Christianity and Ethics Part 22

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CHAPTER XIV

CONCLUSION--THE PERMANENCE OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS

In bringing to a close our study of Christian Ethics, we repeat that the three dominant notes of the Christian Ideal are--Absoluteness, Inwardness, and Universality. The Gospel claims to be supreme in life and morals. The uniqueness and originality of the Ethics of Christianity are to be sought, however, not so much in the range of its practical application as in the unfolding of an ideal which is at once the power and pattern of the new life. That ideal is Christ in whom the perfect life is disclosed, and through whom the power for its realisation is communicated. Life is a force, and character a growth arising in and expanding from a hidden seed. Hence in Christian Ethics apathy and pa.s.sivity, and even asceticism and quietism, which occupy an important place in the moral systems of Buddha and Neo-Platonism, in mediaeval Catholicism and the teaching of Tolstoy, play only a subsidiary part, and are but preparatory stages towards the realisation of a fuller life. On the contrary all is life, energy, and unceasing endeavour. 'I am come that ye may have life, and that ye may have it more abundantly.'

There is no finality in Christian Ethics. It is not a mechanical and completed code. The Ethic of the New Testament, just because it has its spring in the living Christ, is an inexhaustible fountain of life.

'True Christianity,' says Edward Caird, 'is not something which was published in Palestine, and which has been handed down by a dead tradition ever since; it is a living and growing {246} spirit, and learns the lessons of history, and is ever manifesting new powers and leading on to new truths.'

The teaching of Jesus is not merely temporary or local. It is an utter perversion of the Gospels to make the eschatology present in them the master-key to their meaning, or to derive the ethical ideal from the utterances which antic.i.p.ate an abrupt and immediate end. Jesus spoke indeed the language of His time and race, and often clothed His spiritual purpose in the form of national expectation. But to base His moral maxims on an 'Interim-Ethic' adapted to a transitory world is to 'distort the perspective of His teaching, and to rob it of its unity and insight.' On the contrary, the Ethics of Jesus are everywhere characterised by adaptability, universality, and permanence, and in His att.i.tude to the great problems of life there is a serenity and sympathy which has nothing in common with the nervous and excited expectation of sudden catastrophe.

In like manner it is a misinterpretation of the teaching of Jesus to represent asceticism as the last word of Christian Ethics.

Renunciation and unworldliness are undoubtedly frequently commended in the New Testament, but they are urged not as ends in themselves but as means to a fuller self-realisation. Such was not the habitual temper and tone of Jesus in His relations to the world, nor was the ultimate purpose of His mission to create a type of manhood whose perfection lay in withdrawal from the interests and obligations of life. 'To single out a teaching of non-resistance as the core of the Gospels, to retreat from social obligations in the name of one who gladly shared them and was called a friend of wine-bibbers and publicans--all this, however heroic it may be, is not only an impracticable discipleship but a historical perversion. It mistakes the occasionalism of the Gospels for universalism.'[1]

Finally, there are many details of modern social well-being with which the New Testament does not deal, questions of present-day ethics and economics which cannot be decided by a direct reference to chapter and {247} verse, either of the Gospels or Epistles. The problems of life shift with the shifting years, but the nature of life remains unchanged, and responds to the life and the spirit of Him who was, and remains down the ages, the Light of men. The individual virtues of humility, purity of heart, and self-sacrifice are not evanescent, but are now and always the pillars of Christian Ethics; while the great principles of human solidarity, of brotherhood and equality in Christ, of freedom, of love, and service; the New Testament teachings concerning the family, the State, and the kingdom of G.o.d; our Lord's precepts with regard to the sacredness of the body and the soul, the duty of work, the stewardship of wealth, and the accountability to G.o.d for life with its variety of gifts and tasks--contain the germ and potency of all personal and social transformation and renewal.

[1] Prof. Peabody, _Harvard Theological Review_, May 1913.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

A.--GENERAL WORKS ON ETHICS

I. ENGLISH WORKS

1. _Early Idealism and Intuitionalism_.

Hobbes, 1650; Mandeville, 1714; Cudworth, 1688; c.u.mberland, 1672; Sam.

Clarke, 1704; Shaftesbury, 1713; Butler, 1729; Hutchison, 1756; Adam Smith, 1759; R. Price, 1757; Thom. Reid, 1793; Dugald Stewart, 1793; W.

