Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-05
Four Dollars Per Annum--paid in Aduance. /.

became from liquid glass, the globe we now
Iinhabit--or, that rs Darwin writes, Vol
canic eruption threw up the sun and stars
cut OF Chaos; aud \ Volcanic eruption of
the sun threw out the earth and other pla-
nets (; and that the earth also in labor threw
out the noon--I say they might have CHI
loved al! this, in their joyous meetings, and
! laughed at such silly fools as am who be-
licvc that GOOD created the heavens and
the earth, and ali things that do exist or
have ever existed"-Thcy might have en-
joyed with certain British Lord the plea
SAINT idea, that men were once monkies, or
~ least went on all fours, and had mon
keys tails; and the consolatory idea, that
| If they should chuse TO live like monkiea,
asses, swine and goats, they shall die like
those beasts, and sleep through the long
night Ok everlasting ages, IS happy IS any
ass or goat which dies-Let them enjoy
these consultations but let them not rob tho
: WIDOW, the orP.lla, the sick, the dying, and
ali chose oftco weak nerves to meet death
/ and humiliation without horror, Of their
/ high hopes, their glorious support under
! al the rerrors Of even death itseif--Let
! tnenhJ discourage the virtu0us, whilst they
eniSoiCen sinners, to stalk forth in wicked
ness spreading misery around, and render
! ing even B0HGfGrte necessary for the Sc
cuiity o. every thing that is valuable in So
| ciety--These phi ophers sh uid recoliect,
that there is but enc step from deisn TO
atheism; that atheism, can produce an
host OF Ro5er&hie'res, and that even one Of
/ these, has produced a Ronuharfe II is
perhaps however more TO their purpose, ~
remind them, that whether men were once
monkies with tails, or not, they are now,
or n least the bulk of banikind are, religi-
Z Gus set OF animals and multitudes of them
are a headstrong kind of oumran outang with
q tail At has head, though he has none at
his other end, and If pushed too far, in fit
OF holy phrcnzy, may force even the phlo-
sopherS to be circumcised, or baptized as
she prevalent sect may chuse. But Imay now
be told, mat after attacking themwith decla-
maticn, / am now trying on them the effect
Of ridicule. And, sir, il they feel for man
kind and their country, as they profess thcy
i do, ought We not TO address their feelings.
when we would dissuade them from propa-
getting opinions, destructive Of human hap
pipess and the liberties Of their country !?
Z Or. as they delight in Iidicu ing christians
! ty, and have supposed ridicule q test Of
truth, can they justly complain if their o.
( pinions are brought 90 their own test! How
arc we to deal with them then Is it to
! any purpose 90 reason with them, If they
l
Barrow, Barclay, a Newton, and Locke?
If YOU press them home with the force. the
! irresistible force Of arguments drawn from
the external evidence of the truth of chris
uani;y, supported by tue internal evidence,
they slip aside, DENYING the authority Of
history, as to the former; and pretending
! as TO the latter, that all that is excellent in
! christianity may be derived from the anci-
! ent philosophers. And when they are told
THAI tiiis, their assertion is false, for no PHI
, iosopher ever did prove, or could prove as
christ did, the certainty Of future state !;
I the dctestable nature of sin the purity,
I justice, and goodness of God-and indeed,
I ] may say, the Being of a God that no
! philosophy taught the forgiveness Of iniu-
ries (not merely seven ti,ncS) as Christ did
until seventy times seven and that chas-
: m, even in thought, (going to the fountain
! head Of our passions) is taught BY Christ
alone, virtue, which If observed Accord
ing to christian purity, would of itself, in
cohceivably, increase both public and do
mesrc happiness. And win add. that the
Character OF Christ. is such, as could not be
drawn, or conceived by any Jew, or Cen
tie, or the wiscst philosopher that ever
lived. As 10 forgiving an injury, the re-
verse was thought, rs il is by modern duel
ists, heroical--and chastity, called by Glib
bon, q snivelling virtue, was as little valu-
ed by the ancient philosophers, IS by him,
the wisest Of whom, has been charged with
sodJmy. Put to return to my assertion, that
no human author could have conceived such
a cbar cter as the gospels give o Christ.
Had any priest Of his day.. or of any time
since. sat down to describe such a person
as they would suppose the Messiah ought
e he, they would have made him consien
THOMAS to perdition for not believing ON
him, as priests have ever done all these
who will not lsclieve their construction of
the scriptures. Instead of representing,
him. as bearing patiently the inGdeity, and
cruelty of the chief priests, and PRAYING to
Cod % forgive them "fither forgive them.
they know not what they do" they would
undoubtedly have represented him, as
cursing them from his cross, and pro-
nounCing their eternal damnatiou. 4 God
alone, could conceive the heavenly idea Of
iorg'ying them, and taking no notice ofthe
malenctor's rcvilings, whilst he poured the
balm Of consolation into the breast of him
who believed aud trusted in him. There
j. no forgery in the gospe! be assured sir
no priestcraft there-Th0nas would have
been damned, and not mildly told "dost
thou believe because thou hast scen?" Bles-
sed are they who believe and have not seen.
The woman taken in adultery would have
beet sentenced by Oh ,.;et +S 10 ;~~.o.,41..