The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal, March, 1880

In this thought‑provoking essay the author turns a critical eye toward the moral frameworks that have shaped societies apart from Christianity. By surveying the philosophies of figures such as Bolingbroke, Hobbes, Rousseau and Shaftesbury, the work highlights the limits of secular reasoning and the way self‑interest often masquerades as virtue. The discussion is anchored in a historical survey of “dark arenas” where humanity has struggled without a divine guide.

Against that backdrop, the writer presents the Bible as a source of a stable, purpose‑driven morality that unites right action, pure motive and a sincere spirit. Drawing on New Testament teachings, the text argues that true virtue cannot rest on convenience or profit alone, but on an obedience to a higher lawgiver. Readers will find a clear, measured case for why the Christian moral vision offers a lasting foundation for personal conscience and social order.