5 J 6 THEORY OF GOD. 



nature of the Creator, the design of Creation, and the 

 future destiny of Man. But before we proceed to this 

 inquiry, we must first state that we intend to separate 

 theology from morality. Whatever may be the nature 

 of the Deity, and whether there is a future life or not, 

 the great moral laws can be in no way changed. God 

 is a purely scientific question. Whether he is personal 

 or impersonal, definable or ^indefinable, our duties and 

 responsibilities remain the same. The existence of a 

 heaven and a hell can affect our calculations, but 

 cannot affect our moral liabilities. 



The popular theory is this : — The world was made 

 by a Great Being ; he created man in his own image ; 

 and therefore his mirjd is analogous to that of man. 

 But while our minds are imperfect, troubled by pas- 

 sions, stained with sin, and limited in power, his mind 

 is perfect in beauty, perfect in power, perfect in love. 

 He is omnipotent and omnipresent. He loves men 

 whom he has made, but he sorrows over their trans- 

 gressions. He has placed them on earth as a means of 

 probation ; those who have sinned and repent, those 

 who are contrite and humble, he will forgive, and ■on 

 them he will bestow everlasting happiness. Those who 

 are wicked, and stubborn, and hard of heart, those who 

 deny and resist his authority, he will punish according 

 to his justice. This reward is bestowed, this punish- 

 ment is inflicted on the soul, a spirit which dwells 

 within the body during life. It is something entirely 

 distinct from the intellect or mind. The soul of the 

 poorest creature in the streets and the soul of the 

 greatest philosopher or poet are equal before the 

 Creator ; he is no respecter of person ; souls are 

 measured only by their sins. But the sins of the 



