Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-02-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
WILSON'S EVIDENCES.

/ holy religion adapted to every capacity. We
take the following extract from near the
conclusion of the hook. It is the authors
recapitulation ofthe discussion which he
had pursued at length.
Let ms now rapidly reUisD the cotTst
orcr lcbich 'rs hare passed IN the present
r9lime. and conclude the consideration Of
/ the crfernal ecidepces Of the Christian
| faith.
/ II viii he recollected, that our design has
! been 20 enable tire Christian. and especial
I " the Young Corstian to ere az ansper
4 to ererr nan that osteH bim q re0s0n 81
EoOe that IS "a hin, nth Neetaess and
fear. With this view. we have endeavor-
Cd 10 combine the historical with the inter
inal evidences, TO give him such infoma-
/ ton as to the external proofs of Christiani-
liz, as may prepare him for those which
spring from the intrinsic eXceliencY of the
gospel, and its holy effects on his heart
land life. We have accordingly, not treat
led the argument absractedly and formal
llv. but as "a matter Of immediate interest
and feeling. We have appealed continual
/ By TO the conscience, and have enforced
each topic with such practical addresses,
as might, by Gods blessing, imprint it on
the inmost soul. We took mp the argu-
.ment on the admissions of natural religion,
and have traced out, step by step, the evil
! dences of the truth and importance Of the
. Christian revelation, as they would be
/ presented to the mind Of a candid and
sincere inquirer. We have not confined
ourselves to simple proofof each point, but
have aimed at exhibiting the accumulated
/ force ofthe respective testimonies, so as to
Iaugmenta and deepen the impression Of the
unuterable value of the Christian religion,
land the immense obligation under which
every one lies, TO receive and obey it.
Ia the present volume, we have gone
through the proofs of the authenticity;
credibiity, divine authority, and complete
inspiration of the sacred books; reservlng
. tie consideration of the internal evidence
( for another occasion.
Previously 20 our entering upon these
topics. we considered The temper Of mind
6n which the question should be studied;
land showed that some measure Of docility
iaud willingness to examine the question
with fairness; Of eamestness in the pursuit;
ofprayer to God; and of a practical ODE
dience 10 truth, so far as it was known
were essentially necessary, and might be
most reasonably required. Ii appeared.
however. that In intidels, whether we looked
40 the literary the careless, or the low and
.uneducated classes, this tember was go
entirely wanting, that their impiety, mocke-
'ry of an religion, debasug principles oil
morals, and general seif-concet and i'm
morality, sufficiently proved the badness
.of their cause.
The necessities of mankind next engaged
our attention, and we found that the
Heather nations before the coming Of
. Christ, were plunged intOamo fearful gull
F. of ignorance, idolatry, vice s. misery, with
nothing TO recall them to the knowledge OF
the true religion-wit50m hope, and ,citb-
oa God ia The icorH We saw moreover,
/ that the superior light of Deists in Chris.
tan countries, was borrowed from the very
Christianity which they reject-that the
Pagan nations now are IN precisely the
same state of misery and darkness. as
those before the coming Of Christ; and that
1.-The condition of Christian countries, in
proportion as the Christian religion is
inadeouately known aud Obeyed, confirms
every other argument in favor of revela-
Iuon from God, ifman was ever to be raised
( from state Of hopeless degradation, blind
mess, aud woe.
These points, preliminary as they are,
{ were sufficient 10 settle the whole question
with a sincere mind. The necessities OF
man addressed such a cry Of misery to the
| Father of mercles; and the want Of all re-
he.ous feeling in the opponents Of revela-
tion. so betrayed the wretched motives OF
lunbelef, that any one takingup the Bible,
aud seeing the adequate and complete
remedy which it proposes for human guilt,
might be convinced Of lis divine original;
and would be led from the very temper o.
piety and teachableuess which we have
supposed him to possess, to acquIesce at
once ln a revelation which meets all the
wants of a ruined world.
But we proceeded, in the next place. to
co1siderthe arguments for the authenticity
of the books OF The New Testament, and
we first illustrated the manner in which
ancient books are proved every day, to be
Iho real and undoubted productions Of their
Drofessed authors, namely, by testimony
traced up from age TO age and recorded IN
undoubted memorials, and public writings,
( an we arrive at the book sought. And We
showed. that it was morally impossible that