Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-16
rex 7YlA rIRGLN1A xRG US.
7Ae 7raveacr's Journal, Continued from err
w iuaI. 80


but once take the trouble to do their duty ::
,ka is, would bu, instruct the children, pu-
pilsand students( accordng tn their respec
tive capacisiss1 in the PRINCIPLES OF ihe
christian religion. and teach theta how 10
answer the sophis,ical ohlechoos OF hs
nemirS. ! 90 not mean added me- '.a'
they should teach them how 10 eeie"u .ne
various tAneis, oil the various secss "hch
have arisen, and made coninsion ~ tha'
heeu,iiul aud simple system, bnt how to
defend The IosFEL as 1t stands uncor-
runted by blind zeal or pious fraud. A
mere child might be taught 10 consound
tie philosophical in6deis as Jesus didthe
Jewish Dociors. A child might say TO
that Hume whom YOU lately describedt To
me, or to the iniidsi philosophers OF sno-
Their country, why do you wish To rob me
az that delightful assurance of happiness
in future s,s.e, when real and lasting
pleasures cannot he found in this and
ihoee checks o;i those unruly passions
by which can see already, mankind are
often plunged into crimes and misery;
and at TIC same time not only leave mein
a statc nf miserable uncertainty bnt,if
abantan The principles which my beneyo-
lent pareuiS have labored 10 mcuica,e en-
my hear, and you should be mistaken,
may be unhappy bo,h here and hereafter !!
WIN YOU demonstrate that my parents are
mistaken and If go, will you then lay be-
fore mea Setter role os life. with stronger
Inducements TO practise IL! If you cannot
do buth, shall call you shoftsighted,
unhappy, Infatuated mortal, unworthy Of
the name of philosopher, and TT only
To- be raiNsci aInoaGst the greatest enc
mics OF Tie human race!
A school hoy might tell Hume, you
would have nle doubt the truth of every
thing blt Of your own assertions; end by
your profound reasoning as YOU call il, you
would reesca me ou. IT my sens.sJ and
by Kind ofunin,eiigible jargon, sort OF
N taahys ieaL LEG ARps MAis,y"u sndeas''r
To get rid Ct both natural and revealed re-
ligioh.-- Believe ne sir, you ave bit a
mere iugSler, and not worthy >o''nntice.
Al lhGt iias any appearance OF soileny in
your objections 10 christianity, have been
obIecledisy others, and answered long be-
fore YOU were borD
And every student or naturalapd moral
philosophy might expose and iaughsI the
bungling systems ol,be deis,ical and athe-
is,icsl na,uraiisis /; and the taseless ishrics
of deislical morality For have heard
OF Buttons and DatwiD's theories, which,
ire indeed, mote like ne dreams oil a sick
man, lhsn the opinions OF philosophers
And as to The de;sss system of morality,
how far does Il fall saott Of that which
CIHsttaught : And on what foundation
does it strand Not on any thing firmer
thaa cenieeurc, supported by long trains
of arguments, uninteiiigibie 10 men OF
common understanding, or the greater
pari of mankind /; and having no higher
authority, than that which eau be derived
trdm the mere opinion OF hurt:sighted
f niblS men. Nhilst Christianity anno, N.
ces laws enaeled by the all-wise omnipo-
tent sovereign of the universe, aud pre-
ccpis az such tianscendant excellence. as
To carry on The face Of them thcir divine
original: Holding tut ~ the same time,
The bigbest possible Inducements TO OBJ
serrc tbs o.; enforcing their observance
by every motive which can most power
fully Influence The hear; Of man. The phi
losoplers can1ot ,tyere sdfisfoc oriiy, eveR
he crisfree NJ God; for many Of them
ere atheists. They can only conjecture
tia The soul is immortal, and will there
fore exist in sorae sort, in future state.
Bot Christians relying on the declaration
Of the palriarchs and prophets, add the.
word of Christ know that there is God
of Infinite power, wisdom, goodness and
justice, and whose poys are unsearohabIe
bm ,hat he will in iirne be justified in
all his ways, and every mouth shall be
stopped :" they knoqD that heir souls are
irnnoyisi, and hat there viii be day Of
ipdemen', in which righteous sentence
eiIl DC l:ssed on al mankind; by thai
m,reifu Judge, who knows how TO allow
for the;r iraiit cs, and whopTayed for the
forgiveness Of his enemies, and even OIL
those, who barbarously crucifed him.
The dcist can only @fhose that he may
exist hereafter; the Chdstian relies on
the word Of Con that he shall live aud
be happy to all eternity The former,
doa6fs, whether as he may die and fc- !
yish hkta BR.5S7, he ought not 10 I've |
IKE me BE.lSTS--the Ia'et knows, that
as he is fam0rfoi, and Is to spend al
eternity amongst pure and celestial Beings,
he ought +" 70 &c hurc ~ they are flreY
and prepared for Tic enjoyment Of the in.
telleetual pleasures Of spiritual Beings