6 PRESENT-DAY RATIONALISM 



If men cannot be moved to passionate enthusiasm and 

 ardent hope and heroic daring by these things, they are 

 impervious to all pure and holy influences. . . . The 

 Heavenly Paradise has been dreamed of by imaginative 

 theologians and longed for by the votaries of supersti- 

 tion ; for Secularism it remains to realise the Earthly 

 Paradise for men, where the flower and fruit of happi- 

 ness shall bloom for the delight and sustenance of 

 all." 



Two things are herein very apparent. First, what- 

 ever moral conduct is upheld by Secularists, it does not 

 differ from what is commonly accepted by Christians. 

 Secondly, the stories of noble heroes of the past have 

 never yet created an enthusiasm for practical goodness 

 in posterity ; with the exception of Jesus Christ, who for 

 nearly 2000 years has been a Power for Holiness in all 

 who will accept Him. 



Mr. Holyoake averred that Secularism and Christi- 

 anity could not exist compatibly with one another ; but 

 true Christianity is solely the CJirist-like Charactei-, which 

 Secularism would seem inclined to imitate but cannot 

 improve. 



The above quotations will show what Secularism was 

 in the seventies. All that is good in it is borrowed 

 from Christianity and not solely obtainable from Nature 

 or Reason. 



We shall presently see its position after thirty years, 

 as described by writers of to-day ; but a few more obser- 

 vations by Secularists, in order to point out their illogical 

 character, may be advisable. 



There was an expression used by Rationalists : " I can- 

 not believe in that which I cannot comprehend". Such 

 were the words of Mr. Austin Holyoake on his deathbed 

 in 1874, on which the editor of the Christian Evidence 



