Chapter 53

(I would like to take a break from writing philosophy, as it is extremely difficult and time consuming to think out. Here is a nice chapter written in very relaxed language to express some important views in theology)

According to the great theologians, the cardinal (which is a theological term meaning “important” or “key”) virtues for everyone are prudence (using practical common sense to think out what you are doing), temperance (going the right length with your pleasures), justice (fairness to others), and fortitude (strength of mind that enables you to endure pain or encounter danger). If we seek to grow spiritually, we must pursue these virtues and ask for God’s help.

Your biological life was derived from your parents, and so in a sense, you are only maintaining a life that was given to you. If you do not feed your body, or in some way neglect its upkeep, it will wither away. In the same way, your spirit life was given to you by God, and so you are only maintaining a spirit life that was freely given to you. If you do not manage your spirit life, it will also wither away and become unproductive and barren. When it comes to living a life in loving obedience to moral principles (or virtues), everyone needs to be reminded far more often than they need to be instructed. At base, most of us know what we should do; we just have difficulty doing it.

If we know there is a moral government over men, it follows there must be a Moral Ruler to administer that government, and of course that ruler is God. Moral laws are given to regulate the conduct of men in their relations both to God and to one other. And coming from so high a source (nothing is higher than God), we may feel confident they would be in perfect harmony with the eternal principles of right, that have their basis in the nature of God, and their expression in the revelation of His will, and their authority in His absolute sovereignty. From all this, we may know that morality is clothed with the infinite authority that belongs to the Sovereign Ruler of the universe.