Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-05-15
s. Blu. il !. IS . divine, and excellent

can you reconcile such partial distribu-
ton of go,d with the Justice of the SUI
preme 3e,ny? Impossible.
F. &. do not wish to enter into a
lengthy argument, on the authenticity of
the bib!e---bnt think, your objection has
been sa.isfa slorilp answered in this man.
ner-many ofthe benefits conferredby the
Almighty, are apparently partially distri-
bu,ed, for instance, the fertility, aud other
local advantages, which some countries
possess, so vastly superior to those of o.
thers. This IS perhaps as irreconcileatle
by US, With divine justice, as what you
mention, we, as 10 man would inthe one
case impeach thai justice, SO neither ought
he in the other.
). This Faith has been the cause of ma
ny long, and bloody prosecutions. The
man OF common sensibility views with
horror, on the historic page, the torrents
OF 5iood, which were shed, and the tor.
lures that were inflicted, by the professors
oil a religion. said to be that of charity and
peace--,ortures fully as dreadful, as any in
the Hell, their disordered imarinations
had painted, and which in justice would
have excused the vi aim in the next world,
from all punishment, for any crimes he
had committed in lhis-it has debased and
enervated the mind, it has been an en-
CINE OF state, and it has contributed 10 keep
men in slavery.
&c. The conclusion against the use.
drawn from the abuse, is not fair. The
causex OF the execrahle prosecutions OF
which you speak, were the passions, and
enthusiasm of men, and not the christian
religion ITSELF for no part of il, ipculcates
violence, cruelty, or persecution. but the
reverse otthem. 1t cannot be said TO have
debased, or enervated the mind ;--those
who died martyrs 10 their belief behaved
with an hernlsm * 'ntrepidity, not surpas-
seu.--lfambitlon and cunning have connec.
ted 1t with the stale, Ss strengthen their
! chains, 1T is not chargeahie with the evil,
tort sanctions 20 such policy, il contains
no principles that have tendency to sla-
very The abuse of Religion then, is a
feeble argument against it. AS every
thing among us, islisble TO pervcrson, we
cannot reasonably think that it could, or
will escape the general calamity. As it
was not intended to effect an abolition of
| the law OF nature, it leaves free the human
will, whatever doubts you may entertain
as to some of my positions, presume
you will agree with me, that in this and
in several other countries, it is by no means
inimica! 10 liberty. and that persecution
is far from characterising its professors.
expect too, that you will acknowledge
the purity of Gospel morality.
s. acknowledge that though Socrates,
and some other respectable heather philo-
sophers, before Christ, propagated doc
trBes, similar to his, none of them are
entitled TO more merit, on account oftheir
morality.t
F. c. tits useless my friend, after this
acknowledgment, to converse longer on
The subject. Probably neither of US will be-
come convert 20 the other. think that
| christianity has not tendency to iniure,
add believe that its adyersaries have not
( yet shown and would find il extremely diff.
! HcoIt to show, that subversion Of il, and
| the substitution of another system, would
pro5ably be productive of any good TO
mankind. 1t therefore does not become
philanihropist (even though his opinion
/ be correct) TO attempt the destruction OF
II unless ne can furnish one superior. He
should be satisfied with the fruits of his
own penetration ipation from the
shackles of superstition and imposture, s.
! an understanding refined from the gross
and futile ideas OF vulgarity--and suffer
christians to remain in unmolesied enjoy
rnent Of their faith--a faith, that I know
renders many Of them virtuous members
of society---makes more palatable the Bit
ter ingredients that have been thrown into
the cup Of life--is to many, especially to
the afflicted, source Of consolation, by sof-
tening their miseries here, and containing
a promise of future felicity which whe.
Their it be the offspring Of an absurd forge.
ry acting on weak or deluded judgments,
or the dream of visionarics and enthusi-
asis, is TO them more grateful than all the
profound Investigations, all the beautiful
theories, and all the brilliant discourses OF
philosophy, are to others.
PETRONIUS.
'The ilusirious Montesquieu, whose writings
are so friendly 10 liberty, when near his last mo
rnsn,s, observed TO those who stood around him
q I always paid grea, respe6t to religion The
morality of the gospel is most excellent thing
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