large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb_55
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb
English
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And, what is infinitely more, it may be claimed for the lessons embodied in the Gospel that they have been themselves promotive, if indeed they have not been the immediate cause, of all the most important reforms and philanthropies that now prevail in Christendom. AND WHAT IS INFINITELY MORE IT MAY BE CLAIMED FOR THE LESSONS EMBODIED IN THE GOSPEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THEMSELVES REMOTE TO IF INDEED THEY HAVE NOT BEEN THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF ALL THE MOST IMPORTANT REFORMS AND PHILANTHROPIES THAT NOW PREVAIL IN CHRISTENDOM
sy way." Whether in withdrawal from social observances deeply tainted with idolatry, the refusal to participate in sacrificial ceremonies insisted on by the rulers, or in the renunciation of indulgences inconsistent with a saintly life, the Christian profession required self-denial at every step. [Sidenote: Adaptive principles and plastic faculty of Christianity.] But otherwise the teaching of Christianity nowhere interfered with the civil institutions of the countries into which it penetrated or with any social customs or practices that were not in themselves immoral or idolatrous. It did not, indeed, neglect to guide the Christian life. But it did so by the enunciation of principles and rules of wide and far-reaching application. These, no less than the injunctions of the Koran, served amply for the exigencies of the day. But they have done a vast deal more. They have proved themselves capable of adaptation to the most advanced stages of social development and intellectual elevation. EARLY DAYS OFFERED NO WORLDLY ATTRACTIONS OR INDULGENCES IT WAS NOT LIKE A SLAM AN EASY WAY WHETHER IN WITHDRAWAL FROM SOCIAL OBSERVANCES DEEPLY TAINTED WITH IDOLATRY THE REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN SACRIFICIAL CEREMONIES INSISTED ON BY THE RULERS OR IN THE RENUNCIATION OF INDULGENCES INCONSISTENT WITH THE SAINTLY LIFE THE CHRISTIAN PROFESSION REQUIRED SELF DENIAL AT EVERY STEP BUT OTHERWISE THE TEACHING OF CHRISTIANITY NOWHERE INTERFERED WITH THE CIVIL INSTITUTIONS OF THE COUNTRIES INTO WHICH IT PENETRATED OR WITH ANY SOCIAL CUSTOM OR PRACTICES THAT WERE NOT IN THEMSELVES IMMORAL OR IDOLATROUS IT DID NOT INDEED NEGLECT TO GUIDE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BUT IT DID SO BY THE ENUNCIATION OF PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF WILD AND FAR REACHING APPLICATION THESE NO LESS THAN THE INJECTIONS OF THE KORAN SERVED AMPLY FOR THE EXIGENCIES OF THE DAY BUT THEY HAVE DONE A VAST DEAL MORE THEY HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES CAPABLE OF ADAPTATION TO THE MOST ADVANCED STAGES OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTELLECTUAL ELEVATION
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