DOTRINES OF MITIGATION AND OF RESERVE

The early fathers' doctrine of "Economy," or "Reserve.: Plato distinctly taught it, and says that error may be used as a medicine. He justifies the use of the medicine. He justifies the use of the "medicinal lie." The resort of the early fathers to the esoteric is no doubt derived from Plato. Origen almost quotes him when he says that sometimes fictitious threats are necessary to secure obedience, as when Solon had purposely given imperfect laws. Many, in and out of the church, held that the wise possessor of truth might hold it in secret, when its impartation to the ignorant would seem to be fraught with danger, and that error might be properly substituted. The object was to save "Christians of the simpler sort" from waters too deep for them! It is possible to defend the practice if it be taken to represent the method of a skillful teacher, who will not confuse the learner with principles beyond his comprehension. Gieseler remarks that "the Alexandrians regarded a certain accommodation as necessary, which ventures to make use even of falsehood for the attainment of a good end; nay, which was even obliged to do so." Neander declares that "the Orientals, according to their theory of oeconomy, allowed themselves many liberties not liberties not to be reconciled with the strict laws of veracity." Some of the fathers who had achieved a faith in Universalism, were influenced by the mischievous notion that it was to be held esoterically, cherished in secret, or only communicated to the chosen few, withheld from the multitude, who would not appreciate it, and even that the opposite error would, with some sinners, be more beneficial than the truth!