Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-09-17
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

Most writer's on the internal evidence
Of the Christian Religion, have drawn
their arguments from the pureness of It's
morality, and its pecu lar fitness to the cir
cunstances and necessities OF man.
These sources of evidence, as they have
been skilfuIly explored, have been also
wisely chosen. For in morals, whatever
doctrine is pure, is so far forth true ; and
that which is a fitting and exact counter.
part to what, in our experience, we have
known to BE-, has the evidence of truth and
reality in that Yerv simili,ude. Yet other
views may be taken, which may open some
minds to a clearer CONVICTION, and add
1t may be said, that the Christian Scrip,
lures alone contain system of morals.
which is true of absolute truth, in its fun
damental principle. Here, most of all, the
wit of man is atfault. Here is the jarring
point, the beginning of discrepan les,
which have made FOOLS laugh, and wise men
weep, and have taught all unwise and Pc
rIlous dlstrust of human reason. Moral.
lists have erred in the starting point, and
their labor has been often vain, and often
has it led them into wild wastes and quick.
sands. Utility is not the sole ground Of
obligation, nor the sole virtuous quality OF
actions. Sympathy is not the source Of
ali our moral sentiments, and is at best
questionable guide. -Naturum Segilere,
needs wiser Interpreter than most. men
are, and if it be sound rule, it is difficult
to be applied. Now the excellence of a
theory of morals, considered as afaheory,
is, that the elementary idea be, ifsit may
be, absolutely and universally true. or as
near y as the nature OF the case MI admit,
an axiom. But in the whole range of ns5s
raj ideas and obligations, dsre is no one
which carries with it so ampdAa conviIios
of its and reality, as that the love of God
is the primary duty OF pIl moral crea-
lures. There is no proposition in morals
from which this duy can be deduced,
which does not need demonstration as
mach, or more than it; there is none
therefore more elementary Moreover,
all other duties appropriately moral las
distinguished from such as are merely ma
tufal, as compassion.) are consequences, or
ather eXemplIficatons, of this. State it, |
let the terms be made ineligible, and be
the viii ever so perserve, be the heart most |
polluted, no moral being can
his assent to its business and bind |
ng force IL is selfevident The Bible
$ the only treatise on morals, in which |
his principle is made the centre, is aSsum |
I'd as the lndemonsrable, from which all |
other duties are to flow. As a matter of
mere logical arrangement, then, aud much |
more, 1t might be shown, of moral efiicen-
y. the Christian system approaches near
n The Pere than any other. Nay, it is
he very ideal. Nome more perfect is con.
cav ,hle or possible. The pure ideal is
'ure truth. In similar manner, l. may
&c shown. that the system OF the universe
evealed in the 3 bic. the theory o. cause
md effect, is the m ST perfect. The being
i G'.d Is assumed as axipmaiic; an ell
meuIary truth, into which, as a first prin.
lple. all effects are Ia be resolved. In
rulh.stiIe order in which we acquire ideas,
! the reverse of their true logical order
rst the particular. then the general; first
be iaiic--after. the infinite. The particu
If does Rot contain or infer the universal
IS merely the token Or exponent of it, ,
olnting out TO then minds that, which once
enceived, shines by the clearness Of its
wn truth. We attain the knowledge of
iod, our conviction Of his being as the |