Adam Smith is typically known for his monumental economic work, The Wealth of Nations (1776). In it, Smith laid the foundations of what is referred to today as Free market economics. His contributions to Laissez-faire are well documented and anyone looking to do things without the control of the State will quickly understand his importance. Understanding self interest is important to functioning without the heavy hand of the State, and Smith paints a great example,
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we
expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.”
What I recently discovered was Smith’s association with Reformed Theology. It isn’t unusual to find somewhat vague quotes from Smith and other Liberals of his day attributing rights, or other things, to God, such as “the great Director of nature,” but seeing someone speak of the “weakness” of man seems to denote a more specific doctrine than a general Deism.
“Every part of nature, when attentively surveyed, equally demonstrates the providential care of its Author, and we admire the wisdom and goodness of God even in the weakness and folly of man.”
Furthermore, stumbling upon this opinion piece by Paul Oslington, I was surprised to see, “In 1751, when taking up his Chair at the University of Glasgow, Smith signed the Calvinist Westminster Confession of Faith before the Glasgow Presbytery, satisfied the University of his orthodoxy, and took the Oath of Faith.”
It’s always encouraging to see the impact of the Gospel on Liberty in the modern age.
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