THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH MAGAZINE. No. 75.- MARCH, 1850. A GLANCE AT THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD. EVERY observant mind must at once perceive that the state of the human family at the present moment is one of peculiar character. It is impossible to stand unmoved amid the varied events, fraught with momentous changes, which are constantly transpiring around us. Their bearing on the future destiny of man, and the universal triumphs of the Redeemer's kingdom, calls into active operation the liveliest emotions and anticipations of every philanthropic heart. All which relates to the phenomena of nature, the physical constitution of man,the adaptation of external things to his circumstances and position, whatever promotes his health, comfort, and general good, all which subserves his elevation, convenience and happiness, as a part of a social system, the beautiful sisterhood of the arts, the whole science of government, the advancement of knowledge, and whatever else is related to the civilization and progress of the world,--all stand immediately and indissolubly connected, both as means and results, with that great purpose which Christianity proposes as the end and object of all things. The bright pathway of spiritual progress, so far as the human race has already advanced, may be traced through the entire history of our globe. The faint pencilling of light begins in the first promise to our fallen progenitors, spreads among the antediluvian nations, crosses over the flood with Noah in the ark, and thence widens and brightens along the track of the patriarchs, grows clearer amid the symbols and sacri VOL. VII.NO. LXXV. fices of the Mosaic ritual;-onward it moves through the enlarging visions of prophets and seers, until in the fulness of time" preparation was made for the revelation of "the great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh." In its higher intensity as concentrated upon Calvary, the light hence flashes off from one hill-top to another, and down through successive generations, glances upon different shores, purifying and elevating tribes and nations, wherever it shines, to the present moment. One object in this paper will be to take a rapid glance at the existing state of the world, and endeavor to ascertain what peculiar events, betokening the ultimate triumph of truth, distinguish our age. Defective conceptions of the nature and extent of human depravity, in combination with that distorted view of the divine benevolence which is superinduced by a morbid sensibility, have been productive of strange hallucinations as to the actual condition of mankind. While it cannot be denied that the heathen are fearfully depraved, the mournful fact that their degradation is the result of wilful apostacy, that they are guilty, responsible agents under condemnation, and in danger of eternal misery, has not only been unrecognised, but even questioned. It has been more than insinuated that their ignorance is involuntary; and we have heard it again and again averred, that it is incredible that a God of infinite benevolence will doom to endless punishment beings so utterly helpless. They are described, F "They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections. Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. God gave them over to a reprobate mind." The state of the heathen world, then, is not merely a state of degradation, but of guilt. The sad record of their deeds is not the story of the misfortunes of the race, but the story of its depravity-a depravity whose turbid and slimy flood grows deeper, and more turbulent as it rolls on from generation to generation. On whatever part of the dark places of the in treachery, awful in the workings of the deadliest revenge, together with the most abominable and disgusting indulgences, the most execrable rites, and the most cruel impositions, rise in fearful array before the mental vision. Adequately to sketch the miseries of heathen nations, the pencil must be dipped in all the elements of vice and wretched ness. by John Foster, as "being carried on in the mighty impulse of a depraved nature which they are impotent to reverse." Statements more antagonistic to revealed truth can scarcely be conceived. "That which may be known of God is manifest in (or among) them, for God hath showed it to them, for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." It is also distinctly alleged that they were not only capable of knowing God, but that they actually did know him, and wilfully suppressed the truth for un-earth we gaze, everything that is base righteous ends. And is it not a remarkable fact that almost every religious system in the world had originally, and even now exhibits in its sacred book, and in the writings of its expounders, principles relating to the unity of the divine essence and the glory of the divine perfections, harmonizing in the main with those of revelation itself? Idolatry is invariably condemned in Scripture as a crime of no ordinary magnitude. It is never extenuated. No intelligent convert from heathenism to Christianity