The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-09-17
Abstinence from Evil

Perhaps no paragraph of the New
Testament sets out in sharper con
trast the Christian ideal of life against
the heather ideal than this. 1t is
done with consummate skill. The
art of antithesis was never used more
effectively. The first step is to put
the will of God in opposition to what
is termed the will of the Gentiles, or
otherwise the pagan notion of the
ultimate good.
The God whom the Christians adore
is manifestly an infinite remove
from the best of heather divinities.
Holy himself, he can not look upon
degree of allowance. Those who
would have fellowship with God, who
is light and in whom is no darkness,
must themselves walk in the light.
The call to saintliness is imperative
and rise from the very being of God
Again. he who worships this God is
Love, must himself be characterized
by AN unceasing love for others. He
must,in his finite sphere, initiate God,
who has provided a covering for sin.
He, too, must be disposed to cover
others ofTenses with charity.
All this is in diametrical opposition
to the will of the Gentiles:' i. e.,
their ideal of life. No wonder they
think it strange. 1t is brandnew
notion of what all the world is seek
ing,-the highest good. 1t is an in
comprehensive novelty. The name
less practices ofidolism the gluttonous
fonduess for the table the carousals
upon the street, the debauching drink
ing douts, unclean excuses, these
were the repulsive characteristics of
current heather life.
The Introduction of the Christian
life into pagan society was of the ma
ture of a moral revolution. Its conse-
quences surpassed in Importance all
the battles and diplomacies of anti
guilty. The method of its introduce
ton was unique. 1t came not with
observation. No blare of trumpets
or tread of armed men. 1t was, as it's
founder said, like yeast, hid in the
meal, unseen, unheard, but a force to
lift. The moral gains of the introduce
ton of Christianity are incalculable.
We are so familiar with its standards
that it is difficult to appreciate what
society was like before they were lift
ed. Life and liberty were not cOnsid-
cred sacred. There was no general
benevolence and philanthropy. 1t
is said that among all the ruins of an
tiquity you can not find the founda-
tions of an orphanage or hospital.
The history of human progress under
Christianity has been faithfully pic
tured by Charles Loring Brace in his
Costa Christi No candid person will
admit that there were many sanity
lives lived, many noble sentiments
expressed, but it will also be admitted
that, before the Introduction Of
Christianity, the standards were low
and the human mass as a whole ignO-
BILE.
The new system was i'll imminent
peril on its introduction. A fierce
blast sought to extinguish the flame
of holy living. How should it be
screened? The very spirit of Christian
ity forbade it from intrenching itself
artificially. 1t must not take to car
nal weapons. Christianity is life
to be lived. Its conquest depend up
on its being lived in an an increas
ing number of lives. That will be the
prepetuation of it.
The introduction of the Christian
life into pagan society was OF the ma
ture of moral revolution. Its conse-
quences surpass in Importance the
effects of the battles and diplomacies
of antiquity. But these results could
be conserved only by maintaining the
Christian life in its best type, and
prepetuating it. The odds against
this were considerable. Old habits
recently renowned were liable to re-
assert themselves. The ridicule and
criticism of the Gentiles would be
more or less keenly felt. The subtle
power of environment might almost