But, spite of the follies or limitations of these earnest and manly Jews, a religious fire burned in their hearts; the Word of God grew and prevailed. The new doctrine passes from its low beginnings on the Galilean lake, step by step, through Jerusalem, Ephesus, Antioch, Alexandria, Corinth, Rome, till it ascends the throne of the world, and kings and empires lie prostrate at its feet.[1] But alas, as it spreads it is corrupted also. Judaism, Paganism, Idolatry, mingle their feculent scum with the living stream, and trouble still more and further the water of Life.
Christianity came to the world in the darkness of the
nations; they had outgrown their old form, and looked
for a new. They stood in the shadow of darkness, fearing
to go back, not daring to look forward; they groped after
God. The Piety and Morality which Jesus taught and
lived came to the Nations as a beam of light shot into
chaos; a strain of sweet music,—so silvery and soft we
know not we are listening,—to him who wanders on amid
the uncertain gloom, and charms him to the Light, to the
River of God and the Tree of Life. It was the fulfilment
of the prophecy of holy hearts, human Religion, human
Morality, and above all things revealing the Greatness of
Man.
It is sometimes feared that Christianity is in danger;
that its days are numbered.[2] Of the Christianity of
the Churches, no doubt it is true. That child of many
fathers cannot die too soon. It cumbers the ground.
The errors which Jesus taught will also fall and die. But
Absolute Religion, Absolute Morality, cannot perish;
never till Love, Goodness, Devotion, Faith, Reason, fail
from the heart of man; never till God melts away and
vanishes, and nothing takes the place of the All-in-All.
Religion can no more be separated from the race than
thought and feeling; nor Absolute Religion die out more
than wisdom perish from among men. Man's words,
thoughts, churches, fail and pass off like clouds from the
sky that leave no track behind. But God's Word can