Whewell, 1848; H. Calderwood, _Handbook of Mor. Phil._, 1872; Martineau, _Types of Ethical Theory_, 1886; Laurie, _Ethics_, 1885; N.

Porter, _Elements of Moral Science_, 1885.

2. _Utilitarianism_.

Locke, _Concerning Human Understanding_, 1690; Hartley, _Observations on Man_, 1748; Hume, _Enquiry Concerning Principles of Morals_, 1751; _Essays_, 1742; Paley, _Principles of Mor. and Political Phil._, 1785; Bentham, _Introd. to Principles of Morals and Legislation_, 1789; Jas.

Mill, _a.n.a.lysis of the Human Mind_, 1829; J. S. Mill, _Utilitarianism_, 1863; A. Bain, _Mental and Moral Science_, 1868; _Mind and Body_, 1876; H. Sidgwick, _Methods of Ethics_ (6th ed.), 1901; Shadworth Hodgson, _Theory of Practice_, 1870; T. Fowler, _Progressive Morality_, 1884; Grote, _Examination of Utilitarian Ethics_, 1870.

3. _Evolutionary Ethics_.

Chas. Darwin, _Descent of Man_, 1871; Herbert Spencer, _Principles of Ethics_ and _Data of Ethics_, 1879; W. K. Clifford, _Lectures and Essays_, 1879; Leslie Stephen, _Science of Ethics_, 1882; S. Alexander, _Moral Order and Progress_, 1889; Shurman, _Ethical Import of Darwinism_; Huxley, _Evolution and Ethics_; Hobhouse, _Morals in Evolution_ (2 vols.), 1906; Westermarck, _Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas_, 1909.

4. _Modern Idealism_.

T. H. Green, _Proleg. to Ethics_, 1883; F. H. Bradley, _Ethical Studies_, 1876; _Appearance and Reality_, 1893; E. Caird, _Crit. Phil.

of Kant_, 1890; _Evolution of Religion_, 1903; W. R. Sorley, _Ethics of Naturalism_, 1885; _Recent Tendencies in Ethics_, 1904; _The Moral Life_, 1912; W. L. Courtney, _Constructive Ethics_, 1886; J. S.

Mackenzie, _Introd. to Social Philos._, 1890; _Manual of Ethics_ (4th ed.), 1900; W. Wallace, _Lectures and Essays_, 1898; Muirhead, _Elements of Ethics_, 1892; Rashdall, _Theory of Good and Evil_; Boyce Gibson, _A Philos. Introd. to Ethics_, 1904; Ward, _Kingdom of Ends_ (Gifford Lect.), 1910; Bosanquet, _Principles of Individuality and Value_, 1912; _Value and Destiny of the Individual_ (Gifford Lects.), 1913; _Psychology of the Moral Self_; D'Arcy, _Short Study of Ethics_; W. Arthur, _Physical and Moral Law_; Jas. Seth, _Study of Ethical Principles_ (11th ed.), 1910; Ryland, _Manual of Ethics_; G. E. Moore, _Principia Ethica_, 1903; _Ethics_ (Home Univ. Lib.), 1912; MacCunn, _Making of Character_, 1905; _Ethics of Citizenship_, 1907; _Six Radical Thinkers_, 1907; Bowne, _Principles of Ethics; Immanence of G.o.d_, 1906; Dewey, _Outlines of a Crit. Theory of Ethics_, 1891; Harris, _Moral Evolution_; Hyslop, _Elements of Ethics_, 1895; Mezes, _Ethics, Descriptive and Explanatory_, 1901; Royce, _Religious Aspects of Philosophy; Philosophy of Loyalty_, 1908; Taylor, _Problem of Conduct_; Rand, _The Cla.s.sical Moralists_ (Selections), 1910.

II. FOREIGN WORKS

Kant's works, specially _Metaphysics of Ethics_, trans. by T. K.

