登陆注册
5406800000179

第179章 GLADSTONE ON CHURCH AND STATE(5)

We may state the same proposition in a more general form, in which it surely must command universal assent.Wherever there is power in the universe, that power is the property of God, the King of that universe--his property of right, however for a time withholden or abused.Now this property is, as it were, realised, is used according to the will of the owner, when it is used for the purposes he has ordained, and in the temper of mercy, justice, truth, and faith which he has taught us.But those principles never can be truly, never can be permanently entertained in the human breast, except by a continual reference to their source, and the supply of the Divine grace.The powers, therefore, that dwell in individuals acting as a government as well as those that dwell in individuals acting for themselves, can only he secured for right uses by applying to them a religion."Here are propositions of vast and indefinite extent, conveyed in language which has a certain obscure dignity and sagacity, attractive, we doubt not, to many minds.But the moment that we examine these propositions closely, the moment that we bring them to the test by running over but a very few of the particulars which are included in them, we find them to be false and extravagant.The doctrine which "must surely command universal assent" is this, that every association of human beings which exercises any power whatever, that is to say, every association of human beings, is bound, as such association, to profess a religion.Imagine the effect which would follow if this principle were really in force during four-and-twenty hours.Take one instance out of a million.A stage-coach company has power over its horses.This power is the property of God.It is used according to the will of God when it is used with mercy.But the principle of mercy can never be truly or permanently entertained in the human breast without continual reference to God.The powers, therefore, that dwell in individuals, acting as a stage-coach company, can only be secured for right uses by applying to them a religion.Every stage coach company ought, therefore, in its collective capacity, to profess some one faith, to have its articles, and its public worship, and its tests.That this conclusion, and an infinite number of other conclusions equally strange, follow of necessity from Mr.Gladstone's principle, is as certain as it is that two and two make four.And, if the legitimate conclusions be so absurd, there must be something unsound in the principle.

We will quote another passage of the same sort:

同类推荐
  • 佛说无量门破魔陀罗尼经

    佛说无量门破魔陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金箓放生仪

    金箓放生仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大学辨业

    大学辨业

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宋稗类钞

    宋稗类钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 正统北狩事迹

    正统北狩事迹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 犬来仪

    犬来仪

    以一条狗怀孕即将产下小狗开头,展开以海平为主人公高考后的暑期生活,面对病重的父亲和上大学作艰难选择,父亲病逝,海平今后的生活又该如何面对?
  • 农家俏神医

    农家俏神医

    【一对一温馨暖文】心心念念的未婚夫要退婚,趾高气昂的施舍侍妾之位。孙锦绣被人陷害推下荷花池,一朝身死,再次睁眼之时她变成了她。国际医药世家继承人孙雯穿越而来,从此痴傻村姑变身无良神医。少失考妣,兄妹三人穷困潦倒,仅余几亩酸土田,两间泥胚房。爷爷不疼,奶奶不爱,婶娘家贪心不足,欺上门来。叔叔能忍,婶婶不能忍!开荒山,种草药,在古代照样倒腾出个医药公司,彻底垄断医药市场,名扬四海,赚得盆满钵满。助幼弟走上仕途,帮长兄发展生意,顺便将自己那满脸的痘痘一扫而光,原来痴傻丑女竟是个娇俏美人!未婚夫贪婪成性,想要抢占珍贵药方。外祖家心安理得抢占她辛苦成果!抬脚,踹!送你离开千里之外!【ps:此文1v1】然后。。。然后。。。孙锦绣有一天忽然发现,她的身份原来并不只是农女那么简单【此乃温馨农家女励志成长文,讲述一介小小农家药女温馨的田园创业史】
  • 由我而史 谁来书写小草的历史?

    由我而史 谁来书写小草的历史?

