Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-02-23
INFIDELFrY ANSWERED.
New YoRK. February 10. Is4S.


New YORK, February 10, IS4S.
Prot WINES delivered his sixth Lecture at the
chapel of the Theological Seminary. His obiec,
was TO justify the wisdom and benevoleuce of the
MOSAIC code against the objections OF iniidels and
IIeethinkeIs The erroneous notions in reference to
these laws mad arisen, he said from q misunder-
standing oil their special Objects that prominent
OBJECT, III addition To all the ordinary ends of 90
verhncht isuch as the security of life, liberty aud
5hI i!FsuN OF happiness) was the prevention of i
doatry and superstition. This was a good and
sufficient reason for those statutes, which seem at
mrs, Jew, irliiing, and which infdels without in
}veSi ,;ion Lave Tidh ,ued unworthy the Deity
such - ''ye shall not round the corners of vour
heads neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy
beard" This prohibition, which has called forth
only sneers from the enemies of revelation was
really important, being designed to prevent fool
ish and wicked superstition prevalent with certain
idolaters, who depended on this peculiar mode of
cutting their hair and beard for acceptance in the
worship of their gods, &C.
In reference to the law against eating ''swne's
nesh,' the reason appended is in the express
words "fe shall not walk in the manners of the
nations which cast out We shall therefore nut
difference between clean beasts and uncIean ~
!he religious sentiment has ever been of control
ing energy over mems practices 1t cannot be o.
therwise than that the gods they worship, should
constitute capital element in the formation of their
character. Like gods, like worshippers. The
worshlppers of Jupiter, Mars, Bacchus. a
naai and Venus, could hardly help being san
culinary and cen'ious
Alter graphic description Of the cruel and mol
iuting rites of idolatry, as it existed even among
me most refined nations Of antiquity the Professor
SAID, 1t could not be doubted that it was entirely
becoming the wisdom;+she justice, and the rood
ness of the one true God to check these spreading
and dreful evils, and 10 bring men back from their
ldoatrous folles to the belief and worship of him
SELF
For this reason, also, temporal BLESSINGS and
Pun'shments, which were common inducements to
ldolatry, being made part of the Hebrew code, be-
came motives to true religion, instead of encourage
hents to polytheism. 1t may be said with rever-
ence, that God was under sort ofnecessty TO pro-
ceed In this manner, adapting his laws to the ma
lure and circumstances of man.
HE punishment of dolatry, moreover said the
lecturer. was no eXpedlent to make them religious
by arbitrary Jorce--no Infringement of their rights
OF 'heir freedom OF sentiment. They had roIuata-
rtty chosen God for their king and entered into CO.
'enaht with Nun 10 serve and worship him as the
only true God and their right(ul sovereign. Idola
NY; therefore, was treason against the government
OF thelr own choice, and, such, was plainly pun
isiidDie, being capital offence against the State
! BE CoURTEoUs.-Dr. Humphrey was once
seated IN stage coach, when gentleman and n
lady, on their bridal tour, wished to be accomnlo-
dated with seats inside. There being one vacant
seal, the newly married pair were subjected TO a
/ separation, unless some passenger relnquished his
place This no one appeared TO do when the DR..
mounted the outside. insisting upon the gentleman
occupying his seat with his bride Subsequently,.
the DIR. was collecting for the College over which
he presided, and was presented with stage coach.
with the remark that he knew nothing of DIR.
humphrey, or Amherst College, save that lis Pre-
sldent was gentleman"