Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-28
that, which as Divine Revelation, could


never persuade myself to believe. ,. But
the main reason" said he, (which has in.
f1uenced me 10 the step, which lam taking,
is the fact, which it would be vain in me TO
attempt concealing, that the principles Of
deism, or in6de|ity, as you call it, are not
adapted TO chiurcn-no; suitable for the
government of a family-and not calculated
to make them, in the great social mass in
which they are to a mingle, precisely what
they should be. They may do for parents,
but from what have seen, and thought,
and read and heard, am fully persuaded
that they aUiH nepsr do for children. And
hence the measure, to which, without their
knowledge, and no doubt. contrary to your
expectations, have this day resorted." -.
" But do you not perceive Mr.. NJ" said |,
"that all these reasons-so influential with
you, in regard to the course you are adop-
ting for your children--so to prove to de-
mons'ra,ion, that you are utterly wrong
yourself" "It may be so," he replied
" and the suggestion is by no means new
10 me it having obtruded itselfir one shape
or other upon my mind almost every day
since the commencement ofmy present sick
ness. But there is no help for it; am too
old to change now, and before I could again
90 over the whole ground OF controversy
with that close attention, which the subject
requires, should probably cease to live !"
..." But are you willing to die in this state
of misgiving, and leopard even the possiblli'
ty of that, which the scriptures speak Of, as
involved in the loss OF the soul ? Aloss too
fearful TO think of without horror? And
would you not be willing to listen to some
reasons, why you ought to change your SEN
timents, even at period Of life, so late as
that to which you have arrived % "Wheth-
er am auilling to die." was his answer, lis
question which concerns myself alone. !
have been an honest, industrious, upright
man, ever since have lived--as much so,
as the generality of Christlans-and per-
haps as uniformly kind and obliging in my
intercourse with my neighbors and on your
own principles, if they are no, lost, may
hope to escape that calamity also AT
any rate, have made up my mind TO die
an unbeliever in the Bible and as you have
now listened to my story, and granted my
request, it is, think best, that we should
part, without entering on discussion, that
could do no good, and might be source
ofuneasiness TO BOTH" There was some.
thing in the manner in which this was said
"a sternness and fxedness ofpurpose, which
closed the door TO all further conversation
at once and accordingly took my leave
-gratiied indeed, IN some respects, and
yet in others deeply affected, and greatly
grieved. Gratifed with the free and volun.
tary concession off stubborn infdel, in favor
of the Christian religion on one department
Of the social system, and yet greved at the
prospect, that this same stubborn and hoary-
headed ln6del, would probably soon go
down to the grave with the fearful condem-
nation, Of having seen the light, and yet,
with stern and deliberate purpose, closed
his eyes against it.
This was the last time that ever saw
him, until, cold in the arms of death. was
called upon by his bereaved and afflicted
family, to stand beside bis encofined body,
and to perform the last sad Offices. prePara.
tive tons mournful deposit in the house ap-
pointed for all living" He had recovered
| from his sickness, and for some few weeks,
was in the enjoyment of state of health
which seemed to promise years of continued
being and ofcomfort. But while his family,
listening 10 his advice, were prompt and ap.
parently serious in their attendance on tho
public instituted means Of grace. with him.
there was no change, either in sentiment or
in practice and, when returning on Ger.
tain day from the field in which he had been
labor1ng, the horse attached to the cart in
which he was, took fright md PrecipItated
him, liieIess corpse upon the ground. He
thus died, as he had lived, and in accord.
apce with his avowed in,en,ion--an infdei
to the last. But what death And with
wha, sudden and fearful disclosures must
his unfetiered spirit have unexpectedly been
greeted, as it hastily fitted beyond that
bourn whence no traveller ever returns!"
1t is is even so the principles Of dcism
are not suited to children--not adapted TO
the government Of d tamily--no. calculated
to make them ,vhat they should be, even in
shs relations of the present life. Reader
took at these confessions, and if you are at
the head of a family Of children, ponder
them deeply, and carefully compare them
with tie rusul,s of infdel principle, in those
families with which you are acquainted
Traverse the entire circumference of the
circle in which you move! Sweep through
the whole field, with The closest scrutiny of
truth And where is the selected instance
that does not abundantly confirm the cor
rec.ness of this infdel confession 1t isa
confession, which may not only be relied
on, as strictly true, in its general outlines,
but ona uhich the writer of this has annie |