Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-03-11

be directed TO the authority of the record.
After this was established, we would sur
render our whole understanding 10 IT'S
contents. We would school down every
antipathy within US, and disown it as a,
Childish affection, unworthy of philoso-
pher who Processes to follow truth thro' {
all edisgusis and dscouragements which
surround it. There are men of splendid
reputation in our enlightened circles, who !
never attended TO this speculation, and who
ansex to The Gospel Of Christ nothing else
than IDEAS Of superstition and vulgaritv.
In Drawing their contempt, we would feel
ourselves in the best element for the dis.
play and exercise Of the philosophical
temper We would rejoice 10 the omnin.
offence OF truth, IN triumph, the victory
which II must accomplish over the nrlde
OF science, and the Righteousness of Iitera.
ture. II would not be the enthusiasm of
visionary which would support US, but
inc inward working of the very same
principle which sustained Calico, when
p ne adhered TO the result of his expert
lnents, and Newton. when he opposed his
measurements and observations to the
tide OF prejudice he had to encounter from
the prevailing taste and philosophy OF the
times
We conceive that the inattentior to tn.
above principles has led many of the most
popular and respected writer's in the De-
lstlcal controversy to introduce a great
deal OF discussion that,is foreign to the
merits o: the question altogether; and in
TINS way the attention is often turned
away from the point in which the main
strength OF the argument lies. An inf
del, Tor example, objects against one of
me peculiar doctrines of Christianity
TO repel the objection, the CHI istian con.
ceives y necessary TO vindicate the reason
ableness of that doctrine, and to show how
consistent i is with all those antecedent
conceptions which we derived from the
light OF natural religion. All this we
count superfuous. 1t is imposing an I'M.
necessary task upon ourselves. Enouoh
Tor Us TO have established the AUTHORITY Of
.ae Christian revelation upon the ground
Of ITS historical evidence. All that re.
mains IS to submit our minds to The fair
interpretation OF Scripture. Yes. hnt
now co you dispose Of the objection drawn
rom the light of natural religion Tn
precisely the same way that we would dis.
pose OF an objection drawn from some
speculative system, against the truth OF
any physical fact that has been well es.
taollshed by Observation or test;monv.-
we would disown the system, and oppose
the obsIinacy ofthe fact to all the elegance
and ingenuity OF the speculation.
We are sensible that this is not enough
70 satisfy numerous class of very sim
eeFe and welLdisposed Christians. There
are many OF this description, who, ante
cedent 70 the study of the Christian reve-
lalion altogether, repose very strong
confidence 10 the light of natural religion.
and think that upon the mere strength of
Us evidence, they ecan often pronounce
with considerable degree OF assurance
onthe character Of the divine administra-
ton. TO such as these, something more
y necessary than the external evidences
on which Christianity rests. You must
4 reconcile the doctrines of Christianity
win those precious conceptions which the
iignt OF nature has given them; and a
great deal Of elaborate argument is often
expended in bringing about this accom-
mo1alion. II is, of course, a work of
greater difficulty, to convince this descrin.
llon Of people, though in point of fact, this
dltf1culty has been overcome, in a way the
most masterly and decisive, by one Of the
soundest and most philosophical of our
iheologians
10 another description of Christians.
ahis attempt TO reconcile the doctrines of
Christianity with the light of natural re-
llglon is superAuous. Give them his!or.
zeal EVIDENCE. for the truth OF Christianity,
ana allthat natural religion may have
taught them will fly like SO many vision
! arg phantoms before the light of its over
bearing authority With them the ar
gument - reduced to asnarrower COM
pass Isthe testimony of the APOSTLES
& aud hrst Christians Sufficient to establish
the credlbIlity Of the facts which are re-
corded IN the New Testament? The
question IS made to rest exclusively on
the character of this testimony, and the
circumstances attending it and no ante.
cedent theology of their own is suffered
TO mingle with the investigation. If the
historical evidence of Christianity is found
10 belconclusive, they conceive the invest.
igation TO beput at an end and that moth
ing remains or their part, but an act OF
unconditional submission to all its doc
lrints. He
Though it might be proper, in the
present state of opinion, 10 accommodate
% both Of these cases, yet we profess our
ssives 70 belong TO the latter Dissertation
OF Christians We hold by the total in
snfheiency of natural religion to BRO
nounce upon the intrinsic merits Of am,
revelation. and think that the authority q