the vital message(主信)-第2章
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coloured picture。 Can we not see； then； what was the inner reason for the
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
war？ Can we not understand that it was needful to shake mankind loose
from gossip and pink teas； and sword…worship； and Saturday night drunks；
and self… seeking politics and theological quibblesto wake them up and
make them realise that they stand upon a narrow knife…edge between two
awful eternities； and that； here and now； they have to finish with make…
beliefs； and with real earnestness and courage face those truths which have
always been palpable where indolence； or cowardice； or vested interests
have not obscured the vision。 Let us try to appreciate what those truths are
and the direction which reform must take。 It is the new spiritual
developments which predominate in my own thoughts； but there are two
other great readjustments which are necessary before they can take their
full effect。 On the spiritual side I can speak with the force of knowledge
from the beyond。 On the other two points of reform； I make no such claim。
The first is that in the Bible； which is the foundation of our present
religious thought； we have bound together the living and the dead； and the
dead has tainted the living。 A mummy and an angel are in most unnatural
partnership。 There can be no clear thinking； and no logical teaching until
the old dispensation has been placed on the shelf of the scholar； and
removed from the desk of the teacher。 It is indeed a wonderful book； in
parts the oldest which has come down to us； a book filled with rare
knowledge； with history； with poetry； with occultism； with folklore。 But it
has no connection with modern conceptions of religion。 In the main it is
actually antagonistic to them。 Two contradictory codes have been
circulated under one cover； and the result is dire confusion。 The one is a
scheme depending upon a special tribal God； intensely anthropomorphic
and filled with rage； jealousy and revenge。 The conception pervades every
book of the Old Testament。 Even in the psalms； which are perhaps the
most spiritual and beautiful section； the psalmist； amid much that is noble；
sings of the fearsome things which his God will do to his enemies。 〃They
shall go down alive into hell。〃 There is the keynote of this ancient
documenta document which advocates massacre； condones polygamy；
accepts slavery； and orders the burning of so…called witches。 Its Mosaic
provisions have long been laid aside。 We do not consider ourselves
accursed if we fail to mutilate our bodies； if we eat forbidden dishes； fail
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to trim our beards； or wear clothes of two materials。 But we cannot lay
aside the provisions and yet regard the document as divine。 No learned
quibbles can ever persuade an honest earnest mind that that is right。 One
may say： 〃Everyone knows that that is the old dispensation； and is not to
be acted upon。〃 It is not true。 It is continually acted upon； and always will
be so long as it is made part of one sacred book。 William the Second acted
upon it。 His German God which wrought such mischief in the world was
the reflection of the dreadful being who ordered that captives be put under
the harrow。 The cities of Belgium were the reflection of the cities of Moab。
Every hard…hearted brute in history； more especially in the religious wars；
has found his inspiration in the Old Testament。 〃Smite and spare not！〃 〃An
eye for an eye！〃； how readily the texts spring to the grim lips of the
murderous fanatic。 Francis on St。 Bartholomew's night； Alva in the
Lowlands； Tilly at Magdeburg； Cromwell at Drogheda； the Covenainters
at Philliphaugh； the Anabaptists of Munster； and the early Mormons of
Utah； all found their murderous impulses fortified from this unholy source。
Its red trail runs through history。 Even where the New Testament prevails；
its teaching must still be dulled and clouded by its sterner neighbour。 Let
us retain this honoured work of literature。 Let us remove the taint which
poisons the very spring of our religious thought。
This is； in my opinion； the first clearing which should be made for the
more beautiful building to come。 The second is less important； as it is a
shifting of the point of view； rather than an actual change。 It is to be
remembered that Christ's life in this world occupied； so far as we can
estimate； 33 years； whilst from His arrest to His resurrection was less than
a week。 Yet the whole Christian system has come to revolve round His
death； to the partial exclusion of the beautiful lesson of His life。 Far too
much weight has been placed upon the one； and far too little upon the
other； for the death； beautiful； and indeed perfect； as it was； could be
matched by that of many scores of thousands who have died for an idea；
while the life； with its consistent record of charity； breadth of mind；
unselfishness； courage； reason； and progressiveness； is absolutely unique
and superhuman。 Even in these abbreviated； translated； and second… hand
records we receive an impression such as no other life can givean
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impression which fills us with utter reverence。 Napoleon； no mean judge
of human nature； said of it： 〃It is different with Christ。 Everything about
Him astonishes me。 His spirit surprises me； and His will confounds me。
Between Him and anything of this world there is no possible comparison。
He is really a being apart。 The nearer I approach Him and the closer I
examine Him； the more everything seems above me。〃 It is this wonderful
life； its example and inspiration； which was the real object of the descent
of this high spirit on to our planet。 If the human race had earnestly centred
upon that instead of losing itself in vain dreams of vicarious sacrifices and
imaginary falls； with all the mystical and contentious philosophy which
has centred round the subject； how very different the level of human
culture and happiness would be to… day！ Such theories； with their absolute
want of reason or morality； have been the main cause why the best minds
have been so often alienated from the Christian system and proclaimed
themselves materialists。 In contemplating what shocked their instincts for
truth they have lost that which was both true and beautiful。 Christ's death
was worthy of His life； and rounded off a perfect career； but it is the life
which He has left as the foundation for the permanent religion of mankind。
All the religious wars； the private feuds； and the countless miseries of
sectarian contention； would have been at least minimised； if not avoided；
had the bare example of Christ's life been adopted as the standard of
conduct and of religion。 But there are certain other considerations which
should have weight when we contemplate this life and its efficacy as an
example。 One of these is that the very essence of it was that He critically
examined religion as He found it； and brought
