The case does not rest here. There is a second ground of objection to
the argument of the ‘Analogy’ on which we are inclined to lay nearly
equal stress. As has been said, it is most likely that a revelation from
God would explain at least a part of the religious difficulties of
man; and, in matter of fact, all systems purporting to be revelations
have in their respective degrees professed to do so. They all deal
with what may be called the system of the universe—its moral plan and
scheme; the destiny of man therein—the motives from which God created
it—and the manner in which He directs it. Throughout the whole range of
doctrines, from Mormonism up to Christianity, no one has ever gained any
acceptance, has ever, perhaps, been sincerely put forward, which did not
deal with this whole range of facts—which did not tell man, according
to his view, whence he is, and whither he goes. Revelations, as such,
are communications concerning eternity. Now, it seems to us, that so
far from its being likely, _à priori_, that a revelation of this sort
would contain the same perplexing difficulties which cause so much evil
in this world, in the same degree in which they exist here, it would
be scarcely possible by any evidence, _à posteriori_, to establish the
communication of such a system from the Divine Being. It seems clear on
the surface of the subject that, the extent of the unknown world being
so enormous in comparison with that which is known, this scene being
so petty, and the plan of Providence so vast—earth being little, and
space infinite—Time short, and Eternity long—a difficulty, which is of
no moment in so contracted a sphere as this, becomes of infinite moment
when extended to the sphere of the Almighty. From the smallness of the
region which we see—the short time which we live—from the few things
which we know—it may well be that there are points which perplex the
feebleness of our understanding and puzzle the best feelings of our
hearts. We see, as some one expresses it, the universe ‘not in plan but
in section;’ and we cannot expect to understand very much of it. But when
our knowledge increases—when, by a revelation, that plan is unfolded to
us—when God vouchsafes to communicate to us the system on which He acts,
then it is rational to expect those difficulties would diminish—would
gradually disappear as the light dawned upon us—would vanish finally
when the dayspring arose on our hearts. If a difficulty of nature be
repeated in revelation, it would seem to show that it was not, as we
had before supposed, a consequence of our short-sighted views and
contracted knowledge, but a real inherent element in the scheme of the
universe; not a petty shade on a petty globe, but a pervading inherent
stain, extending over all things, destroying the beauty of the universe,
impairing the perfectness of all creation. Take, as an instance, the
extreme doctrine of Antinomian Calvinism—suppose that the eternal
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account