MR. GLADSTONE ON LABOUR'S DEBT TO THE GOSPEL.

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 354, 16 August 1890, Page 7

MR. GLADSTONE ON LABOUR'S DEBT TO THE GOSPEL.

Mr. Gladstone has written an article on the l&bour question expressly for TJoyd's JTeves. Many important points relating to the wellbeing of society are touched on in the art-tole, whioh extends to about two and a Half columns in length. After referring to the N progress of the labouring classes, Mr. QJadetoiie says : — "For the whole of this enormous advance fche basis waa laid, once for all, by the Gospel- This was in its original form and in its continuing purpose the charter <rf human freedom, and tho two modes by whioh it moat conspicuously asserted itself in the arduons process of social regeneration were^ — first, tho gradual elevation of woman, and next the mitigation and oventual abolition of slavery. To thoso who complain that the renovating process bos been uniformly retarded, often ohoquered with painful contrasts, and sometimes evon reversed, I would reply by praying them to remember two things, both of them vital to a just appreciation of the case. The first is that now, as in tho days of the old philosophy, ' the oorruption of tho best thing ia the very worat thing;' fftnd tho deepest niuong. all tlw dyes of human guilt are accordingly those to be found within thp. Christian, pale. The Becond is of wider-- application. Though the Gospel at j its threshold teaches humility and selfrenunciation, yot, under an infallible law, Christianity, by bringing tho mind and life I out of anarchy into order, bogots power ; power begets enjoyment ; enjoyment begets temptation in its thousand forma ; by temptation yielded to, tho spirit is again enslaved j the seven devils find entrance, and the last atnto of man is worse than the first"