An Object That Will Surely Fail.
By Editor
A certain religio-political paper states its "object" in these words: "To make Christian principles operative in public affairs." In this object it must surely fail. First, because its aim is to do so by the aid of human law, which can not "make" Christian principles operative in any sphere. No human power can "make" Christian principles operative. Human government is altogether a power of force, while Christian principles can be made operative only by the power of love. Secondly, the Spirit of God is the only power that can set in operation the principles of Christianity. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love, for "God is love." The basic principle of practical Christianity is, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Men can not be "made" to carry out such a principle as this. The civil government or any human power can not do it. The Spirit of God will not attempt it; for it wields only a persuasive, and not a compulsory, power in bringing men into harmony with Christian principles. The object of the paper referred to must surely fail, as will every other effort to make Christian principles an object of force.