Astronomy and the Bible;

GOD'SDWELLINGPLACE,WHERE?^225

Terribleasaretheteachingsofthispoem,theyare
thelogical resultofthedoctrine ofevolution,which
nowclaimspracticallyallthethinkingworld. Bythat
doctrine,we are developingtoward perfection. For
untoldages,wearetold,thecosrtioshasbeenmoving
thus. Notforagesstillwillitreachthehighestplace.
Andso,aswemoveon,sins andcrimesanddiseases
anddeath arebutpartsofthis cosmosprocess, over
whichwehave butlittle control—henceeachoneis
"alawuntohimself." Sin, afterall,isnotreallysin,
butpartofthecreationalprocess. Crimeisnotreally
crime,butarelicofourimperfectstate. Andallthis
is sheer heathenism—essentiallythe same that the
heathenhave taught andbelieved,but ina form to
adaptitselftothetimesandthepresentstateofgen-
eral knowledge. Butits spirit is, to forget a pure
andholy andall-powerful God. And if itfully ac-
complishitspurpose,theworldislost.
True,thereisbutonepowerintheuniverse. But
the Bible teaches that all God's creatures have the
rightandthedivineendowmentoffreemoralagency.
Truly,inthistheyaremadeintheveryimageofGod.
ButsomeofGod'screatureshavetakentheillogical,
unreasonable, and unnatural position to will against
God, to pervert for selfishends Hispower and in-
fluenceintrustedtothem—thatistosay,totakethe
materialswithwhichtheyweretobuildParadise,and
insteadbuildtheirSodoms andtheirBabylons.
Mysteriousassinmayseemtobe,itwillfinallybe
fullyseentobewithoutexcuse. Godgavenooccasion
forit,andinnosenseisHeitsauthorororiginator.

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