The Theological Method. 263 



yet, paradoxical as it may seem, the sole function of woman 

 in this kingdom of hell is to multiply and replenish the 

 earth. Why did not Tolstoi avail himself of the "counsels 

 of perfection " which Jesus uttered against marriage ? 

 Why, but because it is inevitable that, when the Bible is 

 made an authority, it is like the Morman prophet's compass, 

 which, when he had taken it in his hand, it did turn which- 

 ever way he would. Tolstoi is as strenuous for Avork as for 

 the multiplication of children, though it is evident that 

 Jesus and his immediate disciples gave up all work and 

 made a common purse. ''And Judas had the bag" a 

 phrase significant of much. He sold the Master's life for 

 thirty pieces of silver. It is to be feared that every com- 

 munistic enterprise will have its Judas soon or late, who, if 

 he does not steal the bag, will engage in private speculation. 

 Our first acquaintance with the early Christians after the 

 death of Jesus finds them a socialistic body, having "all 

 things in common," but voluntarily, Peter reminding 

 Ananias, who kept back part of the price, that he might 

 have kept his money or that which he sold. 



If, then, by Christianity, Ave mean the precept and ex- 

 ample of the New Testament, it is evident that Christianity 

 makes for socialism in its crudest form; for communism, 

 with which we must not by any means confound the State- 

 Socialism of Marx and Bellamy and Hyndman. But, then, 

 it ought to be remembered that on the entire social and in- 

 dustrial ideal of early Christianity, Paul and Jesus himself 

 included, there was the bias of a firm persuasion that the 

 mundane order of society was very shortly to be broken 

 up. That made a mighty difference. In 1843, if I re- 

 member rightly the year of the great Millerite excitement, 

 a Unitarian minister, from whom I had the story, stepped 

 into a Philadelphia hatter's store to buy a hat. Having 

 selected one, he asked, "How much ?" "Nothing," replied 

 tlie hatter ; and explained that he was a Millerite, and that 

 the world was coming to an end the following day. Money 

 was nothing to him, therefore. He had more than enough 

 for the day. "Then," said the minister, "will you not 

 give me ten dollars?" "Certainly," replied the man, 

 suiting the action to the word. The next day but one my 

 friend stepped in again, the world not having come to an 

 end in the meantime, and paid for his hat and returned the 

 ten dollars, neviine contradicente. The moral is plain. 



