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

ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS. 215workl, tliis error had boon denounced, and liaving jjcen tlius Htanipcd aserroneous from on high, could not have acquired or retained its mischievoushohl of so many millions of human beings, by substituting blind faithfor genuine virtue.Injurious Injluencc of unreasonahle Restriction.1132. Another reason why, throughout Christendom, the vices mostdeprecated by Christ arc those pre-eminently prevalent, is that his preceptswere absolutely impracticable, unless explained away in the style of LordPeter in the "Tale of a Tnh."1133. Some of the excellent Society of Friends may, as respects war,have been obedient to the precepts of Christ, and probably in other respectsdeviate from them less than most other sects;but as to wealth theircourse is the inverse of giving away their money. They are rationallyamong the most active and successful in the honest acquisition of money.In this they would act morally, 'excepting the violation of their recognisedobligation toobey the precepts of Christ.1134. Does not experience show that nothing is more injurious to moralsthan unreasonable restraint?This has been seen in the profligacy ofthe children of puritanical sectarians. To disobey an unreasonable restrictionalways appears comparatively a trivial offence. Going to a play,in the opinion of the mass of the world, is not sinful ; but for a minor togo to a play in disobedience of parental authority, by stealth, deception,or l3'ing, becomes sinful delinquency, and introduces a habit which maylead to crime as wicked as that of the conduct of Jacob to Esau. Lyinoanddeceiving for venial purposes will soon induce the habit.The restrictionfrom eating pork or drinking wine has no doubt induced much deceptionand falsehood among the followers of Mohammed, and thus made acrime where none would have existed.man on a footing with a felon,In like manner, the putting a richas respects access to heaven, forbidding theresistance to blows or spoliation, makes almost every professed Christianpractically unfliithful to his professions, and of course an infidel of theworst kind. More or less of this infidelity is involved in various ways, asabove admitted by "Bosanquet."1135. If the history of Christianity, so called, be reviewed, it will befound that the deviations from the precepts of Christ during the presentage are quite venial, compared with those which took place during thethousand years or more in which Romanism had the ascendency.113G. A painful picture of the morals of the clergy during that periodmay be found in a recent work by Bishop Hopkins of Vermont. It wouldseem as if the crimes and indecency displayed during the Middle Aires,exceed even those of Abraham, Moses, Jacob, and David, and Samuel, thecruel, despotic pope of Judea. The deposition of Saul for not killinf^Agag, and his hewing his royal prisoner down with a sword in cold.