The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-01-12
For the Camden Journal.
TRACTS FOR THE PEOPLE-No. 2


The complaint does not exceed the danger oi
christian infdelity. Christian intidelity! Inc
very term implies contradiction and inconsistent
CIV. 1t NAV, nevertheless, reader, be appllcaple
to your state Living as you do, under the pro-
lection of laws founded upon revealed TRUTH ana
imbibinc from education, or the usages OF society,"
the external habits of christian life, you are pro-
bablv satisfied with the degree of countenance
which YOU give to christianity, and persuade
yourself into the belief that morality is sulcient
to insure YOUR eternal safety. The purport OF
this papcr is to undeceive you. Be not offend
ed. 1t comes with friendly hand, to tear OF the
rars with which you would conceal from SELL
knowledge cancer eating into the soul-to en-
nose the miserable fallacies which are hourly
sending others to run-and to prove that either
the GOSPEL is vile fraud upon common sense,
or that the nominal christian, as ne calls himself,
is in state of imminent danger One or the
other must be wrong. Both cannot be right
Let us see on which side the error lies. You
admit the truth of christianity-f not, why
are YOU called christian! Why do you uphold
christian laws and usagcs! Is your reply this
that the name was not of your choice-that
YOU were born in the land-that you dwell IN
it either from motives ofpolicy or because the
principles of social government are the best IN
the world. Well, then, are you not morally
bound to respect and reverence them! DO not
nature and reason teach the selection OF the best
system of morals for the governmental OF life; and
then require implicit obedience to its laws, winch
operate to the equal general welfare! Does not
YOUR own confession prove that such is your
own opinion! Or, admitting the benefit OF chris
tian law for the government of the world, but
denying the necessity of being christian then
it is asked would you live in community to OBJ
tain all the advantage of its wise regulations and
contribute nothing TO the support of principles on
which its social fabric rests! What sort of vlr-
tue, or moral feeling, or public spirit is that! Is
it proper in any way, to stoop to the base
ness of being considered in public estimation
christian, and yet in heart, be no better than
heathcn or an ilifdel! Certainly not. On the
ground of non-commital, there is no safety Tor
truth or honor. Every man, whoever he may be.
is committed to deal honestly with his neighbor'
and to be esteemed sincere and honest with God.
Society Guards with stern penalties this sacred
rrnr:rlc, not Only because it is the only lien Of
social existence, hut because it is absolutely I'M
possible for any man to escape from the law OF
obedience to the supreme Being, which is the
bond of unity to the universe. Man must neces-
sarily, have sense of religious obligation. His
assent to the christian system, given in any man.
ner, is proof OF his conviction. And thus does he
stand pledged as the advocate of truth The
subtcruge of conscientious scrup!es, (unless
they arc publicly known and approvcd0 cannot
excuse neutrality in faith, more than they should
the defence of home III the hour of attack Re-
ligion must exist Society supposes that you
are the member Of some of its various shades OF
creed. And either your life is a practical false
hood, seeming 10 be tic character which you are
not or you ere II hear: believer. Now, if you
conscicniiously believe the truth Of religion, why
are you not an avowed professor of it! Can you
think that what is called moral life is sufficient
for salvation! But what do you mean by mo-
ra!ity! Isl the mere compliance with the usa-
get OF social habits and customs? Those usages
may be very corrupt and depraved. The theory
OF life may be, and indeed is, too frequently, in
opposition to practice. Men can declaim on the
amiable virtues or extol the pleasures of benevo-
lence, and yet in fact be addicted secretly to the
most vicious and cruel habits. The world looks
only upon outward conduct, and cannot Judge of
motive except through action. What stability
ten, is there in a system Of opinions which
change with every vcisstud Of circumstance!
Or what dependence should be placed upon a
morality which is in itself unjust and unequal
excusing the vices of the rich, and grinding the
faces Of the poor-and utterly irrcconcable with
the genius of christianity! The morality of the
world is perfectly consistent with the spirit of the
world-the lust of power, and self-indulgence-
the qualification of every bad feeling or propen-
sity, provided it can be concealed from public
sight. Possessed Of such sentimants leading such
lives, where does reason point to the hope of sal
vation! Open the sacred Volume-show me