ever yet thought of exculpating himself from the guilt of his previous life, on the plea of ignorance, or a want of capacity for knowing and obeying the living and true God. On the contrary, many among the heathen, even prior to conversion, have admitted the truthfulness of Paul's delineation of their character in the first chapter of the epistle to the Romans, and that too without the least attempt at self-justification. Their system of sacrifices for sin, of offerings to appease the gods, the forms of justice which they observe among themselves, the instinctive promptness with which they resent and avenge personal wrongs, the horror which they manifest at crime as committed against themselves, and the almost universal prevalence of the doctrine of a future state of rewards and punishments, irrefragably prove that they have a moral sense, that they can distinguish between right and wrong action, and that they know, or might know, sufficient of the moral Governor of the universe, to render them accountable amenable to law. This is repeatedly stated in the sacred volume. If in forming our estimate of the actual state of the world, we turn to more civilized communities, the mind is but little relieved. The great preponderating mass of the inhabitants of the earth are enslaved by Satan; and even in Christian lands a deplorable majority of the people are strangers to the vital power of Christianity. It is amazing, too, what unceasing and determined efforts are made by the human intellect to reason away the criminality of our race. In addition to the views to which we have adverted, held by not a few, relative to the heathen, how often has it been asserted that every form or system of religion is the development of the religious idea in man, and that all modes of worship are equally acceptable to the Divinity!-a notion involving the grossest libel on the Godhead. There are two evils of fearful magnitude, which at the present hour are diffusing their baneful influence throughout every portion of Christendom, and they constitute, in our opinion, the most gigantic obstacles to the triumph of primitive Christianity. The first is formalism. Various are the methods in which this evil exhibits its power. Imposing on its votaries an implicit obe dience, it defrauds them of the use of their lime utterances of the prophets, the reason, and makes them the mere tools of miracles of Moses and Christ, the martheir spiritual guides. Unconditional vellous achievements of the cross, resubmission, or the curse of excommu- generation by the power of the Holy nication, with all its attendant horrors, Ghost-all must be discarded as no part its disabilities, confiscations, imprison- of a reasonable system of religion. All ment and death, is one of the first lessons the grand verities of inspiration, origiwith which it impresses the mind. The nating in the omniscience of God, and submission, however, required, is only partaking in character of his own unoutward, the acknowledgment of the searchableness, must be brought down lip; the belief of the heart is non-essen- from their high elevation, and made tial-it may or may not be given. level with the intellect of a worm. Formalism utterly perverts the momentous doctrine of repentance, making it to consist not in an internal feeling, but in an external act; it thus deposes one of the most solemn duties enjoined by God on the sinner, from the elevated and purifying place it occupies in the scheme of redemption, and reduces it to the insignificant matter of enduring a little self-inflicted bodily pain, or paying a trifling sum of money. The entire tendency of this system is to exclude the Deity from the sight of the worshipper, and to fix his attention on what is merely ceremonial. View the foundation of its hopes of life. It is laid, not in the stupendous love of God, nor in the vicarious sufferings of the Redeemer, affording a spiritual influence to sustain moral government, and reconcile mercy with justice, but in austerities, pilgrimages, masses, fastings, sackcloth, and ashes. The inward belief is deemed of comparatively little importance; the outward profession of belief is enough, whether the conscience testifies its approval or not. The dungeon and rack are summoned to rectify the operations of the soul, and correct its waywardness! Formalism is determinately opposed to all progress; it checks free enquiry, muzzles the press, chains the mind in darkness, withholds the Bible from the people, denying their ability to interpret it aright. The other evil to which we have referred, is rationalism. Under its unhallowed influence reason is elevated to the chief position among the powers of the mind, and the heart and conscience must ever bow with submissive silence to its dictates. Even inspired truth must be rejected if it cannot be made to quadrate with the teachings of this inner guide. All the facts of revelation which transcend our comprehension-the sub Mournful as is the aspect which the world thus presents, we are far from yielding to the influence of despondency. Our sorrows are combined with hopes. We remember Him, who