Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-07


more, took place in my religious notions. u
biged to support myself chiefly by my pen, &
anxious at the same time to acquire some bran
ches of learning which Spanish education me-
elects, my days and nights were employed IN
study: yet religion had daily some share OF my
attention. learnt that the author OF the Ma
tural Theology had also written work on the
Evidences OF Christianity, and curiosity lead me
to read it. His arguments appeared TO me very
strong; but found an intrinsic incredibility in
the facts of revealed history, which no general
evidence seemed able to remove. | was indeed
labouring under what | believe to be very
common error in this matter-an error which
have not been able completely to correct, with
out very long study Of the subject and my
self | expected that general evidence would
remove the natural inverisnnitude OF mracu-
lous events that, being convinced by unanswer-
able arguments that Christ and his disciples
could be neither impostors nor enthusiasts, and
that the narrative of their ministry is genuine
and true, the imagination would not shrink
from forms Of things so dssimilar to its own
representations Of real objects, and so conform
able in appearance with the tricks of jugglers
and impostors. Now the fact is, that probable
and likely, though used as SYNONYMOUS in com
mon language, are perfectly distinct in philo-
sophy. The probable is that for the reality Of
which we can alege some reason: the likely,
that which bears in its face semblance or an
alogy to what is cassed in our minds under the
predicament Of existence. This association is
made early in life among Christians, in favour
of the miraculous events recorded in The Holy
Scriptures; and il not broken by nfdelty in al
| ter-life, the study of the Gospel evidence gives
those n charar nf alitv which leaves
the mind satisfied and at rest, because it finds
the history of revealed religion not only proba-
BILE but likely. 1t is much otherwise with man
who re ects the Gospel for considerable pc
riod, and accustoms his mind to rank the super
natural works recorded by Revelation, with
falsehood * imposture. Likelihood in this case,
becomes the strongest ground of unbelief; and
probability, though it may convince the under
standing, has but little influence over the ina
gination.
"a sceptic who yields to the powerful proofs
of Revelation, will, for long time experience
most painful discorcance between his judgment
and the associations which unbelief has produ
ced. When most earnest in the contemplation
of christian truth, when endeavouring to bring
home its comforts to the heart, the imagination
will suddenly revolt, and cast the whole, az
sweep, among the rejected notions This is,
indeed, natural consequence OF lnhdellty,
which mere reasoning is not able to remove.
Nothing but humble prayer can indeed. obtain
that faith which, when reason and sound Jddg-
ment have led US to supernatural truth, gives
10 unseen things the body and substance OF re-
atty But of this shall have reason 10 speak
again.
1.-The degree Of conviction produced by Pa
ley'sEv licences was, however, sufficiently power
full 10 make me pray daily for divine assistance.
This was done in very simple manner. Eve
ry morning l repeated the Lords Prayer seri
ously and a,,entively, offering up to my Maker
sincere desire of the knowledge of him This |
practice continued three years. my persuasion
that christianity was not one aud the same thing
with the Roman Catholic religion, growing
stronger all the while. As my rejection OF re-
veaed religion had been the effect not ofdirect
objection to It's evidences, but of weighing Ten !
cts against them, which they were not intended |
support; the balance inclined in favor OF the
truth of the gospel, in proportion as | struck
out dogmas, which had been taught to identi |
fy with the doctrines of Christ. The day ar
rived at length, when convinced of the substan !
tial truth Of christianity, no question remained
before me, but that of choosing the form under
which was to profess it. The celebration
which preceded this choice was one ofno great
difficulty to me. The points Of difference be-
tween the churches of England and Rome, tho
important, are comparatively few: they were,
besides, the very points which had produced
my general unbelef That he doctrines COM
mon to both churches were found in the Scrip
lures, my early studies and professional know
ledge, left me no room TO doubt; and as the
Evidences of Revelation had brought me 10 &C
knowledge the authority of the Scriptures,
could find no objection to the resumption OF
,enets which had SO long possessed nv belief
The communion in which | was inclined to
procure admission was not, indeed, that in |
which was educated; but had so long wan
dered awav from the Roman fold, that, when
approaching the church Of England, both the
absence of what hal driven me from Catholi- !
cism. and the existence of all the other parts
of that system, made me feel as fI were return
ing to the repaired home of my youth.
"Upon receiving the sacrament for the first
time according 10 the form of the English
church, my early feelings of devotion revived;
vet, by no means, as it might be feared in
common case, with some secret leaning 10
L. T b,d loft. for T. AZ h0licjSm WAS thOrouph h |