The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-02
The CHRISTIANITY OF ROBERT BURNS
By PROF. CHARLES G. PATERSON

When we speak of mans Christian
ity, we may refer to either one or two
things. We may mean the system of
doctrine that he holds, or the kind
Of spirit that he manifests; what he
believes, or how he lives. wish to
speak of the Christianity of Robert
Burns under both these aspects, but
less Of his theology than OF his life
In the days of Burns the theological
interest was, supreme In Scotland.
There were then as many critics and
sermon-tasters as there were intelli-
could split dogmatic hair length
wise and leave each half intact. The
result was, as Burns later wrote:
"Polemical divinity about this time
was putting the country half mad :
A sort of theological rabies had
plagued the land for nearly a century.
and every Scot was more or less az
fiicted by 1t. At an early date our
poet became involved. for the reason
and with the result which he states
in these words. II. ambitious OF shin
ing in conversatfon-partics on Sun
days. at funerals, etc. used to pug
xle Calyanisrn with so much heat and
tndiscretion that raised the hue and
cry Of heresy against me, which has
not ceased to this hour" Partly from
conviction inherited from his noble
peasant father, partly from love OF
arguing, but more from antipathy to-
| ward the chosen representatives of
the opposite party, Burns cast in his
lot with the New Lights as over
against the Old Lights. in the civil
war OF words then raging In the
kirk, His view Of the relative posi-
ton Of these two bodies is suggested
In the 'Kirh's Alarm:
Orthodox. orthodox.
who believe in John Knox.
Let me sound an alarm to your con-
" science
There's an hereto blast
Has been blawn In the vast,
That what lis not sense must be nom
sense,
Orthodox,
That what Is not sense must be nom
sense,
into the differences which divided
the presbyterians of Burns day l
shall not enter. not having micro
scope strong enough to reveal all OF
them. nor patience enough to dwell
on any of them. The Old Lights
prided themselves on their superior
orthodoxy. the New Lights on their
superior intelligence. and, fortified by
satisfaction with self and contempt
of others. the leaders of the Kirk
poured forth on one another torrents
Of abuse and scorn. The whole at
fair made Satan smile. II was but
one chapter in the old. old story in
/ Church History of zeal for opinion
mistaken for loyalty to truth; of
heresy- hunting, with Its usual accom-
paniment of self-righteousness, UNI
fairness. and absence of the spirit OF
Jesus Christ. on both Sides
And what would be the effect on
| Young man OF the sensfbfIftiea OF
Robert Burns OF the sight presented
| by the church of his time? His
great countryman. Carlyle, laments
that Burn had no religious principle
of morals: indeed. had no religion.
That depends upon what you mean by
religion. But the fact for us to note
carefully is this, that neither In the
| teaching nor In the manner or life
OF the religious leaders with whom
Burns was acquainted was there IN
centiYe or example for vital Christian
ity. Not a sin can be laid at the door
| OF Robert Burns that cannot also be
laid at the door of some ecciesiasti-
cal dignitary OF his day. Between
the hypocriticai orthodox and the i'm
moral heterodox. what was to become
| Of q man OF our poets temperament
and genius? 1t Ia said that Burns
had no religious beliefs. II such were
the case. 1t would be no wonder.
when we think of the church of Scot
/ land OF that period. But 1t Ii not the
When he Ia twenty-ntne years OF age
he writes as follows. II feel myself
deeply interested in your good opin-
Ion. and win lay before you the out
lines OF my belief. He who Ia our
author and preserver. and will one
day be our Judge. must be the OBJ
i ject of our reverentiai awe and CRATE
| full alteration. He is almighty and
all-bounteous We are weak and de-
pendent. hence offer prayer and every
other sort OF devotion. He is not will
| ing that any should perish. but tina,
all should come to everlasting life
Consequently IL must be In everyone's
| power to embrace His offer of ever
| lasting life: otherwise. He could. not
| in justice condemn those who did not
| A mind pervaded, aGtuated, and gov
erned by purity, truth, and charity,
] though 1t does not merit heaven. yet
/ is an absolutely necessary prerequf-
site. without which heaven can Meth
| er be attained nor enjoyed; and by
| divine promise. such a mind shall
never fail Of attaining everlasting
] life,' hence the impure, the decefviug
/ and the uncharitablc extrude them
4 selves frern eternal bliss by their un'
7 fitness for entering IT. THE Supreme
! Being has put the Immediate admin
4 istration OF all this. for wise and
/ good ends known to Himself into the
hands Of Jesus Christ--a great per-
| sonage. Whose relation to Him we
/ cannot understand. but Whose rela.
| ton to MS is that OF guide and 9
Savior. and Who. except for our own
| obstinacy and misconduct, will bring
us all. through various ways and by
various means to bliss at last. These
are my tonets." Again he writes;
Religion has not only been all my
life my chief dependence. but my
/ dearest enjoyment"
| The religious beliefs OF Robert
| Burns were such as should admit him
to memhership in any Presbyterian
| church today. Hut he did not live
up to his beliefs. We I say. Well
neither do we. He lived fast life
He did But verse sins than his were
committed by Moses and David, by
Peter and John. not to speak OF the
rest of US who are not worthy to be
mentioned in the same breath. When
speakers or writer's indulge in disscr.
tations on the shortcomings Of Burns
/ the Scotch resent IT. And they are
right in so doing 1t is a Christiar
| lvxu that v9rrvy.xsta &hkIr rnoauf,