Christianity

, as it does not make believers to be judges or dividers over men in temporal things, confers no special qualification for judging in them. And if in such matters we take it upon us to lay down the law in the name of Christianity, the antichristian arrogation may bring discredit on the usurped name. The present matter is one of science: which reminds us of the case of Galileo's judges, condemning science to be silent, and the earth to stand still. They had no Joshua's power: the earth moved on; and ever since then there has been a perpetual motion of the tongue of infidelity, jeering at Christianity on account of that old stumble of men who took it on them to judge in the name of religion where it has not authorized them. Still, there are aspects of the received economic order which Christianity is specially called upon to consider for its own guidance. And, not assuming to be judges authorized to lay down the law, we will look at matters with a view to seeing what may be the duty of Christians in relation to them, as compared with what socialism prescribes in relation to them.