LAX THEOLOGY, LAX MORALITY.
So thought Robert Hall. He thus wrote: "A lax theology is the parent of a lax morality." Such is its tendency. Such is the depravity of the natural human heart, so prone is it to evil, that it needs all the restraints of a sound theology to check its wayward inclination. In the degree that the creeds of men are abbreviated and diluted, in that degree, sooner or later, will they manifest a downward trend of morals. A loose age as regards doctrine will be a loose age as regards morals. In order to tone up these, and to keep them well toned up, all the fundamental truths of the Bible must be believed. You will always find the best conditions of morals in those places where these truths are most faithfully preached, and most cordially accepted. It is not enough to preach morals. This may be done earnestly and perseveringly, but unless, at the same time, those great doctrines of the Bible are preached, which are the basis of all pure morality, the people will degenerate rather than become more virtuous. Dr. Chalmers made trial of this experiment to his satisfaction. God, the infinite God, must be made prominent. His existence as a personal being and his glorious perfection must be made conspicuous. He must be made to appear, as in the preaching of Dr. Bellamy, "so great, so great;" "just in his character, and great in his government." He must be made to appear as a God of justice, of holiness and truth,163as well as of mercy, of condescension and compassion. Those doctrines must be preached that exalt God, and that humble man; that set the Creator on his throne, and the creature at his footstool. When men come to cherish low views of God, and to think of him as one altogether like unto themselves, their morality will correspond. Then they will bow down and worship a golden calf at the very feet of science. Then with proud Pharaoh, they will be prepared impiously to say, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?" The law of God must be proclaimed in all its demands, nor must its dreadful penalty be ignored, or modified. Men may not like the truth; they may cry, "Speak unto us smooth things." But these will not answer. These will not serve to stop men in their career of wickedness, and in their way of destruction. Those truths must be plainly preached that tend to convict men of sin, and that prompt the inquiry, "What must we do to be saved?" And Christ must be held up as the only Saviour of lost men. They must be told that there is "no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The history of religion abundantly shows that "a lax theology is the parent of a lax morality."—Golden Rule.