The World Growing Better.
A PARAGRAPH published in the Independent of April 6, contains the following declaration: "We believe that the literature of the present is far in advance of the preceding age in every moral quality. It belongs to, and is illustrative of, a better civilization, and shows that the world and its writers are slowly but certainly advancing toward a purer light and divine life."
This declaration is based on the fact that the eminent writers of this generation, Dickens, Thackeray, Stowe, Browning, Longfellow, Lowell, Whittier, Holmes, Bryant, &c., present a morality and purity in their writing, whereas three eminent writers of a past age, namely, Fielding, Sternes and Byron were far otherwise. It illustrates how easy a thing it is to deceive ourselves in that which we would very much like to have true. So far as these individual writers are concerned the remarks are doubtless correct. Those occupy a higher plane than their predecessors. But does this prove that the world is growing better? Do the works of these writers form the staple literature of the masses? Are there not thousands of under currents more vile and corrupting than ever before? Does not the press teem with degrading fiction? Is not the land flooded with works of a low and corrupting tendency? Are not the morals of the masses deteriorating? Is not licentiousness and every evil everywhere on the increase? It cannot be denied. The pure word of prophecy informs us that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, and that even those having a form of godliness, shall in the last days be guilty of a catalogue of sins of the deepest dye. It is in vain to point to a few eminent writers who maintain a high moral tone, and fancy that on this account the world is growing better. Alas for the world, if this is the only evidence of its improvement. Alas for the credulity of mankind if they will be beguiled into pleasing dreams of peace and safety by such means as this. Thank God we may look for a better world than this, far sooner than it could be brought about by any human efforts, were they to be crowned with the utmost success. But it will not be in this state of things. It will only be in the new earth wherein righteousness shall dwell, where the Prince of peace shall reign, and the saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom under the whole heaven.