Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-11-10
Webster on the Evidences OF
Christianity.

A few evenings since, sitting by his OWN
freside, after a day Of severe labor IN the
Supreme Court, Mr.. Webster introduced
the last Sabbatb's sermon, and discoursed
in animated and glowing eloquence Tor an
hour on the great truths of the Gospel.
cannot but regard the opinions of such
man in some sense as public property,
This is my apology for attempting to recall
some of those remarks which were uttered
in the privacy of the domestic circle:
Said MIR. Webster: "Last Sabbath lis
tened to an able and learned discourse up
on the evidences of Christianity. The ar
guments were drawn from prophecy, histo-
|rTy, with internal evidence. They were
stated with logical accuracy and force; but,
as it seemed to me, the clergyman failed to
draw from them the right conclusion. He
came so near the truth that was astonlsh-
ed that he missed it. In summing up his
arguments, he said the only alternative pre-
sented by these evidences is this: Either
Christianity is true, or it is deluslon pro-
duced by an excited Imagination. Such IS
not the alternative, said the critic; but it is
this: The Gospel is either true history, or
it is a consummate fraud; it is either real
ity or an imposition. Christ was what ne
professed to be, or he was an impostor,.-
There is no other alternative. His spot:ess
life. his earnest enforcement of the truth,
his suffering in its defence, forbids us TO-
suppose that he was suffering an illusion OF
heated brain. -.
every act of his pure and holy lie
shows that he was the author of truth, the
advocate of truth, the earnest defender OF
truth, and the uncomplaining sufferer Tor
truth. Now, considering the purity OF his
doctrines, the simplicity of his life, and the
sublimity of his death, is it possible that ne
would have died for an illusion! In all his
preaching the SAVIOUR made no popular ap-
peals. His discourses were all directed 70
the individual. Christ and his Apostles
sought to impress upon every man the con-
viction that he must stand or fall alone; ne
must live for himself and die for himself,
and give up his account to the omnlscIent
God, as though he were the only depend.
ant creature in the universe. The Gospel
leaves the individual sinner alone with
himself and his God. To his own master
he stands or falls. He has nothing to hope
from the aid and sympathy OF associates.
The deluded advocates of new doctrines 40
not so preach. Christ and his Apostles, had
they been deceivers, would not have SO
preached. =,
"If clergymen in our days would return
to the simplicity of the Gospel, and preach
more to individuals and less 10 the crowd,
there would not be so much complaint OF
the decline oil true religion. Many OF the
ministers of the present day take their text
from St. Paul, and preached from the
newspapers. When they do so. ! pre-
fer to enjoy my own thoughts rather than
to listen. / want my pastor to come TO me
IN the spirit of the Gospel, saying, You are
MORTAL your probation is Brief your
work must be done speedily. You are M
MORTAL too. You are Fastening to the bar
of God; the Judge standeth before the
door, When l am thus admonished,
have no disposition to muse or to sleep
These topics, said Mr.. Webster, have often
occupied my thoughts and if had time
would write upon them myself"
The above remarks are but meager ana
imperfect abstract, from memory, OF one OF
the most eloquent sermons to which ever
listened.- .-C Congregational Journal.