The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-10-28

whose doctrines and practices we are
acquainted, have held and practised this
doctrine, the presumption is very strong
that 1t is common to all others. Our
opinion is, that this doctrine of utility
prevails extensively in this State at pre-
sent, and is exercising most pernicious
influence. If the most distinguished
Infdels have maita,ncd and practised
the doctrine of expediency, it need
not be thought strange that it should be
principle of action common to all who
hold the same loose system of morality.
Nor is it strange that men of an inferior
order, governed by such a principle,
should exhibit moral character of ex-
treme laxness. The attacks of InGdels
upon christianity have invariably been
indirect and insldious. When most bu-
silly engaged in overturning the altars
and pulling down The temples of christi
anity, they have professed to be its
friends and advocates. While attemp-
ting to destroy the clergy, the instruc-
tors and defenders of religion, they have
professed to be promoting its purity
While they have been substituting their
own pernicious doctrines and precepts,
for those of christianity, they have pro-
fessed 10 admire the excellence of the lat
ter. When their opposition TO christi
anity has been the greatest, they have
been most bitter in their dennncia,ions
of those who ventured to charge them
with In6delity. Such have uniformity
been the characteristics of modern Inf
deity, from the days of Lord HERBERT to
the present.
The hypocracy and corrupt morality of
In,idelity.-.L,ord HERBERT, while writing
a treatise for the purpose of setting chris
tianity aside, declares that it is far from his
intentions to do harm to the best christi
anity, or the true faith, but rather to es-
tablish both. His morality would not
censure men for sins to which they are
led by their particular bodily consti,u-
ton. He would no more blame them
for such, than he would dropsicai persons
for their immoderate thirst. This same
despiser of revelation would have the
world believe the publication of his book
"De Veritate," was sanctioned by a
voice from heaven.
"HoBBEs, another name for In6delity
and immortality, while attempting to
obliterate religion, can tell US that the
holy scriptures is the voice Of God, ru-
ling all things by the greatest right"
Although no writer laboured more to
spread irreligion and infdelity, yet
none of his treaties are levelled directly
against religion. Like the In6dels of
our own day, he acknowledges religion
and its obligations; and then resolves
religion into "opinions of ghosts, igno-
rance of second causes, devotion to what
men fear, and taking of things casual
for prognostics."
Mr.. BLouNr, the author of "the Ora
cles of Reason" put an end to his own
life; and Mr.. G1LDsoN, who published
it, wrote preface in defence of self
murder.
Mr.. ToLAND, although he calls him
self a Christian, showed himself in his
"Pantheisticon," a favorer of the atheism
of Sr1NosA, which makes the universe a
God. Mr.. ToLAED was pretty much
what in later times has been called IN.
tionalist. He made a collection oi
forged books, (about eighty in number,)
with view to discrsdit the authentic
opoo. and y,ot ha nlo ;vo al ~ ho q cb rsots