during the days of his flesh, controuled the conflicting elements of nature. We know that he reigns, in order to subdue all things to himself. Certain we are, that amid all the ignorance and tyranny, irreligion and vice, under which the world groans, the elements of order and happiness are in operation. Mighty commotions prevail, such as are prefigured in the language of revelation, by "voices and thunderings, and lightnings, and a great earthquake;" but light increases, spiritual religion advances, the wrath of the enemy waxes warmer and warmer, and the conflict deepens. Apparent reverses we must expect, but in this great cause the depressions of to-day will ever be antecedent and auxiliary to the elevations of to-morrow. The backward movement has respect to the onward progress. On the shores of the ocean there is a constant vibration in the waters of the rising tide. Each receding motion is followed by a greater advance. The retiring waves back more forceful, and reach a higher point. So rises the tide in human affairs. Recession is followed by advancement which ministers to a more exalted attainment. Here, reverses are victories, the darkness and the light are both alike. All things work together for the good of these glorious objects which Christianity seeks to secure. The shadows which for a time dim the prospect of the church, and seemingly embarrass her progress, are subservient to her ultimate triumph. They lead to solemn reflection, and send the minds of men kindling to the throne of God, whence they return to the conflict with come mightier energies, furnished, like Milton's angels, with resources till then unknown, with which to overwhelm whatever opposes. Notwithstanding the profound gloom which enshrouds so large a portion of the globe, we are convinced that the present is an age to which the history of our race cannot furnish a parallel. We may observe, that the truth as it is in Jesus, has been brought into more general contact with the empire of darkness within the last sixty years than at any former period. On every continent the messenger of the cross has begun to unfold the scheme of redeeming love, and civilization, and peace, and joy have followed in his footsteps. He has gained access to the hut and the heart of the barbarian, and to the confusion of what is proudly termed political science, and the strange astonishment of many soidisant statesmen, -the humble missionary has had, in a variety of instances, to show them the real philosophy of government, and deliver them from impending ruin. When our military heroes have reduced whole nations into beggary, and transformed immense regions into blackened deserts; the minister of Jesus, controuled by divine love, has restored peace, changed the desert into gardens, and green fields, and hamlets of cheerful people rejoicing in possession of the grace of God. The elements of truth are beginning to diffuse themselves throughout every clime, and let it be remembered, that those who have avowed themselves the servants of the Lord Jesus, are not only pledges of future triumphs, but agents, who in ten thousand ways, bring their principles and their piety to bear on the ignorance of their countrymen. That the cause of Christ has not gained greater victories in heathen lands, is in a great measure owing to the abominations of Europeans. A fact or two will serve as a proof. Whilst for ages, the Portuguese, aided by the Jesuitical emissaries of Rome, were ever active in fomenting intrigues and cabals, and transforming their various settlements on the continent of India into so many depôts for spoilation or rapine, the sons of Britain were the avowed advocates of infidelity and irreligion. The principles of Christianity were buried in the depths of the ocean, and from the conduct of these men, the nations could form no other idea of our holy religion, than that of cupidity, revenge, and malice. Our government has upheld the Mosques of Mahomet, it has sanctioned and regulated the polytheism of the Hindoo. Priests have been paid, and the most licentious orgies have been provided for from the public treasury. The highest functionaries have sat at the gates of idol temples to receive the pilgrim-tax. Christian worship has been neglected. the Sabbath has been prostituted to the service of heathen deities, a brand has been fixed to the name of Jesus, and Hindoos, converted to our faith, have been removed from offices of trust. And India is not the only place where the gospel has been impeded in its progress by the misdeeds of Europeans; their presence in almost every land has been the omen and pledge of coming woe. Even the providence of God, a providence ever kind and gracious, has been unblushingly represented as meeting its fulfilment, in the entire extermination of whole tribes. The most inhuman and revolting opinions have been publicly avowed and advocated by men occupying prominent and important stations. But a new era has commenced. Heathen nations are now able to distinguish their friends from their foes. Missionaries and other philanthropists have held up to public reproach the abominations of