The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-16
are behind" they press forward in
the direction of that goal.
Evil is Not a Benefcent Reality

Some teachers who are ~self1ess and
sincere argue that moral evil and
physical pain are not only realities
Observing how a good deed shines in
a naughty world. they seem to think
that the good deed owes its lusrer to
the surrounding ~wickedness. They
infer that the patience of the bed
ridden invalid is the product of his
pain, andsthat the moral courage. of
the worlds retcrners is due to tie
%wickedness they opposed. But it is
his vision of God that inspires the
saint to be meek and the reformer to
be fearless. and in that vision physi-
cal pain and moral evil have no part.
The beauty of the vision of God was
given to us in Christ Jesus. who said:
He that hath seen me hath seen the
Father" l never heard it argued
that his goodness and power to bless
had any other source than the Father
God with whom he was one. He was
recognized as the expressed image of
Gods character. but who would say
that the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
the envy of the priests, the treachery
of the disciple. were agencies in
forming the Christly nature? Why.
then. will men argue for the benef-
cent reality of evil? If evil works
good. then its agents are our bene-
factors; and why should the most
active Go ers of evil be restrained from
their benefcent activity by our
prisons9 It physical pain is the
teacher of fortitude. why build hospi-
tails and attempt to heal pain?
The philosophy, of contrast is also
urged. How are we to value honesty
if thieves do not help us; how appre-
ciate truth if no liars abound; how be
grateful for the ease of health if it
be not Offset by disease? This leads
too far. if the action of error is in
any way conceived of as having place
in the plan of God; because it would
include in that plan all the workers of
iniquity. If lying lips were ordained
to teach US to value truth, they could
not then be determination to the
Lord" If it is only by meeting
offences that we grow in grace. then
blessed is the man by whom the
offences cometh. blessed be Ahab and
Jezebel blessed be Ananias: blessed be
Herod and Judas But this we do not
believe. When we say. "Blesesd is
he that cometh in the name of the
Lord" we mean zone that bringeth
good tidings that publisheth peace"
1t ought to be universally clear to
human comprehension that evil in
belief constitutes a condition of per-
verseness or reversal from which con
version must be gained, before what
is true and normal can be known at
all. or man be apparent as the like
ness of God. Judas presents the re-
versal of true manhood or integrity,
and in that condition of mind mis-
represents both man and God. 1t
ought to be clear. also. that the pro-
cess of overcoming evil with good is
not a struggle with adverse environ
ment. but a contest with wrong habit
of thinking. The kingdom of heaven
must first be established within.
Godliness OF goodness must displace
ungodliness Or godlessness.
Here we are confronted with a con-
ditlon which seems to be a cuncomi-
tant part of mans history, which.
theologians discuss under the name of
sin. Some teachers claim this to be
the great activity of the present life,
and some believe its disastrous effects
to be eternal. But ii we scientifically
examine the claim Of sin. we see how
they can be overcome and annulled as
they were by the Master who "was In
all points tempted like as we are. yet
without SIM"
the first axiom regarding man in
Scripture is that he was made in the
image and after tn. likeness Of God.
Jesus reminded his disciples of what
this implied. saying. BE We there
fore perfect. vel as your Father
which is in. heaven is perfect"
What. then. is SIM 1t is any theory,
belief. thought or action which mis-
represents the likeness of God. Per
contra. what is righteousness but
right action. correct conduct. truthful
thinking. whereby man expresses as
Gods image "the beauty of holt
ness.
We have the right to expect of
men that they will express Gods
likeness. 1t is not so that the faith
and trust of almost every child ask
this of US? The child expects truth
%fulness. relies upon kindness. trusts
goodness. has faith in love. Why
are defalcation and graft so severely
condemned? Not only because the
braoob of &~,ok J.o,~..