Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-02
ron rHE nAnrIsssURo oAzErrR.
DIFFICULTIES Of EvFIDELITY,

n principle oil tue sTS""O"s WV"
is prosecuted in this work, is the reduc-
lilo adj 4bsurdun. By a specification of
the immense aud insuperabIe difficulties
which on all sides beset his system, the
deistical in6del even on ground OF his
own selection, is convicted of gross ir-
nationality. If we ask the specific ground
on which the Deistical system is prefer
red, we are told the religion of the BIZ
bic is hampered by two many difficulties
to be nationally credible: and these DIFF
culties are brought forth and expatiated
upon with no small degree of triumphant
satisfaction.
The foIlowingis a brief r~ecapitulation
of the difficulties in question:
l. The grounds and reasons of In.
fidelity, when fairly examined in six
several points, involve such an extra
ordinary mass of contradictions, that
in truth it is more easy to admit than
to deny the existence ola divine reve
lation. For a revelation from heaven
is neither, in the nature of things, ab
stractedIy impossible; nor is il so i'm
probable an occurrence as to beggar all
credibility; nor are the evidences for
such a revelation so weak and unsatis
factory, that they are insufficient TO
command our reasonable assent; nor
are the objections and difficulties such,
that they cannot be removed; nor is
there any solid foundation for the crude
fancy, that, because some theological
systems are acknowledged imposiures,
therefore, every theological system is
a mere human fabrication; nor yet is
Que unasslsted reason SO potent, as to
exclude the very necessity of a divine
revelation. On none Of these points
are the arguments of Infdellty conclu
sive and satisfactory: on the contrary,
they are vague, illogical, and INSULT
cient.
q Infdeity, when not degraded
toto absolute british atheism, special
ly, claims to itself the appellation Of
Deism. Yet without the aid Of reve
%Iation, we cannot clearly demonstrate
or certainly know, even so much as
that there is no more than one God:
and, if, for the sake of argument, the
unity of the Godhead be conceded to
the in6del, he will still be unable pc
%sitively TO develope and firmly to es
tablish the moral attributes of the Del
ty. But. to suppose that an infinitely
wise Being (for the wisdom and pow
er of God may be proved by unsssist
ed reason, though his moral attributes
cannot be similarly demonstT ted)
would create a race of intelligent a
gents, and then turn them loose into
the wide world without giving them
the slightest hint as to his will or THEN
duties, is a notion SO fatty contradic
tory to every idea which we can form
of the Supreme Reason, hat II may
justly be said to beggar all ~credibility.
9 Insurmounsable difficulties more.
over repeatedly attend upon Infdeli
ty in regard to historical matters of
fact. An important specimen Of this
mode of reasoning is afforded by the
fact OF the universal deIugc, This
fact, Of necessity, involves such o
sequences, that the infdel must either
in the face of all testimony deny the
fact itself, or he mus, admit that a di.
vine revelation has actually taken
place.
4. Nor do less difficulties attend
upon In6delity in regard to accom-.
plished prophecy. AS a specimen Of
the argument from prophecy, the pre-
sent state Of the Jews may be aptly
selected. The high antiquity of the
prediction respecting them, delivered
by Moses, cannot be controverted:
and its exact accomplishment in the
condition of the house of Judah is a
naked matter of fact, which can Meth
err be denied nor evaded. Now the
denial, that a prophecy thus minutely
fulfilled and still fulfilling, must have
proceeded from the inspiration Of God,
involves a gross absurdity: and the
acknowledgment, that such a prophe.
cy did indeed proceed from the inspi-
ration of God, inevitably Draws after
it the additional acknowledgment that
the Law OF Moses was a divine reye
lation.
5 DipfcuIlies increase unon JneJoI