their countrymen, and Christianity begins to assert its supremacy, in defiance of the combined energies of infidelity and superstition. Another circumstance we may mention, is the increased and constantly increasing facilities for the still further diffusion of truth. Steam navigation will soon bring us into almost immediate contact with the most distant nations. Printing establishments are multiplying in every clime. Missionaries have acquired the leading dialects of the earth. The Bible, tracts, and hymns, are silently circulating throughout almost every region of the vast empire of darkness. Even in those countries where intolerance, civil and religious, seeks to enchain both body and mind, useful knowledge and divine truth, not unfrequently by means almost miraculous, force their way alongside the ele ments of ignorance, passive obedience, and irreligion. And however the body may be enslaved, whatever laws may exist to restrict the free circulation of public opinion, no power on earth can curb the intellectual powers. Mind will think, in defiance of the proudest dictation. Turkey is not what it was. Egypt begins to open her eyes on the vast importance of general information and scientific knowledge; and in the present state of things, when civilized nations are so rapidly pushing forward their discoveries, and knowledge flies on the wings of the wind from one territory to another, we cannot but believe that such an impulse will be given to the progress of truth as can never be repelled or diverted. We may further state, that all nations seem in a transition state. Their views with regard to their internal policy are undergoing rapid changes. Nations are rising up to interrogate the tyrants who have held them in subjection. Mankind are assuming an erect posture, and demanding that the governments which they must obey, shall be such as they themselves shall choose to establish. They are beginning to think that whilst it is unquestionable that God has ordained order and government, he has left its forms and details to those who are to be its subjects. Revolution after revolution has swept over some of the fairest portions of the civilized world, and shaken to its most vital recesses the very structure of civil society. At the same time, there is an onward movement in scientific knowledge, an increasing acquaintance with theological science, and the high and glorious destiny of man. Truth coming forth from the crucible of ages, exhibits its celestial lustre to admiring millions, and impressing its image on their consciences, gives a fresh tone to their feelings, and seals them for heaven. Even the pagan world abounds with symptoms of great moral and political changes. The leading superstitions of the nations are evidently in their dotage,-the friends of darkness hold the reins with a tremulous hand. "The religion of China," says an ingenious writer, "is dead at heart, like an Egyptian mummy-touch The it, shake it, it crumbles to dust." Caste, which supports the Brahminical order, and with it the cumbrous system of Hindooism, is hastening to decay, and every symptom characteristic of the last stage of life attaches to the Mahometan empire and Mahometan faith. mystery of iniquity, too, in the very region where for ages it has maintained an almost undisturbed dominion, is rapidly loosing its influence and power. Cheering however as the prospects of the church are, yet we conceive that in the coming contest our characters and principles will be severely tested. Divine revelation represents every island as fleeing away, and every mountain as being removed, when God arises to judgment, and when he pours out the fierceness of his anger upon the city of abominations, the seat of the beast. What revolutions of time, what eclipses of truth, what trials of faith, what strugglings and sacrifices shall intervene before this mighty result is fully realized, and the world bows before him whose throne is in the heavens, we cannot tell. In lonely cells, in midnight toils, on bloody scaffolds, have the holy and the brave of former ages looked forward and upward in the exercise of unwavering confidence, saying, DoMINE QUAMDIU, * (How long, O Lord?) And shall not we in these days, full of promise, be inspired with unshaken reliance in the divine word. In what has transpired in the history of the world we behold a striking correspondence between the predictions of inspired truth and the course of divine providence. Here we have, then, an assurance that all which has been uttered shall infallibly be fulfilled. Despair is a word which should never disgrace the Christian's vocabulary. "The voice that rolls the stars along, Ought not this theme, also, to lead us to greater exertion in the vineyard of our Lord. Christians have, for ages, been praying for the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom, and now, as though God were determined to try what is in our hearts, he affords us ample scope for putting our wishes into operation. Our property, our talents, our influence, our • An inscription on the wall of the inquisitorial prison at the papal residence in Avignon. |