Abbott, under t.i.tle, _Kant's Theory of Ethics_ (3rd ed.), 1883; Fichte, _Science of Ethics_ (trans.), 1907; _Science of Rights_ (trans.); _Popular Works_ (2 vols.); _Vocation of Man_, etc.; Hegel, _Philosophy of Right_, trans. by S. W. Dyde, 1896; Lotze, _Practical Philosophy, _1890; Paulsen, _System of Ethics_, trans. by Tufts; Wundt, _Ethics, An Investigation of the Facts and Laws of the Moral Life_ (3 vols.), trans. from 2nd German ed., 1892; Dubois, _The Culture of Justice_; Guyot, _La Morale_; Janet, _Theory of Morals_ (trans.); Nietzsche's _Works_, translated by Oscar Levy (18 vols.); Eucken, _The Problem of Human Life_, 1912; _Life's Basis and Life's Ideal_, 1912; _Meaning and Value of Life_, 1912; _Main Current of Modern Thought_, 1912; _The Life of the Spirit_, 1909; Hensel, _Hauptproblem der Ethik_, 1903; Lipps, _Die Ethischen Grundfragen_, 1899; Natorp, _Social-paedagogik_; Schuppe, _Grundzuge der Ethik_; Wentscher, _Ethik_; Schwarz, _Das Sittliche Leben_; L. Levy-Bruhl, _Ethics and Moral Science_, trans. by Eliz. Lee, 1905; Windelband, _Praludien. uber Willensfreiheit_; Bauch, _Gluckseligkeit und Personlichkeit in der krit. Ethik_; {250} _Sittlichkeit und Kuttur_; Cohen, _Ethik des Reinen Willens_, 1904; Dilthey, _Einleitung in die Geisteswissenschaften_; Ihering, _Der Zweck im Recht_ (2 Bde.), 1886; Cathrein, _Moral. Philosophie_ (2 Bde.), 1904; Tonnies, _Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft_, 1887.

B.--CHRISTIAN ETHICS

I. GENERAL

Harless, _Christl. Ethik_, 1842 (trans.), 1868; Schleiermacher, _Die Christl. Sitte_, 1843; Marheineke, _System d. Christl. Moral_, 1847; Bothe, _Theol. Ethik_, 1845; De Wette, _Lehrbuch d. Christl.

Sittenlehre_, 1853; Ch. F. Schmid, _Christl. Sittenlehre_, 1861; A.

Wuttke, _Handbuch d. Christl. Sittenlehre_, 1861 (trans., 2 vols., J.

P. Lacroix, 1873); F. P. Cobbe, _Religious Duty_, 1864; _Studies Ethical and Social_, 1865; Seeley, _Ecce h.o.m.o_, 1886; Maurice, _Social Morality_, 1872; _Conscience_, 1872; Wade, _Christianity and Morality_, 1876; Hofmann, _Theol. Ethik_, 1878; Lange, _Grundriss d. Christl.

Ethik_, 1878; Martensen, _Christl. Ethik_ (trans., 3 vols.), 1878; Gregory Smith, _Characteristics of Christian Morality_, 1876; O.

Pfleiderer, _Grundriss d. Glaubens und Sittenlehre_, 1880; Luthardt, _Vortrage uber die Moral d. Christenthums_, 1882; S. Leathes, _Foundations of Morality_, 1882; Frank, _System d. Christl.

Sittenlehre_, 1885; Westcott, _Social Aspects of Christianity_, 1887; W. T. Davidson, _The Christian Conscience_, 1888; Balfour, _The Religion of Humanity_, 1888; Maccoll, _Christianity in Relation to Science and Morals_, 1889; Stanton, _Province of Christian Ethics_, 1890; Hughes, _Principles of Natural and Supernatural Morals_, 1890; W.

G. Lilly, _Right and Wrong_, 1890; Bright, _Morality in Doctrine_, 1892; Schultz, _Grundriss d. Evangelischen Ethik_, 1891; Newman Smyth, _Christian Ethics_, 1892; Dowden, _Relation of Christian Ethics to Philos. Ethics_, 1892; Jas. Drummond, _Via, Veritas, Vita_ (Hib.

Lect.), 1894; Jacoby, _Neukstamentliche Ethik_, 1889; Salwitz, _Das Problem d. Ethik_, 1891; Knight, _The Christian Ethic_, 1893; Jas.

