365 
power everlasting.”* Well might He have worked a moral 
revolution of the most unheard-of kind in the condition of 
humanity. For there is but one explanation of the matter, and 
it is this : — “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was 
made Flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the 
glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and 
truth.”f 
The Chairman (Rev. R. Thornton, D.D., Y.P.). — I am sure that I may 
tender your thanks to Professor Lias for his extremely interesting and well- 
written paper. After the reading of two communications the discussion will 
open.+ 
The following letters were then read : — 
Aberdeen , January, 1877. 
The paper by the Rev. Professor Lias is very excellent. It deals in 
a thorough manner with the subject in hand, and contains such evidence 
in favour of the good effects of our common Christianity as cannot on any 
just ground be gainsaid. It is, indeed, an able defence of the faith. The 
Professor makes a good analysis of history, and selects many points which 
speak eloquently in favour of our Christian religion, and which, when com- 
bined, constitute a bulwark which can never be assailed with any real suc- 
cess. This is all the more creditable to the good sense and wise selection of 
the writer, because Christianity is not a system of mere externals, as other 
religious systems mainly are. Its noblest trophies and triumphs are in the 
heart, the region most hid from human eye, and where alone true moral re- 
form obtains. Its noblest work, therefore, is not always patent to the view 
of him who would describe it. Professor Lias believes that those aspects of 
human life or forms of religion, through which Christianity was manifested in 
the past ages of our Christian era, did service in their day in helping on the 
cause of God. And in this, I presume, few enlightened Christian men will 
differ from him. But it must be ever kept in mind that these were no parts 
of Christianity proper, that they were in no way required by it, but only by 
the imperfections of the people in whose minds they had a place. It is of 
very great importance to state this clearly at the present day, because the 
moment we speak of those adventitious elements of religion which were asso- 
ciated with Christianity in past ages as if they were parts proper of that 
system, that moment we give the infidel the opportunity of seizing on the 
failings of inconsistent professors of Christianity, and of holding them up to 
contempt, saying, “ This is your Christianity ! ” Is not this the great fallacy 
* 1 Tim. vi. 16 ; St. John i. 18. + St. John i. 14. 
+ As a reply to one communication containing an objection to the 
paper, Professor Lias remarks : “ That Christianity is a revelation from God 
in a sense which cannot be predicated of other religions, and that it main- 
ams its course in the world under a superintending Providence : these are 
propositions involved in the very idea of Christianity itself.” 
