Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-04-26
THE RISE OF ERROR.

THE RISE OF ERROR.
SO insensible nave mullitudcS become 10
the established laws bv which error creeps
in. and advances within the church, that they
would be, startled at seeing those laws
spread out before them. ltcnters moi iuio
taeir calculation to affirm the existence of
error, except it is openly ayowcd. Ifit be
safe 10 DO thus, then il is safe to delay the
application of means when the symptoms Of
bodily disease appear. The time to apply
remedies will not come till lhe disease IS
fully developed, and has nearly re ached its
crisis.
1t is we'll to remember that the rise ofcr-
ror is always insidious. Ii claims fellow
ship with the truth, 1t regards creeds and
confessions Of faith as US ;less-hat is, as
in the way Of the spread of error, under the
name Of truth. 1t is its misfortune net 10
be understood. Its rise is marked by the
exchange of definite phrasco!ogy for that
which admi S double sense. 1t justifies
innovations, and caricaturcs established
truths. Ii aims to fix the errors which
spring from deprav!ly and hatred ofthe truth,
on what it pronoumccs false and perverted
views Of that truth. 1t adop;s false princi-
pies OF intcrpretation,an reasonr out of the
scriptures only as interpreted on those prin-
ciplcs. It makes philosophy, AMI not the
Bible fairly Interpreted, the grea; criterion
OF its maxims and tenets.
Such being some of the laws which have,
in every period, regulated its development
its progress has been gradual, and ofen,
fora protracted period, concealed from COM
mon observation. The nee ssity for COLI
ccalmcnl results from the scEslbty to truth
and lis claims, which error has to encounter
IA scnsibility almost as great Us the con.
gcnality Of error, with dcpraved hear'.--
When error is embraced, and is TO be- ad.
vocated and supported, ceria!n things are
always necessary to It's progress N the
church. l. 1t must appear III disguise. 2.
| must possess ravishIng 'orc OF peace:
and most invctcrate aversion 20 contention
which respects the tru:b. 3. Il must seek
the sanction of the WORTHY dead. 4. ltw!ii
COUNT among lis friends al! the living who
do not disclalm it. 5. Ii vii mlsrcprcsert
the truth and its open advocates. 6. 1t vii!
make all concern a5oa.. i;e ;rat.i N"-'dscss.
improper, and tending TO great c'!!. 7. As
the climax it will deny lis own existence.
Such being the known laws which rcsG.
late toe rise and progress OF error. it is cer-
lain Of gaining ground before II can Ue
affirmed, and lhe affirmation believed. 1t
is, in allrcspects, like some insi'!lous disease,
whose symptoms buta skIi!uI pract-
toner will easily discover.
|, follows, that in order to believe tie cx-
is:cnce of error, it is moi first necess ery thu:
it should be openly avoweI. Such avowal
belongs not to its naure. 1t takes It's rise
under the name, and spreads, uaier the
colors oftru:h. lis varlatious from sound
orthodoxy are claimed as lmprovemer;s-a
sauary advance in theological science. l..
vain, therefore, will any expect that, in its
rise, it will be openly avowed in lis rue
character. Is existence is evinced by ON.
er and very different evidence. And lat
evidence, according to The laws Of mora!
evidence, may be sufficient to csabiish tha
fact of its existence, without dstnc; avow-
al. and in defiance Of IL positive denial.
It IS further averred thar error is, in its
own nature, more plausible than the truth.
When it is to spread by suppianting the
truth it must cssume character of HARM
Icsslcss, and pu! in rcquis!tion means which
the truth disdains to employ. 1t must be
supcrficiaIly pleasing, apparently right
though in its nature, odious and morally
wrong. These false Appearances recom-
mend it to the dcpravcd neart, Truth, on
the contrary, is open, AMI commends I:ssIf
to the conscience. how rcpugnant soevcr it
may be to the heart. 1t his worth. and
recti.udc, and conscience on its siGe, what.
ever be against i;-and it will ultimately
prevail. In its predicted prevalence, it rs
clearly seen how undesirable must be the
popularity which attaches to the supper, and
spread Of error. 1t may be great-t may
be lasting hut a(.cr all ii must be infamous.
Who would cspousc it, and advocate it, as
the means Of gaining popularity which
must be possessed, if gained, with the dis
appreciation ol'thc good in this lite, and Of
God and the holy in the future -? However
il nav be appauIcd, and lis advocates for
time loaded with popular adulalion, still,
sooner or later its rctrlbu;ion must come
and then the popularity which attached to it
viii be more troublesome than tho creates,
solitude and lorgctiuincSs.