CONTENTS.

SECTION I.

ORIGIN OF EVIL.

CHAPTER I.

THE MYSTERY OF PAIN.

The Knowledge of God-Agnosticism-Design-Anthropo-

morphism-Pain in the Animal Creation a Necessity of

their Moral Imperfection-The Moral Imperfection of

Man-Moral Aspect of Suffering-In the Animals-In

Man.

CHAPTER II.

MORAL EVIL.

The Limitation of God by the Finiteness of the Creature-

Impossibility of creating Beings morally Perfect -

Necessity for the Manifestation of the Nature of Evil-

The Evil of Defect-Temptation of Free Agents-Tempta-

tion of the Higher Intelligences-Self-dependence and

Faith-The Fall of Satan-Moral Evil a Necessity of

Creation-That which is must have been-Limits of

Redemption- Impossibility of destroying Evil at once-

The Nature of Satan's Ultimate Destruction

CHAPTER III.

THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

CONSCIENCE.

Man constituted to manifest the Evil of Sin-His Recogni-
tion of Righteousness and Wickedness-The Distinction

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between Man and the Higher Animals-Evidence of the

Image of God in Man-The Denial of the Existence of

Conscience-Evidence of its Existence-Conscience and

Reason-The Absolute Authority of Conscience-The

Utilitarian-Dean Mansel and The Righteousness of the

Absolute-The Influence of Conscience-Its Prescience

of Good and Evil-The Power of Righteousness - Its

Eternal and Essential Nature

CHAPTER IV.

THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

THE LAW OF LOVE.

Desire for Happiness the Law of all Conscious Intelligences

-View of Utilitarian-Righteousness a Necessity for

Happiness -- Perfect Happiness unattainable by mere

Reason-Elements of Happiness-Natural Affection-

Principle of Reciprocity-Principle of Sympathy-Moral

Love - Compassion - Generosity-Moral Sympathy-

Trust-Value of Righteousness revealed by Unrighteous-

ness-Natural Affection dependent on Righteousness-

Distinction between Effects of Natural Affection and

Effects of Righteousness - Love towards Enemies -

Natural Affection destroyed by Unrighteousness

Attractive Influence of Righteousness-Moral Qualities

also dependent on Natural Affection-Effects of Sorrow

and Suffering-The Family the Home of Natural Affec-

tion-Mutual Dependence of Moral Qualities and Natural

Affection illustrated by Different Nations and Commu-

nities-God the Perfection of Moral Love-Reciprocity

between God and Man-The Love of God to Man-Love

of Man to God-Union of the Redeemed with God-

Summary

CHAPTER V.

THE NATURE OF SIN.

Sin the opposite of Love-Sin is Selfishness-The Cause of
all Misery-Self-assertion-Emulation-Dominion of the
Law of Self in Savage Races-Mental Degradation-The
Animal Propensities-Infirmities-Relation of Unfallen
Beings to God-State of Dependence-Independence of
God necessitates the Dominion of the Law of Self-If

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there was no God the Law of Self would be the only

possible Law, and Conscience an Anomaly-Same Effect

produced by denying God.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FALL OF MAN.

The First Temptation-Not Allegorical-The Prohibition-

Its Reason-Man tempted from without-Self Decep-

tion-Its Nature-Analysis of the Deception of Eve-

The Artifice used-Removal of the Fear of God-The

Gradual Delusion of Eve-Adam not deceived-Moral

Separation from God the Consequence of the Fall

SECTION II.

SPIRITUAL DEATH.

CHAPTER I.

NATURE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.

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Erroneous Views-Definition of Spiritual Death-Its Anti-

thesis, Spiritual Life-Moral Blindness the Distinguish-

ing Characteristic of Spiritual Death-Effects of Fall of

Man-Shame-The Spirit of Life in Adam a Seed only

-Adam a Psychical or Natural Man-Twofold Meaning

of 'Spiritual'-Effect of Separation from God is to

silence Conscience-Tendency of Spiritual Death to

deepen-Influence of Satan-Tendency to Moral and

Mental Degradation-Spiritual Death the Result of Law

-Physical Death-The Tree of Life-Necessary With-

drawal of the Creator's Influence consequent on the Fall

-The Direct Effects of Sin on Man-The Dominion of

Satan-His Power of Death-Physical Shame

CHAPTER II.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.

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Imputed Sin-All Men Psychical by Nature-Effect of
Adam's Sin on his Posterity-The Development and
Manifestation of Sin necessary for Redemption-Moral
Education of Human Race necessarily slow-The Ante-
diluvian World-The Preaching of Noah-The Law of

Retribution-Corruption of the World after the Deluge-

Interposition of God-Israel-Their repeated Sins and

Corruption-Progress of Moral Education of the World

-Ignorance of the Heathen a Necessity-Many of them

saved-No other Means possible for Moral Education of

the Human Race-Apparent Failure of Christianity-

Necessity for Further Manifestation of Evil-The Nations

of Christendom-Final Manifestation of Evil-Foretold

Hostility of the World to the Truth

CHAPTER III.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

Repentance unto Life-Necessity of a great change of Mind

-Its Nature unrecognised-The Death of the Flesh-

Separation from the World-Its Hostility-Apostolic

Christians-How Change effected-Belief in Christ-

Evidence of True Faith is belief in Christ's Words-Im-

portance of the Truth-Knowledge of God is Eternal

Life-Christ the 'Word of God'-Life dependent on

the Knowledge of the Truth-The Bread of Life' and

'Waters of Life'-Christ the Vine-Darkness is Death,

Light is Life-Power of the Truth-The Truth rejected

by World-Warnings of Christ-False Teachers-Per-

version of the Truth-Promises to those who seek-

Rejection of Warnings-Consequent Blindness-The

Vail

CHAPTER IV.

THE SPIRIT OF RITUALISM.

The Vail on the Heart-Substitution of Religiousness for
Righteousness-The Jewish Religionist-His Hatred of
the Truth-Hopelessness of his state-Moral Causes of
this-Religion to quiet Conscience-The High Estimation
of it by World-Blindness of Jew-His Character un-
recognised-Warnings of Christ-The Jewish Ritual-
Value attached to it by Jew-His Condemnation by the
Prophet-Parallel Tendency among Professing Christians
-The Word Latria'-Warning of the Preacher-Outward
Worship-'Acted' Religion-Psychical Emotion-Aids
to Devotion-Vain Repetitions-True Religion-Effects
of Outward Religion-Spiritual Blindness-Example of
the Jew-Tendency of Error to develop-The Precepts.

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