VIII.

Now, it may be quite justly remarked that all I have said is trite and commonplace. I certainly did not mean to say anything else; it is the commonplace that is of chief importance, and as a rule gets the least intensive regard. But I can imagine a ready protest of this sort: "We know well all you have told us; we have thought it out as closely as you, and with a more painful interest. Only the blind fail to see that moral integrity is indispensable to prosperous economic life. But we can attain moral integrity without the gospel."

This is not news; all the same, it would be interesting to learn how. You will tell us that, if bad conditions are rectified, men will come to themselves; that, if they are trusted, they will respond to the sympathetic pressure of responsibility. Be it so. We are as hopeful as you, but something more is needed. You will tell us of excellent men who, as friends, neighbours, and citizens, lead exemplary lives, who are faithful also in their domestic relationships, who order their conduct simply by the rational principles of morality, and confess not the authority of Jesus Christ, save as the example of lofty ethical being. We all know such men, or have heard of them. We reckon them a good asset in the substantial wealth of the community. Your rational morality, born and bred in the world of hard experience—your sublime ethical principles, so lustrously beautiful in the few instances of rare endowment, of such priceless worth to our race—we accept at full value. But it is not enough. You will tell us of the great value of enlightened education, of the powers of assimilation evoked by sympathetic or magnetic teachers, of the treasures of wisdom and the vital inspiration which are to be found in our choicest literature, of the refining influence of music and other page 14 forms of art; you will, perhaps, add something about the discipline of sport, and of social fellowship, and of public affairs. These, you say, are factors in building up manhood. No doubt they are, and valuable, too. But are they sufficient? We say, "No." It is beyond their power to reach the height of Christian manhood. Do not forget that the finest ethical principles you set before us are deftly cut from the vesture of our Lord Jesus Christ. You take a bit of the raiment and leave the Lord. We would be clothed with the Spirit; we would put on Christ Jesus and be found in His likeness. We stand for the full gospel, for the gospel life, and for the gospel power. What Jesus Christ teaches He teaches to men whom He would draw to Himself, and whom He would fill with the spirit of power, that they may live in the beauty and strength of His doctrine. We stand for spiritual manhood, which is moral manhood plus something much higher and much stronger.