Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 626

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Defense of an Essay, &c.

Nov.

difference between a spirit and a god. I shall pursue this method as the shortest course leading to the most direct issue. The skin wor- shiped by the Chinese are admitted to be spirits: gods are spirits ; so far we are agreed: the point on which we differ is, are they mere spi- rits, or are they, in addition to being spiritual beings, regarded by the Chinese as something more-as gods? To state the matter logically, we are agreed as to the genus-spirit; but differ as to the species- god. We must therefore inquire, what is the differentia or characte- ristic of the species, for the genus, plus the differentia, gives us the species. In my Essay, I contended that the best mark and distinguish- ing indication of the differentia or characteristic was, “supposed to be a proper object of religious worship." If this be the true characte- ristic, as it is admitted that the shin are spirits, I have only to show that the Chinese regard them as proper objects of worship, to prove that the Chinese shin are gods, and not mere spirits.

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may illustrate the propriety of pursuing this method of proof, viz. Inquiring what is the characteristic difference between a god and a spirit, by taking an analogous case.

If asked the meaning of the word man, I should answer, It is the name of a class of beings.-Qu. What kind of beings, spiritual or what? Ans. A class of animals.—Qu. What kind of animal? Ans. Rational.-Here then, in the words animal and rational, we have reached the characteristics of this class of beings.

man

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If we were contending whether a word in a foreign language should be rendered "

ог animal," the point to which inquiry should be directed would be, Are the animals in question rational or not? It would be beside the mark to inquire whether the word, in the foreign language, corresponded etymologically with Adam (red), -anthropos (to turn the eyes to heaven)—homo (qui ex humo, earth- derived) or man (etymology not known); for the derivation of this word differs in each language above quoted; nor does that of either afford us the slightest hint that our tests would be for genus, animal, or for species rational. To state our parallel: If asked the meaning of the word God, I should answer, That this word is used for purposes so distinct that we must divide its meaning into two classes, viz. propriè and impropriè, and then we shall be prepared to answer in conformity to our case above stated. If asked then, What is the meaning of the word God when used propriè, I answer: It is the name of a spiritual being.-Qu. What kind of spiritual being? Ans. Self-existent, Almighty, &c., &c. If, in the next place, asked the meaning of the word god when used impropriè, Ans. The naine of a class of spirit-