addressed were almost incapable of spiritual and abstract ideas. This, of course, gives a notion of God infinitely beneath the glories of His character; but, to uncultivated minds, it was the only representation of His character, that would give them any idea of it. Nay, even in this enlightened age, such descriptions are far more impressive than any other, upon the mass of mankind; while those, whose minds are more enlightened, find no difficulty in inculcating the pure truth respecting God, even from these comparatively gross descriptions."[1]
Of a similar character are the passages and expressions, which describe God as the author of evil. For instance, in Isaiah[2]: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I, the Lord, do all these things." Now, that God cannot, in fact, be the author of evil, is evident from the consideration that opposite things cannot flow from the same source: the same fountain cannot pour forth both sweet and bitter waters. Now, that God is good, and the Author of all good,—both Divine Revelation and right reason most plainly teach: consequently He cannot be evil nor the author of evil; for that would imply a contradiction. Moreover, He commands us to hate evil: "Hate evil," He says, "and love good;" "seek good, and not evil."[3] Now, if God were evil, this would be a command to hate Himself: whereas we are commanded to love God with all our heart, and mind, and strength. Moreover, He puts Himself and evil directly in contrast, thus: "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil."[4] So, if God were the author of evil, then the
- ↑ Religion of Geology, Lecture II.
- ↑ xlv. 7.
- ↑ Amos. v. 14, 15.
- ↑ Psalm xcvii. 10.
