A family, race, or nation starts out fresh in its youthful physical and mental vigor and strict obedience to moral law and in its faith in God.  For these reasons it survives in the struggle for existence.  It grows in extent and power, in intelligence and wealth.  But with this increase in wealth and power comes a deadening of the mind to the claims of moral law, and an idolatrous worship of material prosperity.  The new generation looks upon the stern morality and industry and self-control of its ancestors as straight-laced and narrow.  Morality may not be unfashionable, but any stern rebuke of immorality is not conventional.  Strong moral earnestness and whole-souled loyalty to truth are not in good form.  Wealth and social position become the chief ends of men’s efforts, and, to buy these, unselfishness and truth and self-respect are bartered away.  Luxury, enervation, and effeminacy are rife, and snobbery follows close behind them.  The ancestral vigor, the insight to recognize great moral principles, and the power to gladly hazard all in their defence have disappeared in a mist of indifference, which beclouds the eyes and benumbs all the powers.  The race of giants is dwindling into dwarfs.  They say, when the time comes, we will rouse ourselves and be like our fathers.  And the crisis comes, but they are not equal to it.  The nation has long enough cumbered the ground, it has already died by suicide and must now give place to a race and civilization which has some aim in, and hence right to, existence, and which is of some use to itself and others.  If we would learn by observation, and not by sad experience, we must remember that man is above all, and must be a religious being conforming to the personality of the God manifested in his environment.

Can you find anywhere a more profound or scientific philosophy of history than that of Paul in the first chapter of Romans?  “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; so that they are without excuse:  because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings and their senseless heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness."[A] And then follows the dark picture, from which we revolt but which the ancient historians themselves justify.

  [Footnote A:  Romans i. 20-22, 28.]

On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at Rome is Michel Angelo’s marvellous painting of the creation of Adam.  A human figure of magnificent strength is half-rising from its recumbent posture, as if just awakening to consciousness, and is reaching out its hand to touch the outstretched finger of God.  The human being became and becomes man when, and in proportion as, he puts himself in touch with God, and is inspired with the divine life.  The lower animal conformed mainly to the material in environment, man conforms consciously to the spiritual and personal.