ETHICS
sin.
The
guilty
state
of
human
nature,
together
with
the
presence
of
temptations
from
within,
without,
and
beneath,
presents
a
problem
far
different
from
any
that
can
be
seen
when
it
is
assumed
that
men
are
good
or
only
unmoral.
Is
our
need
met
by
lessons
in
the
art
of
advancing
from
good
to
better?
Is
not
the
human
will
defective
and
rebellious?
The
moral
ravages
in
the
individual
and
in
society
call
for
Divine
redemptive
activities
and
for
human
penitence
and
faith.
Though
the
sense
of
sin
has
been
most
conspicuous
since
Christ
dwelt
among
men,
the
Hebrew
consciousness
had
its
moral
anguish.
The
vocabulary
of
the
ancient
revelation
calls
attention
to
many
of
the
aspects
of
moral
disorder.
Sin
is
a
ravenous
beast,
crouching
ready
to
spring
(Gn
4');
a
cause
of
wide-spreading
misery
(Gn
3"-"
Q^s
209,
Ex
20S);
is
universal
(Gn
6'
S"-,
1
K
8«,
Ps
ISO^
1432);
is
folly
(Prov.
passim);
a
missing
of
the
mark,
violence,
transgression,
rebellion,
pollution
(Ps
51).
This
grave
view
is
shared
by
the
NT.
The
Lord
and
His
Apostles
labour
to
produce
contrition.
It
is
one
of
the
functions
of
the
Holy
Spirit
to
convict
the
world
of
sin
(Jn
168).
it
is
not
supposed
that
a
good
life
can
be
lived
unless
moral
evil
is
renounced
by
a
penitent
heart.
The
fountains
of
conduct
are
considered
to
have
need
of
cleansing.
It
is
always
assumed
that
great
difficulties
beset
the
soul
in
its
upward
movements,
because
of
its
past
corrupt
state
and
its
exposure
to
fierce
and
subtle
temptations.
2.
In
harmony
with
the
doctrine
of
depravity
is
the
distinctness
with
which
individuality
is
recognized.
Sin
is
possible
only
to
a
person.
Ability
to
sin
is
a
mark
of
that
high
rank
in
nature
denoted
by
'person-ality.'
Christianity
has
respect
to
a
man's
separate-ness.
It
sees
a
nature
ringed
round
with
barriers
that
other
beings
cannot
pass,
capacities
for
great
and
varied
wickednesses
and
excellences,
a
world
among
other
worlds,
and
not
a
mere
wave
upon
the
sea.
A
human
being
is
in
himself
an
end,
and
God
loves
us
one
by
one.
Jesus
asserted
the
immense
value
of
the
individual.
The
Shepherd
cares
for
the
one
lost
sheep
(Lk
15*-'),
and
has
names
for
all
the
members
of
the
flock
(Jn
10").
The
Physician,
who
(it
is
conceivable)
could
have
healed
crowds
by
some
general
word,
lays
His
beneficent
hands
upon
each
sufferer
(Lk
4''<i).
Re-move
from
the
Gospels
and
the
Acts
the
stories
of
private
ministrations,
and
what
gaps
are
made
(Jn
l'^-3.
4,
Ac
826-3»
16,
etc.).
Taking
the
individual
as
the
unit,
and
working
from
him
as
a
centre,
the
NT
Ethic
declines
to
consider
his
deeds
alone
(Mt
6,
B,o
2^'-
^').
Actions
are
looked
at
on
their
inner
side
(Mt
S^^-
22-
"•
as
61.
i.
>■
IS
12M-
35
235-
",
Mk
72-s-
>s-2',
Lk
16"
18"-",
Jn
42").
This
is
a
prolongation
of
ideas
present
to
the
best
minds
prior
to
the
Advent
<1
S
16',
Ps
7»
243-
■>
51"
1392-
3-
23,
jer
17<»
3133).
3.
The
social
aspects
of
experience
are
not
over-looked.
Everyone
is
to
bear
his
own
burden
(Ro
14S
Gal
6'),
and
must
answer
for
himself
to
the
Judge
of
all
men
(2
Co
5'°);
but
he
is
not
isolated.
Regard
for
others
is
imperative;
for
an
unforgiving
temper
cannot
find
forgiveness
(Mt
6"-
"
1823-3'),
worship
without
brotherliness
is
rejected
(Mt
S"^-
^),
and
Christian
love
is
a
sign
of
regeneration
(1
Jn
S').
The
mere
absence
of
malevolent
deeds
cannot
shield
one
from
condemnation;
positive
helpfulness
is
required
(Mt
25"-",
Lk
lO^'-s'
1619-31,
Eph
428-
2»).
This
helpfulness
is
the
new
ritual-ism
(He
1313,
Ja
12').
The
family
with
its
parents,
children,
and
servants
(Eph
522-6',
Col
31S-41);
the
Church
with
its
various
orders
of
character
and
gifts
(Ro
14.
15,
Gal
6t-
2,
1
Co
13.
14.
15);
the
State
with
its
monarch
and
magistrates
(Mk
12"-",
Ro
13'-',
1
Ti
2i-
2),
_
provide
the
spheres
wherein
the
servant
of
Christ
is
to
manifest
his
devotion
to
the
Most
High.
'
Obedience,
patience,
benevolence,
purity,
humility,
alienation
from
the
world
and
the
"flesh,"
are
the
chief
novel
or
striking
features
which
the
Christian
ideal
of
practice
suggests'
(Sidgwick),
and
they
involve
the
conception
ETHICS
that
Christian
Ethics
is
based
on
the
recognition
of
sin,
of
Individuality,
of
social
demands,
and
of
the
need
of
heavenly
assistance.
