Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

212 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTURErays or freezing blasts of winter, but has been furnished with the handsand the ingenuity to spin and weave.Under these circumstances, was itreasonable to allege that man should be governed by the example of thefeathered creation ? "Was it reasonable to infer that there should be nospinning orweaving by men, because there neither was nor could be anyperformed by fowls ?1115. Again, the lily, like all other vegetables, not only comes intoexistence naked, but remains so, since it neither can nor will clothe itself,and would perish if by any artificial clothing it were shut out from theinfluence of the solar rays, and from the absorption of carbonic acid, whichfurnishes the vegetable creation with the carbon requisite for the fibresessential to stability. Hence the allegation that Solomon in all his glorywas not clothed like the lily, is irreconcilable with the nature and actualstate of this beautiful flower, which is destitute of clothing by nature, andwhich would perish if it were clothed. The skin of vegetable leaves, to acertain extent, performs for them what mouths do for animals. How unreasonable,then, to argue from one to the other, that man should imitatethe vegetable ;or to compare a plant, naturally and of necessity naked, witha king gorgeously clothed?IIIG. The degrading a rich man, whether honest or not, to the levelof a felon or murderer, as respects accessibility to heaven, and of coursefavour in the sight of God, isso erroneous, that there never was a preceptwhich was less respected in practice, by the votaries of its author. As Ihave heretofore remarked, the conduct of Christians isnot merely negativein respect to this precept—they do not merely neglect it; their course isthe converse of any obedience to its dictates. Yet professed Christianswhile violating theirdivine Master's behests in a way which makes theirperformance the inverse of the results which their professions involve, forthe most part treat any person who does not profess devotion for Christ'sdoctrines, as actually more culpable than themselves, and more liable toretribution after death. This is about as just as for a man, who aftermarrying a woman and calling her his wife, should act theinverse of theobligations imposed by the connubialcontract, and then consider an individualwho had never entered into any obligation with her of an}" kind, asguilty of sinful neglect in not acknowledging as a wife, one whom he nevermarried. The question is, who treats the woman most ill, he who acknowledgesbut neglects, or he who does not display a hymeneal devotionwhich he never led her to expect ?1117. Again, the precept to return good for evil, would, if acted up to,encourage evil. W ere a man to submit quietly to be robbed, whipped,and cheated, he would encourage robbing, flagellation, and fraud. Farwiser is the precept of Confucius, ^' Return good for good ; for evil, justice."The impracticable precept of Christ is so far from being carried out byprofessing Christians, that in their conduct to the aborigines of Africa,