Kidd, _Morality and Religion_, 1895; Strong, _Christian Ethics_, 1897; Troeltsch, _Die Christl. Ethik und die heutige Gesellschaft_, 1904; _Die Sociallehren d. Christl. Kirchen u. Gruppen_ (2 vols.), 1912; _Protestantism and Progress_, 1912; Lemme, _Christl. Ethik._ (2 vols.), 1908; Kirn, _Grundriss d. Theol. Ethik_, 1909; _Sitlliche Lebenanschauungen d. Geigenwart_, 1911; Nash, _Ethics and Revelation_; Dobschutz, _The Christian Life in the Primitive Church_; Clark, _The Church and the Changing Order_; Ottley, _Christian Ideas and Ideals_, 1909; Clark Murray, _Handbook of Christian Ethics_, 1908; Henry W.

Clark, _The Christian Method of Ethics_, 1908; Rauschenbusch, _Christianity and the Social Crisis_, 1908; Geo. Matheson, _Landmarks of New Testament Morality_, 1888; J. Smith, _Christian Character and Social Power_; Gladden, _Applied Christianity_; J. R. Campbell, _Christianity and the Social Order_; Coe, _Education in Religion and Morals_; Peile, _The Reproach of the Gospel_; Gottschick, _Ethik_, 1907; W. Schmidt, _Der Kampf um die Sittliche Welt_, 1906; Herrmann, _Ethik_, 1909; _Faith and Morals, Communion of the Christian with G.o.d_; A. E. Balch, _Introduction to the Study of Christian Ethics_; Kirkpatrick, _Christian Character and Conduct_; Church, _Outlines of Christian Character_; Paget, _Christian Character_; Illingworth, _Christian Character; Personality, Human and Divine_; R. Mackintosh, _Christian Ethics_, 1909; Haering, _The Ethics of the Christian Life_ (trans.), 1909; Barbour, _A Philos. Study of Christian Ethics_, 1911; Stubbs, _Christ and Economics_; W. S. Bruce, _Social Aspects of Christian Morality_, 1905; _Formation of Christian Character_; Harper, _Christian Ethics and Social Progress_, 1912; T. C. Hall, _Social Solutions in the Light of Christian Ethics_, 1911.

II. SPECIAL SUBJECTS

1. _Ethics of Jesus_.

Briggs, _Ethical Teaching of Jesus_; P. Brooks, _Influence of Jesus_; Dale, _Laws of Christ for Common Life_; Feddersen, _Jesus und die Socialen Dinge_; Gardner, _Exploratio Evangelica_; Ehrhardt, _Der Grundcharacter d. Ethik Jesu_, 1895; Grimm, _Die Ethik Jesu_, 1903; Peabody, _Jesus Christ and the Christian Character_, 1905; _Jesus Christ and the Social Question_, 1902; _The Approach to the Social Question_, 1909; King, _The Ethics of Jesus_, 1910; _Moral and Social Challenge of our Times_, 1912; Rau, _Die Ethik Jesu_; Stalker, _Imago Christi_, 1888; _The Ethic of Jesus_, 1909; Mathews, _The Social Teaching of Jesus_; Horton, _The Commandments of Jesus_; W. N. Clarke, _The Ideal of Jesus_, 1911.

2. _Teaching of Jesus and Apostles_.

_Works_ of A. B. Bruce; Gilbert, _Revelation of Jesus_; Harnack, _What is Christianity?_ (Das Wesen); _Sayings of Jesus_; Julicher, _Gleichnissreden Jesu_; Denney, _Jesus and the Gospel_, 1909; Latham, _Pastor Pastorum_; Moorhouse, Pullan, Ross, Von Schrenck, Stevens, Swete; Tolstoy, _My Religion_; Wendt, _Lehre Jesu_ (2 ed.), 1901; Weizsacker, _The Apostolic Age_; Hausrath, _History of N. T. Times_; Fairbairn, _Christ in Modern Thought_; D. La Touche, _The Person of Christ in Modern Thought_, 1911; Pfanmuller, _Jesus im Urtheil d.

Jahrhunderte_; Bacon, _Jesus, the Son of G.o.d_; Dalman, _Words of Jesus_; Baur, _Paulinismus_; Bosworth, _Teaching of Jesus and Apostles_; Pfleiderer, _Paulinismus; Primitive Christianity_; Johan-Weiss, _Paul and Jesus_; Gardner, _Relig. Experience of St.

Paul_; Alexander, _Ethics of St. Paul_.

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