine ma
ture 1t is the secret. the password,
the common ground between man ana
Cod: "Gird up thy loins like man.
and / will demand of thee, and answer
thou me-" II is the element of common
life. Enlightened by the Holy SPIRIT
IT makes us OF the family OF Heaven
OF the other sort. it makes Us of very
different household. In the great drama
of job. Satan, Diabolus. the slanderer
of God and man, stands as an intel
lectual prodigy; the prosecuting attor-
nev i'm the court OF Heaven, and makes
a grand display OF reasoning; he had
things his own way The usual as
astrous results of unsanctihed reason
followed. Jobs comforters added their
reasonings; proved great many Things
that were not so; quoted their plau-
tudes grandly, where they were not ap-
licable, and had their trouble for their
pains: finally they shut up-had nothing
more 20 say. And the overwhelming
light and wisdom Of the Almighty and
His fatherly love wound UP the story In
a grand display.
Reason is a divine thing. But human
reason is a poor imitation. Reason is
the very attribute Of Heaven. In the
Deity it is absolute and all controlling,
showing itself as the very light Of abso-
lutte and infinite perfection. In man, 1t
sees through a glass darkly. Its seat
is confused, ltS agencies are Nteth "liN
unreliable; its methods are perverted; It's
light is darkness visible; its judgments
are warped, and exposed to a thousand
influences that make true working al
most impossible. 1t IS a magnet in an
iron box; n needle, with nothing TO show
whether 1t points north or south.
II Is very well TO call man a reason
able animal, and acknowledge reason as
our best guide. But 1t Is OF supreme
Importance TO know its fallibility. 1t
IS a power that may be used for great
good or great evil. Alone and unaided,
II is q dangerous guide. In the whole
history OF man, from the beginning and
throughout, it has played its part, doing
harm and good work with equal earnest
ness and devotion; exalting folly and
confusion with elaboration and dignity;
and making misery in the name Of good;
calling evil good, and good evil, and
most Misunderstanding the proud hap
py."
Man is thinking animal; and he calls
his thinking reason His reason is after
the Divine image in form and action; but
not in quality, or business, or truth, or
breadth. 1t is a baby. dlsordered. figure
of the Infinite. The embracing Of God
Is the test of truth all embracing, and
final The wisdom of man is like his
infancy-poor and blind, and naked. As
is grows toward the Divine image II
becomes good and honorabls; alone, un-
aided. it suggests both angel and devil
Reason, in the abstract, means the
infinite wisdom OF God. Reason, with
human philosophers, means mans think
ing as the test of truth. With human
reason alone, man is helpless and hope
less: the most unreasonable and miser-
able Of animals. Take away the Word
of God, and man has no conclusions;
he is absolutely painless and In dark
ness The Ten Commandments are the
bases OF civilization. They were not
discoveries or achievements OF human
reason, but revelations written with the
finger Of God. Outside OF the Holy
Scriptures mans best and most reason
able service is 10 search for and find the
| will and wisdom, the Divine reason Of
| the Great Creator in the works OF ma
ture. And in that great business his
best conclusions are: Behold! / am vile.
| With Thee is the well OF life; In Thy
light shall we see light.
The first and greatest achievement OF
human reason and skill resulted in q
| confusion that scattered men over the
face Of the earth. Antagonists con-
| troversies, wars. and commissions have
marked the ways OF human reason.
| Every side OF every question has had
| the support oi Hulildu Anu luCtt
| can be no conception so preposterous as
| not 20 find a reasoning advocate.
| Idols may be taken as embodiments OF
| human reason In its various stages. And
80 II finds its expression in the horrible
monsters OF the Ethiopian. in the brute
| gods of the Egyptian. and In the ideal
| Minerva OF the Greeks. The nation in
which the world, the flesh, and the devil
! most triumphantly held sway once made
1 dAtfx nj hey
embodied IL in the person OF a bawd. Oui
great poet says: / see mems judgments
| are a parcel OF their fortunes. Their
reason is forever The mistress OF their
appetltes. their passions and their preju-
| dices.
The wise man OF the Scriptures does
not exslt human reason. but divine