Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-06

From, :bc Western Christian Advocate.
NARRATIVE.

Mcm alcn$-conIrorersy.". &c. and ii
seems TO be SO applicable to my own expcr-
iencc, that beg leave 20 make few re-
m ,rks through your paper upon the trca:.
ment of those persons that have imbibcd
tic POISON ofiniilclity:. fcclthat |" letting
me alone" in one sense of the word, was
the means, in the hands Of God, ofbrlnglng
me to real sense of my awful condition,
while IN state ofreballion against him.
Being early taught 70 fear God, it viii
not serpr,se YOU when | say that never was
ca,ircIv clear Of the conviction, that there
WAS divine reality III tho religion Of jesus
C,;r:sl. But after arriving at the age OF
maturity. thought that probably all my
notions OF religion grew out of my educa.
ton, aud that it was no sufficient reason
iorm 10 be & christian that my paren's
were before me. argued and thought III
mis- way, and finally obtained from one of
thy associates a copy Of Paine's notorious
:" Ace os Reasons" My friend told me
that he approved very much of his writings,
and added, that he thought they would rec.
tify.mv notions in regard to religion, &c.
Lcagrrly read /, over & over, carefully COM
pairing bis quotations with the Bible, and
found them in general 10 correspond. |
finally concluded there was something wrong
in this hue and cry about religion, and like
every other infidel at the start, began to
reflect on my parents aud teachers, for
what then considered the errors OF my
education. At first was somewhat eau:
,ioas in avowing my principles to any who
had made profession Of religion; and was
con,eated whenever could set some ofmy
Tom Paine disciples, with as many OF the
wavering as could together. when We ar
cued and browbca. the religious tanaticls's
Ias we termed them) out of countenance.
And in my own mind, for the momen. al
!east, was able 10 prove to any person tina;
rcjirioa was IA fable, and was suited only
to weak minds. | finally became more
hold. and sometimes attacked more confirm,
cd christians, and 50 piled them with my
questions and ridiculous objections, that they
would tell me to let them alone, fo:, said
,hcv," You do not believe your OWN asser-
tons" Matters continued in this way tor
some:ime, and every dialogue on religious
subjects only served 10 strengthen my IN
idel sentiments, until gloyied IN my dis
graceful sccp:ic;sm. Twas so hardened as
70 attend preaching for no other purpose
than to cuvil at the declarations Of the minis.
ter. Ifhe spoke incautiousIy,l was ever
eager 10 profit by his mistake, and never
failed to misrcpresent u little.
During this time my friends never for
sook me and the only advice that seemed to
shake my foundation, was of Il private
character. was ofen made to feel my
error when noticing the tender regard Of
my bes: friends (whose honesty of purpose
Ihad 80 reason to Doubt, when they woul!
tell me, "Sir, your principles will not do
in DIVING hour you are not prepared 10
die" Such remarks otten caused my very
heart to respond" No, no, am not"
Now | am constrained to think that in this
way, much. very much, can be done with
the most hardened infdel. Let the proper
person, at the proper time, meet him. and
seriously press upon him the subject of death
and Judgment and in this way, fany, his
conscience may be reached. But TO pro-
ceed: In the winter 1881, it was an
nounced that Mr.. NJ, a Unircrsalist preach.
cr, was to lecture in the town of P. |
was glad 10 have chance to hear one my
own sort OF preachers. lattended and gave
him my attention, but in vain. listened to
his arguments against future Judgment,
and future punishment. had long since
found passages of Scripture in support of or
thodoxy, that neither my friends nor my.
selfhad answered but supposed that they
had been, or could be cleared up. My
plan, whenever was assailed with one these
difficult texts, was to involve them in OBJ
scuri,y and doubt, and laugh at my an
,agonist. was completely aStonshed TO
find my new preacher one ofthe same mould
with myself; Just as ready 10 depart from
plain reason and Scripture TO sustain his
views. Notwithstanding he was man of
education and intellect, found him stunt
bling over the same passages ofScriptuEe,
aud willing to give to them the same unra-
1ural coloring lha, | did. Afterhis lecture he
recognized many Of us. wicked fellows. as
his brothers in the same faith, which so dis.
gusted me as to cause me TO array myself on
the side of truth, and hold an opposing ar
snnent with him, who SO short Il time be.
lore had engrossel my attention, and from
whom had expected 10 learn many new
things in the school ofinfdclity thus quail
living myself to meet the attacks Of the fire
ami birthstone preachers! In this was
sadly disappointed. became convinced
,ha. | had beer endcavoring 10 support in-
correct views of religion, and that, too,
asains; light and reason and determined
from that time to seek those things. and en-