The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-04-25
MESCELLA AN Y.
WHERE DID HE GET THAT LAW /?

eminence and talents. / do not know
many particulars of his moral character
but he was notoriously profane. He had
u negro boy, at whom his neighbors used
to hear him swear with awful violence -
One day, this gentleman met an elder of
the Presbyterian Church, who was also
a lawyer, and said to him - ] wish, Sir,
to examine into the truth of the Christian
religion. What books would you aavise
me to read on the evidences Of Christani-
ty !"
The elder surprised n, the inquiry, re-
piled That is a question, Sir, which
you ought to have settled long ago. You
ought not to have put off II subject so im-
po',ant to this late period of liie."
"lt is too late," said the inquirer. "I
never knew much about il but always
supposed, that Christianity was rejected
by the great minority Of learned men
/ intend, however, TO examine the subject
thoroughly myself. have upon me, as
my physician says, q mortal disease, un-
der which l may live year and a hulf
or two years, but not probably longer
What books, Sir, would YOU advise me to
read 70
"Ihe Bible," said tho elder.
"l believe you do not understand me-"
resumed the unbelever, surprised ~ his
turn 81 wish to investigate the TRUTH
of the Bible"
81 would advise you, Sir" repeated
the elder, 'to read the Bible. And" he
continued, 6 will give you my reason {.
Most lnfdels are very ignorant Of the
IN a
. jcct with correctness, we must understand
: what it is about which we reason. In the
next place, l consider the internal evil
dence Of the truth Of the Scriptures
stronger than the external"
Sand where shall l begin - inquired
tho unbelever. " AT the New Issta-
: mept :"
5 "No," said the elder F; at the beginning
--ai Genesisn .-,----
The inhdel bought a commentary, went
home, and sat down to the serious study
4 Of the Scriptures. lie applied oil his
), strong and well-discipIined powers ol
: mind TO the Bible, to try rigidly but i'm.
partially its truth. AS he went ON in the
I perusal, he received SEASONAL calls IRON
the.elder. i he infdel freely remarked
upon what he had read, and stated his
, objections. lie liked this passage, he
! thought that touching and beautiful, but
: he could not credit third.
One evening, the elder called and found
the unbelieyer dt his house or office, walk
ing the room, with detected look, hi,
: mind apparently absorbed in thought. -
He continued, not noticing that any one
had come in, busily to trace and relrace
his steps. The elder at length spoke -
e GU seem, Sir" said he, "to be in a
: brown study. Of what are you think
ingW
! : IL have been reading" replied the In
!, fdel, ''the moral law"
e well, what do you think Of it," asked
3 the elder.
"I will tell you what USED to think, "
answered the lnfdel. 81 supposed that
dnui ; that having u strong mind, he ac-
quired great influence over IA supersttious
people and that on Mount Sinai, he
played off some sort of fireworks, to the
amazement Of his ignorant followers, who
imagined, in their mingled fear aud su-
perstition, that the exhibition was super
Z natural"
"But what do you think now :" inter
posed the elder.
. q have been looking" said the Inf
, del, "uto the nature of that law. l have
been tr, ing to see whether can add any
thing TO it, or take any thing from 1t, So
> as to make it better. Sir, cannot. 1t
. is PERFECT"
/ "The first commandment" continued
+. he, "directs us to make the Creator the
object of our supreme love and rcyer-
ence. That IS right. If he be ocr Gre
ator, Preserver, and supreme Beneiactor,
we ought TO treat him, and none other, as
, such. The second forbids idolatry.--
That certainly is right. The third for
bids proianeness. The fourth fixes a
time for religious worship. Ii there is u
God, he ought surely to be worshipped.-
II is suitable that there should be an out
ward homage, significant Of our inward
regard. II God be worshipped, It is prop
or that some time should DO set apart for
that purpose, when all may worship him,
Ibnrmoniously and without interruption. =
One day IN seven is certainly not to muca;
and | do not know That it is too lii,le.--
The fifth defines the peculiar duties aris-
inp from the family relations. Injuries
to our neighbor are then classified by the
moral law. They are divided into offences
against life, chasty, propertiiy, and char,
Incter. And" soid he, applying legal
Iacu,enoss, "I no'Ice that the greatest Of
fence in each class is expressly 'nrb'dd"n'
Thus the creates, injury to life IS muir
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