Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-05

disciples OF what he saw so much checked
the progress of christianity. But philoso-
( piers viii, after acknowledging perhaps all
this, tell US, "that there are things in the
bible which they cannot understand or be-
iieve. We'll, but are there not in the great
book or 6ibEe OF the world or universe, ma
ny more things which they dc not, and per-
hars never will be able TO understand, and
yet must know that they do.cXist, and are
not forgeries or lies of priests Watch Of
them had they never seen or heard OF the
properties OF magnetism, electricity, and
lgalvanism would believe that such proper
ties could have any existence, but in the
Imagination Of mailman or a tool But
now they sec and acknowledge their exis-
tcnce, do they understand more of the ma
ture and cause of those properties, than
they do of the miracles which they say
could not be performed. BY the bye, we
must remark, that when they dcny the DOS
sibility of miracles, they must be atheists
since, they deny the power Oh Cod to per-
form any thing contrary to what they CALI
the order OF mature, making what they cal
Hdture, q kind God, but limited by d fated
order of things! But what do these philo-
! spphers know, even respecting themselves j?
DO they comprehend their generation, their
birth, their growth, their organs of sense,
tites, the powers Of taeir mind ? They do
not, andy vet they believe III all these, which
are miracles indeed and do require the
constant agency OF an almighty power for
! their continuance and support. But some
arc shocked at the Partially OF God TO the
Jews, and his cruelty to the Hiriites, Hi
vitcs, and other idolatrous nations and at
indecent immoral examples exhibited in
the old testament; and at the Incredible
things related in both the old and new tes-
lament. a candle; and attentive perusal of
the bible would however, convince these
philosophers, that this partially as they
lStrangely term 1t, was an act Of divine JUS.
bce and mcrcy-:or - what other man than
Abraham, could God with Justice and prci
Prety have communicated his design of
making himself known to mankind, and of
putting 1t INTO their power to be happy both
here and hereafter Abraham's faith rem
tdered him coniessedy the proper instru-
nent in the hands OF his Creator to intro
dncc to the world the Messiah; and MS tie.
scendants stubborn and vicious as they were,
undoubtedly were the only people upon
earth, who could possibly be employed to
hand down to mankind any knowledge of
God, they being the only people who did be-
heve III and worship the true God and
through whom If by mighty signs and won-
ders, II )d's EeiHg and power had not been
manifested, 1t may be doubted whether his
existence might not ct this day been as lit
tic known as it was amongst the Worship
pers of Bell and the Dragon. But as to
partially, the Jews whole history shews,
that they have had no indulgence, when
they deserved none and that like the rest
of the world, they have hou rished OF faded
according to their merit or dement's. They
serve, and they with the whole world should
thank God for it, as living monument OF
the truth OF the scriptures, and of the JUS
ice, mercy, and experimenting providence
of God.
AS to Gods cruelty to the IIittites, &c.
as it is falsely termed, for it might with
more Propriety be called mercy, even to
those nations themselves, to be removed
from the miserable condition in which they
lived, that is, in the constant practice of
eeastly crimes, and mutual assassinations,
and wars--but surely, it was a mercy TO
mankind in general, 20 shew the just iudg-
ment inflicted on idolatrous nations which
had filled up the measure OF their guilt, and
to prevent them from cOrrnpting the Israe-
/ ltes vino were the only worshippers of the
true God then upon earth. Can any phi
iosophers say, that in his sight, which at
one view behOlds the past, the present and
I the future, 1T could be OF any consequence
whether a nation dies individually BY what
they call natural deaths, or, by pesti:ence
and the sword or by deluge, or earth
Iquakes, in Single day Or does it in fact,
make any real difference, to such nation,
every individual OF which must die in few
years, whether it be eztingusaed by slow
and imperccptible means, or by the sword
of Israel? As TO the immoral examples
What are they, but proofs Of the candor
and veracjty Of the sacred writers and H.
iustrious instances Of the fraity of human
nature Of its constant need Of chat divine
support (called by christians Che grace Of
! Cody against the attacks Of the great enc
my of mankind, and demonstrations Of the
mercy and justice Of God His mercy is
conspicuous iii his long suffering and bear
ing with the sins alluded to; and his ms.
tice, IS displayed in punishing many ofthem
in their own way. As in the cases Of Ia
cob's deception Of his father; OF his sons
cruelty to their brother Joseph and Of
| Dnvid's adultery, and his cruelty to Uriab.
who cannot see that Laban amply nm.
ished Jacob, in his own wav-thqt L.
| cob besides all this, suffered enough for
/ ell his sins, in the misfoTtuncs of his "a.
rnily, IN his own misery, on accoupt of the
supposed death of his Beloved Ioeevh and
lastly, IN dying a dependant ON the fsvors
{ Of q 4~.,nic-f, ppinre a., Ig1IoAz.. $500