SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURES. TRUTH. "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?”—JOHN Xviii. 38. ARGUMENT-How to determine what is Truth. The nature of Religious Truth is demonstrated; an estimate of Biblical Truth is given. Obstacles which prevent the attainment of truthful views of the Deity are pointed out, and means suggested for their removal. WHAT IS EVIL? "There be many that say, Who will show us any good?" —PSALMS iv. 6. ARGUMENT Croakers and grumblers, whose mouths are for ever filled with suspicious forebodings, are reproved. "The bane of all 'religion' is the setting up of moral evil, human depravity, and the dominion of sin; because involved therein is the practical denial and consequent dethronement of God." So-called evils are incentives for Man to exert himself to overcome unfavourable conditions. Even death introduces Man to the life immortal, and demonstrates the paternal love of God to Man-a love inexhaustible. CHARITY. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal."—I COR. xiii. 1. The ARGUMENT-Charity is not the shielding of vice or unrighteous power; nor alms-giving, the erection of hospitals, and the institution of philanthropic enterprises merely; but is the living recognition of the universal brotherhood of the human race-the oneness of the family of mankind-by daily acting out the precept, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also unto them likewise." practical introduction of this principle would supersede all other benevolent works, which are often cloaks to hide the effects of the gross selfishness of the strong manifested in the cruelty inflicted by them upon the weak. It is "Humanity," or, in Scriptural language, "Love." POVERTY: ITS EVILS AND MISSION. "There is one that laboureth and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind; and there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate; and lifted up his head from misery, so that many that saw it marvelled at him."ECCLES. xi. 12, 13. ARGUMENT.-Social distinctions are arbitrary, and are not the result of any partiality of the Deity, but proceed from Man's systematic disobedience of the Divine command-"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Suffering follows Man's violation of the laws of his nature-individual and social-and compels him to search for truer conditions of life. Penury is the fruit of social wrong, of which the poor are the victims rather than the authors. It is caused by the almost universal ignorance and sensuality which prevail, and can only be ameliorated slowly by true education and an improved social system. THE DIVINITY THAT DWELLS IN MAN. "The wilderness and the solitary places shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. ISA. XXXV. I. ARGUMENT.-The greatness and inestimable value of the human soul; its endowments are the attributes of God. By faithful, hopeful, persevering exercise of our faculties, the wilderness of human life may be made to blossom as the rose. A knowledge of our soulnature is our first duty; and a review of its divine capabilities, instead of inflating us with pride, ought to melt us with love and gratitude to the good Father, God, who has bestowed upon us such spiritual wealth. THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE. Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the Truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."-2 COR. iv. 1—4. ARGUMENT.—The ecclesiasticisms of to-day, unfit to live, afraid to die, are being left behind in the march of intellect. The Church of the future will teach men all they require to know, that they may fulfil life's obligations satisfactorily. It must be based upon Reason; worship a God of perfect justice; and have brotherly love, in the form of equal justice to all, as its aim: a cosmopolitan communion, a refuge for the infidel, an educated working Church for an educated working world. “STAND UP; I MYSELF ALSO AM A MAN.” -ACTS x. 26. ARGUMENT.—The bowing down before human Teachers is degrading. Truth only is to be worshipped. The Divine Spirit is the source of Man's every good and perfect gift; true religion is the manifestation of these. Man's nature, coming from God, is essentially good. What constitutes true Manhood is portrayed, and also that which is derogatory thereto. THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”—PROV. xxii. 6. ARGUMENT.-What is called "Sin" is nominal only, it being the necessary consequence of bad training or absolute neglect. Real Sin lies at the door of those who, having the power to guide their fellow creatures in the right way, abuse that power by falsely using, or neglecting to use it. From ignorance or wilfully, soul-degrading dogmas are taught by "religious" teachers as the all of religion, to the neglect of the everyday practical Religion of Love taught and lived by Christ. Universal Love to be attained by training the children of all to do to others as they would others should do to them. TRUST IN GOD. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"-PSALMS xxvii. 1. ARGUMENT.—The unchangeableness of Nature's method of working is pointed out as a reflex of God's mind. We must know God to trust Him. Has God revealed himself to Man-and how? The soul, the mirror of Deity. The source of all truth is within Man, and its precious treasures are revealed to all earnest seekers. SELF-TRUST. "By the grace of God I am what I am," &c. XV. IO. ARGUMENT. --Self-reliance depends upon self-knowledge. -I COR. The rela St. tionship between God and Man defined, inducing self-trust. WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY? "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.”—PROV. xii. 10. Or, as this passage might be rendered-" A righteous man is merciful to his beast." ARGUMENT.-True manliness and righteousness are convertible terms, and constitute the "Christian,' or follower of the natural Religion of Love. Priestly ordination an imposition. Righteous acts are shown in doing right for righteousness' sake, and originate in a love of goodness and truth. THY KINGDOM COME. "In the 8th, 9th, and 10th verses of the 6th chapter of the gospel of Jesus as rendered by the Evangelist Matthew, it is written" Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him. After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." ARGUMENT. The nature of prayer in general is discussed, and this prayer in particular. Prayer is a pledge that we will strive to attain what we desire. Unanswered prayers the result of "asking" only, and not doing: Askers must be Doers. The meaning of the Kingdom of God on earth. How to attain it. WHAT IS MAN? "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"—PSALMS viii. 4. ARGUMENT.-Man is seen by the Psalmist to be next in order to Angels, and crowned with glory and honour. The causes of his vices and degradation are pointed out, also the errors of theology respecting the nature of Man. The religious teachings of Jesus contrasted with those of Moses and Mohammed. Man is not at enmity with God. Orthodox dogmas are degrading. "Prove all things," especially religious teachings, and hold fast to truth, wherever found. THE "ONE THING" DESIRED BY THE PSALMIST. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."—Psalms xxvii. 4. ARGUMENT. The character of Jesus embraces universal greatness. David desired goodness for himself, but Jesus for all humanity. The true preacher is his disciple, and his topic is as boundless as the love and goodness of his Master. The want of the world's theologic religion is an unselfish God to vitalise it. The worship of Christendom is toward the Golden Calf, and goodness and truth are less valued than rank and possessions. The practical recog nition that ALL have equal rights should be the "one thing" striven for by ALL. PURE RELIGION. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world."-JAMES i. 27. ARGUMENT.-God's highest gifts to man are the divine attributes of the human soul, and the most holy place of worship is within man. To cultivate the highest powers of his nature, and harmonise them with the lower; and to reverence God by acts of life-long love to all his creatures, is the work of "Pure Religion." PHILOSOPHY. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy."— COL. ii. 8. ARGUMENT.-Philosophy means a system of truth which shows us all we need, what we are, and what we should be, and is synonymous with true religion. True philosophy has a rational basis and a righteous end, and is not a superstructure built upon injustice, blind credulity, opinion, and the surmises of ignorance and cupidity, such as the spurious philosophy referred to by the Apostle. Paul was a reasoner, and illustrated the prime importance of reason in matters of religion. The teachings of the churches are tested. A belief in fables and dogmas is degrading. Universal education recommended. A progressive immortality is the destiny of man. |