Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 627

1850.

Defense of an Essay, &c.

535

ual beings.—Qu. What kind of spiritual beings? Ans. Spiritual beings, other than the true God, who (whether self-existent or de- pendent) are considered by men proper objects of worship.

Here, as in the case of the word man, we fix upon our characteristics from our knowledge of the two classes we are comparing: the etymo- logy of the word for God, like that of the word for man, in different languages varying so much, and being so uncertain in Hebrew, Greek, and English, that we can derive no help from thence.

The illustration afforded by the word man makes plain the proprie- ty of our calling for the characteristic test between gods and spirits, that our controversy may not degenerate into a mere war of words. Unhappily, on the point before us, we are not so agreed as we should be, with respect to the test to be employed to ascertain whether a given animal was a man or not.

In his "Reply to Dr. Boone" (Vol. XVII. p. 499), Dr. Medhurst says, "Wewould suggest a different definition, viz., The name of the being, or class of beings, to whom the Chinese ascribe the highest attributes. For the following reasons: A god is a being possessed of divine attributes..... •Worship is not necessary to his being or his nature; he may never be worshiped, and yet be God.

"The genus of gods (supposing such a genus to exist) is the class of beings possessed of divine attributes.

"The generic name for God is the name of the class of beings sup- posed to possess divine attributes.

"The attributes possessed by a divine being are in many respects the same in kind with the attributes possessed by other intelligent beings, only differing in degree. Thus intelligent beings in general possess some power, wisdom, goodness, &c., but a divine being or beings must be conceived to possess these attributes in the highest perfection.

"There are some attributes, however, which are peculiar to a di- vine Being or beings, such as the originating and governing of all things.

Religious worship is the ascribing honor to a being or beings possessed of divine attributes; the qualities or the station of the being or beings must first be allowed, before worship can be paid. Hence the possession of attributes is the primary, and the offering of worship the secondary idea of God.”

I am glad to observe that Dr. M. would make attributes-essential attributes, "power, wisdom, goodness, &c.,"-not relationships, the tests of divinity. From his saying, "A divine being or beings must

VOL. XIX. NO. XI.

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