Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-04-28

darkness rather than light, because their
deeds are evil, but every one who hear
eth me cometh to the light" And for
nv part declare would not hold for one
hour, any doctrine which, so far from be-
ing injured by open and public investiga-
ton, would not be benefited by it; and .
trust in God much good will result from
this open investigation of truth and false
hood.
The following are Mr. Sleigh's PROPOSE
tons, and recapitulation for the first eve
ming. The intervening argument occu-
pies about seventeen pages, and is most
conclusive and finished:
My first position is, that man IS incnpa-
bic from his rery nature Of correctly 0p-
prcciating the eoays Of Omntp otence.-
This position is based on the declaration
of Scripture, that His" Nhe Omnipotent
One) judgments are unsearchable, and
His ways past finding out" My second
position is, that the uni form experience Of
mankind IN all ages process, beyond all
possibility Of doubt, that m0n does not
possess 2my ability or intultire principle
By aoh1ch hei capable Of correctly hmoa0-
ing tohat is really right and really 'or0ng:
that is, By a0hicA he can ascertain the true
principle Of genuine morality This po-
sition is founded on the scripture which
says 'the way of man is not in himself
it is not in man that WaIketh to direct his
steps" My third position is, that dis
bellering things because they appear to us
contrary 10 experience, or TO achGt zee call
the la1cS Of nature, as both fall0ciouS and
absurd-"1He ecorld by a01sdom knea0 not
God."
The reply of Mr. Purser, the champion
of infdeIity, who followed, commences in
embarrassment and ends in confusion If
there were any beginning or end to it, we
) would give a sketch or an extract, but it
consists principally in Measurements and
; misrepresentation of Mr. Sleigh's argu-
, ments.
Having now gone through the examin
alton and proof ofmy three propositions,
> shall briefly recapitulate each ofthem, anc
state the inevitable deductions from each
d First Iaver, | have shown that capa
a bility ofcorrectly Judging or approaching
& any action, object, or thing, is in proper
y ton to- the extent of our knowledge of thu
l. action or thing, to he Judged or apprecia
V ted and that as man knows little or moth
# ing, omparitively speaking, Of the way
and works of the Creator; he is thereb,
y totally incapable of correctly approaching
His acts and ways: therefore, that attempt
v ing to ascertain whether book contain
His revelation, by Judging of His way
and acts (ofwhich have proved we kno.
little or nothing,) as therein recorded,
r both fallacious and absurd.
j. Secondly | have shown that the uni
form experience Of mankind, in all ages
n, the world up to the present day-in a
he parts ofthe world-in all classes Of mel
he philosophers and barbarians, civilized an
81 uncivilized-ric and poor, &c. prove
RI. incontrovertiblv, that man does not po
i'll sess any intuitive principle, by which he
nd capable of correct Y ascertaining what
b. really right, and really wrong, (for, d
N, any such principle ever exist, all mankir
d. would not have been divided on what
a. moral or immoral:) therefore the absolut
to necessity ola direct revelation from II
~ Creator, to inform man what is good, ar
re- what is bad, is apparent
al Third, and lastly. proved that actin
ds on the principle of disbelieving thing
On which are contrary to experience, or a
. pear to US unnatural, is both tallacions ar
,r- absurd Forasmuch, as lst. we daily b
er lieve things, that we have not experien
of ed 2dlv. AS by this rule, truths won
n constantly be rejected And 3d!y, becaus
of the laws of nature, (he physiological {
Of vital Iaws,) are not constant and invari
it. bic, but quite the reverse. Therefore, r.
IT. jecting the authenticity of the Bible, b
en- cause in it are recorded certain events,
n transactions, which zoe personally hay
of not experienced, or which appear to
/, contrary to the laws OF nature, is as III
'ul philosophical and unwise, as it is awful
e! fallacious and as destructive to the best il
e. terests ofmankind
ne Now my friends, trust my opponen
lis will not mistake me. trust they WI
sa- keep to these three propositions. L
he them either at once candidly admit then
re- and then we shall 60 fort hwith to 9TH
slv matter, or let them disprove each ofther
re- Let them prove, if they can, that man
ul- capable of approaching the ways of h
- Creator, that man does possess (indepe
ms IDENTIFY of the Bible,) a knowledge, ofwh
on- is really right and really wrong. Last
- that we ought not to believe any thing tn
no is contrary to experience; that is what tn,
md will have to debut Idefy them
OPP
ind MORAL REFORM.