A Lesson From History

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 20, 1909

A Lesson From History

THOSE who are substituting civilization for evangelization, and who are so interpreting the supernatural religion of the Bible as to make it wholly natural, ought to learn some of the lessons which history teaches. If there is one fact above another which stands out clearly in the records of the past, it is that mere environment and a high grade of civilization have been wholly powerless to save men from the evil of their own hearts. To reject the supernatural in Christianity, and to rely upon self-effort as the means of developing character, will bring back the morals of paganism.

These truths have been recognized by some of the best thinkers, and the case has been well stated by Dr. John Lord in his lecture on “Religious Faith.” Dr. Lord thus comments upon the conditions in the time of Abraham:—

There was even then, however, a remarkable material civilization, especially in Egypt, Palestine, and Babylon; for some of the pyramids had been built, the use of metals, of weights and measures, and of textile fabrics was known. There were also cities and fortresses, corn fields and vineyards, agricultural implements and weapons of war, commerce and arts, musical instruments, golden vessels, ornaments for the person, purple dyes, spices, hand-made pottery, stone-engravings, sun-dials, and glasswork, and even the use of letters,

or something similar, possibly transmitted from the antediluvian civilization. Even the art of printing was almost discovered, as we may infer from the stamping of letters on tiles.

With all this material progress, however, there had been a steady decline in spiritual religion as well as in morals,—from which fact we infer that men, if left to themselves, whatever truth they may receive from ancestors, will, without supernatural influences, constantly decline in those virtues on which the strength of man is built, and without which the proudest triumphs of the intellect avail nothing. The grandest civilization, in its material aspects, may coexist with the utmost debasement of morals,—as seen among the Greeks and Romans, and in the wicked capitals of modern Europe. “There is no God!” or “Let there be no God!” has been the cry in all ages of the world, whenever and wherever an impious pride or a low morality has defied or silenced conscience.

Tell me, ye rationalists and agnostics! with your pagan sympathies, what mean ye by laws of development, and by the necessary progress of the human race, except in the triumphs of that kind of knowledge which is entirely disconnected with virtue, and which has proved powerless to prevent the decline and fall of nations? Why did not art, science, philosophy, and literature save the most lauded nations of the ancient world? Why so rapid a degeneracy among people favored not only with a primitive revelation, but by splendid triumphs of reason and knowledge? Why did gross superstition so speedily obscure the intellect, and infamous vices so soon undermine the moral health, if man can elevate himself by his unaided strength? Why did error seemingly prove as vital as truth in all the varied forms of civilization in the ancient world? Why did even tradition fail to keep alive the knowledge of God, at least among the people?