The fact that there is nothing which is true in itself in other religions which is not more fully and perfectly revealed in Christianity does not at all indicate that Christianity is therefore made up of what is good in other radically defective or imperfectly developed religious systems. While it may be correct that Christianity, in a certain sense, is a supplement, complement, and corrective of other religions, yet this fact does not give us the secret of its true genesis. It is thus perfect because it is the gift of infinite intelligence. It is thus complete because it contains, either in direct statement or by implication, all the absolute truth which God has been pleased to reveal.

in the religious history of mankind.

The norm of religious truth, which was implanted in the early history of the race, as we have reason to believe, by a primitive revelation, was monotheism, with its simple duties of Two general tendencies worship, sacrifice, faith, and obedience. From this norm there was in one direction a development towards corruption and apostasy, but with original truth still lingering deeply imbedded in the religious creeds of heathenism, however it may have been corrupted. This heritage of truth, with much of its original likeness destroyed, appeared in the later ethnic systems of the world, but so distorted that it was recognizable with difficulty. Yet in this sense there is truth in heathen systems, just as there is God's likeness still in humanity, however fallen; and this truth in some individual instances has fructified into nobility and beauty of character through what we must regard as the special agency of that free Spirit of Life who worketh when and where He willeth. In fact, all down the line of apostasy we may believe that God has not ceased to vouchsafe to man many restraining influences in the form of gracious solicitations, as He has certainly not failed repeatedly to warn and rebuke by the visitations of His judgments. In another direction, under the guidance and culture of persistent teaching and training through direct spiritual instrumentalities, there was a development, struggling and imperfect, it may have been, down an historical line of patriarchs, prophets, and the elect nation of Israel, towards the fuller light and power of Christianity, which came to its culmination in its appointed time. The first may be called, in a loose sense of the word,

ing product of religious evolution. So far from this, these non-Christian bibles are all developments in the wrong direction. They all begin with some flashes of true light and end in utter darkness. Pile them, if you will, on the left side of your study table, but place your own Holy Bible on the right side-all by itself, all alone, and with a wide gap between."-Sir Monier-Williams, in an address at the anniversary of the Church Missionary Society, in London, 1887.

an evolution of religious degeneracy, not without divine remonstrances, and with attempts on the part of reformers at various stages in its history to stem the tide of apostasy and reverse to some extent the trend of its debasement. The other was, in the same popular signification of the term, under the special guidance of God, an evolution of theistic doctrine, Messianic culture, moral training, ethical ideals, devout religious experience, and spiritual standards of righteousness, which culminated in the Christian system, with its Incarnation, Atonement, Regeneration, organized institutions, and laws of a righteous life.

Christian missions are awakening at the present time all through the world the echoes of that great conflict of early Christianity with surrounding heathenism. The conditions are wonderfully similar, and substantially the same perils are involved in the issue. Let us not forget the lessons of that conflict. The sad story of Chris

Echoes of the early conflicts of Christianity.

tianity's degeneracy into medieval corruption and decay is simply the result of an unhallowed alliance with heathenism with a view to compromise. Let us not forget that Christianity, like its Master and Lord, is "chiefest among ten thousand," and that the holy seed planted in heathen soil must bring forth after its kind if it is to survive and flourish. God's supremacy can allow of no partnership. God's personality cannot be interpreted in terms of pantheism. His spirituality will tolerate no idolatry. His Incarnation is once for all consummated in Jesus of Nazareth. His Spirit is alone the only possible source of regenerate life. His Atonement can give no place to legalism. His holiness can make no compromise with sin. And so Christianity throughout all its essential features can neither acknowledge the coördinate authority nor share the honors of its prestige with any other religion. If it is true to itself in this respect, there need be no doubt of its sufficiency. It has wrought with unrivalled mastery in the past; it is still achieving its victories, both at home and abroad, in the present generation. It retains every element of power; it holds every secret of past success. It is still as fully capable Universal mastery the of leadership, and as able to subsidize and transform for its high purposes all the forces of modern times, as it has always been in the past. The wonder, the magic-the divine wisdom, rather- of Christianity is its power of adjusting itself to all human environments and of Christianizing without destroying them. It transcends with its spiritual influence the institutions, laws, and customs of nations, and summons to its service literature, science, art, and inventions. In this respect it reveals its immense superiority to mere

final heritage of Christ and His religion.

civilization, which is an outgrowth of its environment, more or less advanced in different ages and localities, and in its spirit is subservient rather than superior to its surroundings. The highest and noblest achievement of Christianity, however, is its power to lead the individual heart out of and above its environment into spiritual contact with God. The transformed and renewed personality - kindly, unselfish, true-hearted, and pure is the ultimate solution of social evils and the sure promise of a redeemed society, fashioned at last into the likeness of Christ.

"All things grow sweet in Him,
In Him all things are reconciled.
All fierce extremes

That beat along Time's shore
Like chidden waves grow mild,

And creep to kiss His feet."

LITERATURE AND AUTHORITIES FOR LECTURE IV

The bibliography of Lecture I being applicable for the most part to Lecture IV, many books which would otherwise find a place in the following list are omitted, because they are included in the literature of that lecture. The bibliography of Lecture IV should, therefore, be supplemented by that of Lecture I. The literature and authorities on ethnic religions have been placed in the bibliography of Lecture III, to which the reader is referred.