The Song of Solomon : and the Lamentations of Jeremiah

THE
CHAPTER V
SIN AND SUFFERING
i.
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doctrinaire rigour of Judaism in its uncom-
promising association of moral and physical evils
has led to an unreasonable disregard for the solid
truth which lies behind this mistake. It can scarcely
be said that men are now perplexed by the problem
that inspired the Book of Job. The fall of the tower
of Siloam or the blindness of a man from his birth
would not start among us the vexatious questions
which were raised in the days of our Lord. We have
not accepted the Jewish theory that the punishment of
sin always overtakes the sinner in this life, much less
have we assented to the by no means necessary corollary
that all calamities are the direct penalties of the mis-
conduct of the sufferers, and therefore sure signs of
guilt. The modern tendency is in the opposite direc-
tion ; it goes to ignore the existence of any connection
whatever between the course of the universe and human
conduct. No interference with the uniformity of the
laws of nature for retributive or disciplinary purposes
can be admitted. The machinery runs on in its grooves
never deflected by any regard for our good or bad
deserts. If we dash ourselves against its wheels they
will tear us to pieces, grind us to powder ; and we may
reasonably consider this treatment to be the natural
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