The Irish standard., 1901-10-19

tell him nothing Of God, nothing Of
his duties towards his Creator. But
greater by far is the danger of the
opinion which tells us that this reason
is sufficient to teach us all truth, to
show us all our obligations towards
our Sovereign Lord, and to present to
us motives which will be sufficient to
induce us to fulfill all those sacred
obligations.
The former opinion has had few fol-
lowers. The latter finds multitudes Of
supporters. The multitudes do not in
deed formulate their opinions into a
scientific system Of philosophy. Few
are known under the name Of Ration
alists, who deity reason. But how
many live their lives through with rea-
son for their only guide, and feel con-
fident that this guide will infallibly
lead them to truth? Look around and
see how prevalent Is this error and to
what deplorable consequences it leads.
Your next door neighbor is led by his
reason to hold doctrines which your
reason tells you are undoubtedly false;
while third holds fast to an entirely
new theory Of most vital Importance.
One keeps one precept. another, an
other, a third, no precept at all. Indi-
vidual reason has pointed out to man
Thousand different, distinct, and Of
tentimes contradictory ways by which
man may attain his end and fulfill his
duties towards his Maker. Is truth
then divided? Is this equality? Is it
Gods justice that one must needs
obey ten commandments because his
reason tells SO, while another need
keep but one, because, forsooth, his
reason tells him that one only is nee
essary? Or is 1t mans Office or pre-
rogative to dictate to God how far and
in what manner He should be lonored
and worshiped? Is God obliged to
take what man will give, and can He
demand no more? Reason itself will
show in clear and unmistakable terms
its own proper limits. Though we may
not say an it can do, though we can
not fathom all the depth of it's power,
we can yet with certainty tell some
thing it can do. 1t tells us we must
worship God, but in what manner, by
what form, it cannot say. And sup
posing man should err in his reason
ings, that he should neglect his duties,
that he should sin, and knowing men
we have every right to presuppose
this, reason would then be impotent
to show us by what means we might
correct the error, make atonement, and
regain the happiness which by that act
was forever forfeited. Moreover, rea-
son itself will tell every sane man that
during this present life it can never
acquire the knowledge Of all truth.
The time, the application, the oppor-
tunity as we'll as the inclination are
wanting in the vast majority Of men
to study and reason out even those
few most important truths, upon the
knowledge of which depends the at
tainment of our end. These truths
may not be beyond our natural capa-
city. II we would consider man
with Plato's genius and Aristotles SOL
idity, perchance such one would OBJ
tain to this knowledge after years of
serious thought, for these truths are
the proper and proportlonate object Of
the intellect. But where, l pray you,
is this combination Of Aristotle and
Plato to be found? How many such
are there? "Tls most Important that
we take this question into considera-
tion here. for we speak not of few,
but of humanity at large. 1t Is ques-
tion of salvation for the human race.
The answer given most clearly and
Enthusiastically by the history of the
past as we'll as by the observation Of
every day is that beyond any doubt
few If any could he found or could be
placed in such favorable circumstances
that their reason, unaided by a single
extraordinary help from on high,
would ever discover all those truths
which pertain to the essence of reli-
gion, and without which they could
never attain to God-thelr end. These
truths in themselves are most sublime
In knowing God consists the highest
grade Of human knowledge. How few
are apt to reach it! How few can
ever hope to acquire more than a cur
sorry knowledge of material things,
while the iplmaterial and spiritual fur
exceed their grasp. And of those who
may have the mental ac,lmen, how
few have the inclination, the energy
of purpose, to apply themselves as
slduously to the study of abstract
truths? Even granting that these con-
ditions be fulfilled, there still remains
another which is a difficulty insur-
mOuntable. These truths, as has been
said, are high and difficult for reason
to attain. They require all mans in
tellectual power, and as necessary
consequence they demand a long time
of serious and constant annlicatinn.