4.
The
Christian
standard
is
the
character
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
who
lived
perfectly
for
God
and
man.
He
overcame
evil
(Mt
41-11,
Jn
16'3),
completed
His
life's
task
(Jn
17*),
and
sinned
not
(Jn
8«,
2
Co
521,
He
41=,
1
P
222,
1
Jn
36).
His
is
the
pattern
life,
inas-much
as
it
is
completely
(1)
filial,
and
(2)
fraternal.
As
to
(1),
we
mark
the
upward
look.
His
readiness
to
let
the
heat
of
His
love
burst
into
the
flame
of
praise
and
prayer.
His
dutifulness
and
submissiveness:
He
lived
'in
the
bosom
of
the
Father,'
and
wished
to
do
only
that
which
God
desired.
As
to
(2),
His
pity
for
men
was
unbounded,
His
sacrifice
for
human
good
knew
no
limits.
'
Thou
shalt
love
God
'
;
'
thou
shalt
love
man.'
Between
these
two
poles
the
perfect
life
revolved.
He
and
His
teachings
are
one.
It
is
because
the
moral
law
is
alive
in
Him
that
He
must
needs
claim
lordship
over
man's
thoughts,
feelings,
actions.
He
is
preached
'as
Lord'
(2
Co
4'),
and
the
homage
which
neither
man
(Ac
1023-
26)
nor
angel
(Rev
22'-
')
can
receive
He
deems
It
proper
to
accept
(Jn
13i3).
Could
it
be
other-wise?
The
moral
law
must
be
supreme,
and
He
is
it.
Hence
alienation
from
Him
has
the
fatal
place
which
idolatry
had
under
the
Old
Covenant,
and
for
a
similar
reason,
seeing
that
idolatry
was
a
renunciation
of
Him
who
is
the
righteous
and
gracious
One.
Since
Jesus
by
virtue
of
His
filial
and
fraternal
perfectness
is
Lord,
to
stand
apart
from
Him
is
ruinous
(Lk
lOi^-is,
Jn
31*
824
1522-04
les.
9,
He
23
6*-8
102«).
Wife
or
child
or
life
itself
must
not
be
preferred
to
the
claims
of
truth
and
righteousness,
and
therefore
must
not
be
preferred
to
Christ,
who
is
truth
and
righteousness
in
personal
form
(Mt
103'-3!i,
Lk
9M-
«ii
1426-
27).
To
caU
oneself
the
bond-servant
of
Jesus
Christ
(Ro
li,
Ja
li,
2
P
li)
was
to
assert
at
once
the
strongest
affection
for
the
wise
and
gracious
One,
and
the
utmost
loyalty
to
God's
holy
will
as
embodied
in
His
Son.
The
will
of
God
becomes
one's
own
by
affectionate
deference
to
Jesus
Christ,
to
suffer
for
whom
may
become
a
veritable
bUss
(Mt
5i°-i2,
Ac
5",
2
Co
411,
Ph
129,
1
Th
2",
He
1032-3)).
5.
Christian
Ethics
is
marked
quite
as
much
by
promises
of
assistance
as
by
loftiness
of
standard.
The
landliness
of
God,
fully
illustrated
in
the
gift
and
sacrifice
of
His
Son,
is
a
great
incentive
to
holiness.
Men
come
into
the
sunshine
of
Divine
favour.
Heavenly
sym-pathy
is
with
them
in
their
struggles.
The
virtues
to
be
acquired
(Mt
5i-i«,
Gal
522-
23,
col
312-",
2
P
16-
!■
',
Tit
212)
and
the
vices
to
be
shunned
(Mk
721-
22,
Qal,
519.
20.
21,
Col
33-9)
are
viewed
in
connexion
with
the'
assurance
of
efficient
aid.
There
is
a
wonderful
love
upon
which
the
aspirant
may
depend
(Jn
313,
Ro
5'-
',
2
Co
619'-).
The
hearty
acceptance
of
that
love
is
faith,
ranked
as
a
virtue
and
as
the
parent
of
virtues
(2
P
15,
Ro
S'-
2,
1
Co
13,
He
11).
Faith,
hope,
love,
transfigure
and
supplement
the
ancient
virtues,
—
tem-perance,
courage,
wisdom,
Justice,
—
while
around
them
grow
many
gentle
excellences
not
recognized
before
Christ
gave
them
their
true
rank;
and
yet
it
is
not
by
its
wealth
of
moral
teaching
so
much
as
by
its
assurance
of
ability
to
resist
temptation
and
to
attain
spiritual
manhood
that
Christianity
has
gained
pre-eminence.
Christ's
miracles
are
illustrations
of
His
gospel
of
pardon,
regeneration,
and
added
faculties
(Mt
95-
«).
The
fife
set
before
man
was
lived
by
Jesus,
who
regenerates
men
by
His
Spirit,
and
takes
them
into
union
with
Himself
(Jn
33-
«•
8»
15i-i»,
Ro
82-
»•
29,
1
Co
130,
2
Co
51',
Gal
522-
23,
Ph
25.
12.
is,
Col
31-',
Ja
118,
1
p
221,
1
Jn
28).
The
connexion
between
the
Lord
and
the
disciple
is
permanent
(Mt
282",
Jn
143-
■"
172*,
He
211-18,
I
Jn
31-3),
and
hence
the
aspiration
to
become
sober,
righteous,
godly
(relation
to
self,
man,
and
God,
Tit
212-")
receives
ample
support.
.Sanctity
is
not
only
within
the
reach
of
persons
at
one
time
despised
as
moral
incapables
(Mk
2i8-
>',
Lk
7*'
15.
19s-
»
23«.
43