    每个人都是历史的创造者,是历史的当事者,是历史的见证者,也应是历史的记录者和书写者,这是新历史合作社自始坚持的理念。“历史嘉年华2013”以“我写我历史”为主题,从名人到普通人,纷纷登台分享“我的历史”。作为“历史嘉年华2013”及新历史合作社年度特刊,我们将看到的这一组文章中,有文学家之手笔,有治史者的反思,也有中学生的探寻,但一个共同特点是,他们不再将自己淹没于历史洪流之中,掩藏于宏大的叙事之下,而是作为“一个高贵的人”,记录自己的生命轨迹。
  • 旁爱

    旁爱

    时间弹指,间隙流年。有的人坚持本心,有的人放错了原来的那个自己。我们都曾经历悲失,与欢颜同在。旁爱,述说着别人的爱,迷失中回归自我,韶华之光从不泯灭。
  • 我在时光尽头等你

    我在时光尽头等你

    在遇到何若辰前,尹初见从未想过自己会爱一个人爱到魔怔,爱到不能自已。纵然他厌恶她、弃之如履,她依然甘之如饴。感情这条路,对尹初见来说太过荆棘漫长,她终究是撑不下去了;何若辰这才幡然醒悟,不知不觉中早已爱上身边人……
  • 悍妃之田园药香

    悍妃之田园药香

    第一天拿刀砍人,第二天与公鸡拜堂,第三天连坟头上的獾都敢吃,彪悍女医生穿越为受尽欺负的孤女,拖着软弱的婆婆,年幼的丈夫,还有三个鼻涕虫的小叔子、小姑子,斗大伯、夺家产、治瘟疫、开药铺,打造乱世中的药香田园。神秘腹黑的小相公,十岁中秀才,十三岁中举人,背负血海深仇。柳迎风,名医世家的庶长子,为躲避嫡子追杀,隐世乡村。“你的才华不应该被埋没,跟我走,待我夺得家业,你就是名医世家的当家主母!”司徒展宸,战功赫赫的威武将军,只因为一个承诺,三十岁还未婚配,却没有想到,女子已经嫁做他人妇。“我会一直等你,等你休了你的相公!”本文一对一,男主情深似海。
  • 穴道气功自疗养生功法

    穴道气功自疗养生功法

    本书介绍了穴道气功自疗养生功法,包括9个必修关键穴道按摩法,10招基本养生穴道按摩法,14项病症穴道按摩法,2个关键养生呼吸法,5招抗老回春气功健康法,5招病症改善气功健康。
  • 虚界求生

    虚界求生

    再一次醒来,李锐发现身边的一切都发生了改变,陌生的街道,陌生的穿着。还没来得及醒神,莫名的追杀就已经到来,被迫无奈之下逃命,在一条小巷被神秘老人收留,从此过上了修炼生活。莫名的穿越曾让我有过无比的畏惧,可日日夜夜走过来。异常强悍的自我再也不会害怕面对任何事情。有些秘密,注定沉入大海被大家遗忘,可我“天选者”终将再次泛起历史浪花,平定者虚界之乱!——李锐
  • 滑波、泥石流防范与自救

    滑波、泥石流防范与自救

    自然灾害无处不在,无时不在,迄今为止,人类还没有能力阻止它的发生和带来的损害。大多数人在突然遭遇自然灾难时会彻底崩溃,他们或哭泣、或尖叫,却不知此时是需要迅速行动的最关键时刻。只有少数人能保持冷静,利用自己所学的灾害自救知识,并迅速采取行动脱离险境、减小损害。因此,如果幸运的你还没有亲身经历过自然灾难,请千万不要掉以轻心,因为我们谁也无法预料自己会在何时遇到何种灾难。
  • 中外影视精品赏析

    中外影视精品赏析

    《中外影视精品赏析》适应面宽,教学内容涉及两种类别的课程:既可作为普通高校非影视类专业学生选修相关课程的教材,也可备影视传媒本科专业开课之用。全书精选44部中外影视精品,选片数量取折中路线。我们认为,教材必须考虑学生“一册在手”的客观需求,这样就不宜编撰几大卷、几大册的丛书,也不宜收入总量过少的作品。目前按一个学期常规课时量计,大致可安排15部次影片赏析,我们编写时放大了两倍,达44部,为任课教师选择合适片目,为学生课外自学留下了一定余地。本教材体例设计新颖,分为6个单元,即“大师经典”、“类型佳构”、“艺术影苑”、“国片精粹”、“纪录菁华”、“卡通园地”。