Atheism. It would be a dreadful thing, the stark denial of a God. To say there is no infinite Mind in finite matter, no order in the universe, in providence only a fate, no God for all, no Father for any, only an inextinguishable nothing, that fills the desert and illimitable ether of space and time, the whence and whither of all that are—such a belief is conceivable; but I do not believe that there is a single Atheist living on the whole round world. There is no general danger of personal, speculative Atheism. When M. Lalande declared that he saw no God through his telescope, though he meant not to deny the real God of nature, the world rang with indignation at an astronomer undevout and mad. But practical, political Atheism has become a common thing in America, in New England. This is not a denial of the essence of God and his being, but of his function as Supreme Ruler of the Church, of the State, of the people, of the universe. Of that there is danger. The devil of Ambition tempts the great man to it; the devil of covetousness, the little man. Both strike hands, and say, “There is no higher law;” and low men lift up their mean foreheads in the pulpits of America, and say, “It is the voice of a God, and not of a man. There is no higher law.” The greatest understanding of this land, with haughty scorn, has lately said, “The North Mountain is very high, the Blue Ridge higher still, the Alleghanies higher than either; and yet this ‘higher law’ ranges further than an eagle's flight above the highest peaks of the Alleghanies.”[1] The impious taunt was received with “laughter” by men who have long acted on the maxim that there is no law of God, and whose State is impoverished by the attempt to tread His law under foot. I know men in America have looked so long at political economy that they have forgotten political morality, and seem to think politics only national housekeeping, and he the best ruler who buys cheapest and sells dearest. But I confess I am amazed when statesmen forget the lessons of those great men that have gone before us, and built up the social state, whose “deep foundations have been laid with prayer.” What! is there no law above the North Mountain, above the Blue Ridge, higher than
- ↑ Speech at Capon Springs.
