Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-16
PRINTED AND runLIsuEp,
DAILY,
= sMowDEN & THORNTON,
THURspAY. .NOvEMBER l6, 1896.
LETTER VIII.

process by which Mr.. White asserts he be-
came member Of the Church OF England. tie
attributes his conversion, in the hrst place,
10 the study of"Pacy's Evidences OF Christi
anity" Bot he informs us. that no reasoning
can remove in6delity, p. %, that nothing ou'
humble prayer can obtain that faith whlchw hen
reason and sound judgment have led us to SUI
pernaturai truth gives TO things unseen the DO
div and substance of reality. Concerning this, to
use his own phrase, we shall have more here
after.
Archdeacon Paley sets out with plain pro-
nosition: That it is only by miracles reVela-
ton can be made, preparatory considerations,
Doy0g 3.-"Now in what way can revelation
be made but by miracles! In none which we are
able TO conceive" If MIR. White was then con-
yer,ed to christianity by archdeacon Paley's
Evidences, he must have Seen convinced OF the
truth Of the miracles BY which the divine mis-
sion of the apostles was attested; and indeed,
the archdeacon has put the proof strongly. But
If Mr.. White had been IN the least degree con-
versant with the history or theology OF his for
mer church, which is ours, he must have plain
" seen that in the two chapters of the archdea-
cons proofs ofhis second proposition part |. he
was guilty of great number OF palpably false
statements; and i, was only by supposing the
truth of those untrue statements, he was able
70 prevent the full force of his evidences in sup
Dor, Of christianity, from becoming proofs OF
the exclusive truth OF catholicism. Here Mr..
While must have been either very Ignorant OF
what he ought TO know, or il is perfectly I'M
possible that he could, through Doctor Paley's
{ r, licences. have become christian without be-
Coming Roman catholic. / do not think his
Ignorance is so great as this would require, &
therefore am Of opinion that to this moment
Mr. White is not believer In the truth OF the
christian religion.
Doclor Palty having III his first proposition
established the fact, that miracles were wrought
10 attest the commission of the teachers OF
christianity, and having in his preparatory con-
siderations, admitted the principle, that it is
only by miracles we can obtain revelation: 1t
followed as matter Of course; that the first
teachers were commissioned to tell mankind
what those revealed doctrines were. Ii also in
evitably followed that wherever miracle was
proved TO exist, the consequence would be the
same Thus the great difficulty which Paley
had to encounter presented itself In the fact
that the doctrines of Popery as he was pleased
to call them, we're supported by the very same
evidence by which he established the truth OF
chris,iani,y And unul he could get rid OF this
difficulty, Popery and Christianity must stand
or fall together. From the earliest days OF the
church. and through every age, Roman catho-
lies have constantly adfuced this proof We
shall exhibit in our church, miracles, the author
ofour religion has declared that miracles ,couid
continue amongst the 6eIierers IN his revelation;
therefore either the whole system OF christiani-
~ is delusion: or we are the true believers.
The Archdeacon takes the most compendi-
Gus mode Of evading the difficulty; for he never
allutes to the declaration, and he boldly denies
the truth Of the fact. Now If MIR. White had
maid the least attention 10 his theological stud
les. he must have seen that the facts which
-archdeacon Paley denied were in several instan-
ces true. and that those whose truth might be
denied had no influence or bearing on the ques-
lion at issue. shall exhibit to you those parts
of Paley's dissertation TO which allude.
Par, I. prop. H. sec. l. He states that he may
omit as unworthy OF examination so far as re-
cards proof Of doctrine "such accounts of SUI
perna,ural events as are found only in histories
by some ages posterior TO the transaction, and
Of which il is evident the historian could know
little more than his reader" With this prin-
chile fully concur-Amongst the exemphh
scations, he classes ga great part of the legenda
nv history of Popish saints, the very best attest
ed Of which is extracted from the certificates
that are exhibited during the process of their
C anonization, a ceremony which seldom takes
place till century after their deaths" This
is properly divisibe into two parts, lst, his
general propositions: . great part OF the legen-
Diary history of Popish saints has been writ
ten long after they died: and Cd, sihe best attest
ed miracles OF those saints is extracted from GER
ti6cates exhibited at .heir canonizaton, which
seldom takes place till after the lapse OF a CEN
tury" Suppose were to grant the truth Of
his FIRST proposition lis extent is only 10 great
part but not TO the ,ohole of this legendary histo-
ry. Now if even any part OF the history of mi
races is true, il is troe that miracles have been
wrough, in the Popish church, and therefore
Popery stands upon the same grounds so far as
regards miracles, as does christianity ITSELF
+ he archdeacon's argument will be perfectly
vaIueless ii he admits even one substantial mi
race for Popery; because if one miracle can be
wrought in support Of error, miracle ceases to
be infallible test Of truth; if miracle be not
an infalible evidence Of truth, we have no GER
sainty of the christian doctrine being divine
revelation: the archdeacon dared not to assert