Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-08-29
MIS- G ELLANEOU US.



OF his moral character; but he was notoriousIv
proiane lie had negro boy, at whom his
neiehboIs used to hear him swear with awful
violence. One day this gentleman met deci.
oed CHRISTIAN, who was also a lawyer, and said
10 MN, "lwlsh, Sir, 10 examine into the truth
oil the Christian religion. What books would
you advise me to read ofthe evidences ofChris-
tianity2n
lhe pous lawyer, surprised at the inquiry,
replIed: THAT is question, Sir, which you
ought to have settled long ago. You ough, not,
10 nave put OF subject soimportant to this late
period Of life"
ut as too late," said the inquirer. 81 never
knew much about it; but always supposedI
mat Christianity was rejected by the great ma
Iorlty OF learned men. intend, however. now
u examine the subject thoroughly myself II
nave upon me, as my physician says, a mortal
disc ase, under which may live wear and
hali, or two years, but not probably longer
readg'
sine Bible," said the other.
u believe you do not understand me,'> III
med the unbeliever, surprised in his Il
ble"
81 would advise you, Sir, repeay mis- Chris.
tan friend, "to read the Bible. + 3D." he con.
unued, 81 will give you my ref ms. Most in
ndels are very ignorant of He Scriptures
NOW, 10 reason on any subject with correctness
we must understand what it is about which we
reason In the next place, consider the inter-
nal er'dence OF tho truth ofthe Scriptures, stron
ger than the external" {
"And where shall begin?" inquired the t
unbeliever, At the New TESTAMENT" d
mo-" said the other; sat the beginning 1t
al Genesis" -
The inidel bought a commentary, went O
home, and sat down TO the serious study ofthe e
Scriptures He applied all his strong and well n
disciplined powers Of mird 10 the Bible, TO try D
rlgdIy but impartially its truth. As he went III
on in the perusal, he received occasional calls h,
from his professional friend. The infdcl free. hi
ly remarked upon what he had read, and stated n
his objections He liked this passage--he ca
thought that touching and beautifu--but he Iof
could not credit third. tr
One evening the Christian lawyer called, f,
and found the unbelever at home, walking the Ior
room with detected look his mind apparently ar
absorbed in thought. lie continued, not mott hiI
ing that any one had come in, busily to trace wi
nd retrace his steps. His friend at length nit
poke; "You seem, Sir" said he, "to be in les
brown study" "Of what are YOU think pIe
lng?" sol
81 have been reading" replied the infdcl, ur
THE MORAL LAW" toe
swell, what do you think III" asked his ori
friend. 70.
81 will tell you what used to think, answer. no
ed the infidel 81 supposed that Moses was the ri
leader oil horde Of banditti; that having les
strong mind, he acquired great influence over wh
superstltous people, and that on Mount Sinai sol
he played off some sort of'freworkS, TO the me
ofhis Ignorant followers, who ina He
gned, IN their mingled fear and superstition, al E
that the exhibition was supernatural. eyi
"but what do you think now?" interposed he
his friend. ,yb
"l have been looking" said the infdel, oin,o In
The nature OF that law. have been trying, TO cnl
see whether can add any thing to it, or take mo
any thing from it, so as to make il better. Sir. nm
cannot, it is perfect me
"Ihe first commandment" continued he. SIN
directs us to make the Creator the object of w
our supreme love and reverence. That is right en-
i he be our Creator, Preserver, and supreme his
Benelactor, we ought TO treat him, and none KIN
other, as such. or
The second forbids idolatry. That certain. Of
y is right.
"Thc third forbids pro(anencss
"Ihe fourth fixes a time for religious wor. ~, ~"
uorsbinnoI I,i,o,,;,oLIi W 'u'1'y ~ oe Nc
an outward homage, significant of our inward P''
regard flood be worshipped, it is proper that nis
some time should be set apart for that purpose, p's
when all may worship him harmoniously and WI
without interruption One day in seven is GER on
tainly not too much; and do not know that il oo
is too little. CIT
"The fifth denies the peculiar duties arising +,
from the family relations.
"lnjuries to our neighbor are then classified IIo
by the moral law. They are divided into Of -. "a
fences against life, chastity, property, and char u
acter, And" said he, applying a legal idea ~,
with legal acuteness, 81 notice that the great. ~,
est offence in each class is expressly forbidden GU
Thus the greatest injury to life is murder; 10 '''
chastity, adultery; to property, theft; to char. r.
acter, perjury. Now the greater offence must IT,,
include the less Of the same kind Murder "a, Nv
must include every injury TO life; adultery eve W
ry injury TO purity; and SO Of the rest. And c..
The moral code is closed and perfected by com. ~,
nand forbdding every improper desire in re- ~;
gard 10 our neighbor. u"
81 have been thinking" he proceeded,
WHERE DID MOSES GET THAT LAw?" have he
-ead history; the Egyptians and the adjacent
aations were idolators; 50 were the Greeks and
Romans; and the wisest and best Greeks or els
Romans never gave code Of morals like this. def
Where did Moses get This IatC, which surpasses she
l. 4 4. a. 4 O..