The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1852-12-08

9 Mr.. Fowler, in his Inscriptions Of glory
and supremacy to Theology, reminds me Of
a man who would light a torch at the fire,
and run out amid the blazing spiendors Of
the monday sun, exclsiming; "sEE low l
HAVE LIT Up The woRLDir' He aScribes TO
Phrenology the origin Of knowledge which.
was possessed by man long before he sprang
from chaos, or his science was dreamed OF;
and points US to it for more extensive moral
knOwledge than has yet been revealed
But Notwithstanding his boasts, if it were
not for the Bible, he would have known
but little more about the nature or obli9a-
tion of worship, about its times, and places,
and modes, dc, than Il goose knows about
the changes of the moon!
As he claims that PhrenolOgy includes
every thing relating to worship, penitence,
pardon, duty, &c, 1t supersedes the neces-
sity OF y revelation; and the question is Of
some Importance. Has not Mr.. FoAler rem
dered himself liable to the maledictions of
The Apostle: "If any man preach any other
, Gospel unto you, than that We have receiv-
ed, let him be accursed?" (Gal. l, 81. Has
he not published another Gospel?
Suppose l prove that there is no such
thing as natural religion in Phrenology.-
By natural religion, | mean a correct system
of moral and duties toward God and man,
being derived from nature alone, indepen-
dent of any revelation from Heaven. | pre-
sumo Mr.. Fowler will admit this definition.
Phrenology, or rather Phrenologists claim
to disclose a system of religion, by unfolding
the nature of man; but l propose to show
that the nature of man, as it now is, is no
standard of duty. and is even averse to true
religion. And if can succeed in establish
ing this, i tsweeps away the foundation of
his creed.
| believe that originally the essence of
Oh, istianity--love to God and man, did ex-
ist naturally in the human mind, and would
have SO continued, had man not fallen.
These PRINCIPLES are the foundation of all
religious duty. Upon them," the Saviour
himself declared, chang all the law and the
prophets" But mankind have lost the mo
raj image of God, and these principles are
no longer the natural, ruling motives of &C
ton. (See Rom. |, 80: and Titus III, 81
The whole head is SIGH, and the whole heart
faint"
In writing to the Ephesians, the Apostle
saws. 1--WE were Rg-BY NATURE THE
CHILDREN or WRATH. even as 9th.
ers." (Eph. II, 81 Now why are we by
nature the children Of wrath, but that w
are by nature sinful? Will any thing bu
moral %impurity, subject us to the displeasur,
or wrath of the Most High? And if man.
nature is sinful, can it be a correct standard
of moral duty? And can the science o
Phrenology. which claims to be only an ex
position of that nature, contain Il system o
religion, consistent with Divine Revelation
as Mr.. Fowler endeavors to show by thi!
work?
Again: The object of Christianity is tt
) restore the primitive nature Of man; and il
: accomplishing this, it effects a radical change
; in our present nature. Thus Christ declar
ed to Nichodemus, the absolute necessity Of
} such q change, saying: aye must be borr
again" For "that which is born of flesh i
, flesh" St. John III. And tho apostle says
They that are in the flesh cannot pleas,
n God. Because the carnal mind is emit,
4 against God: for it is not subject to the Law
OF God, neither indeed can be-" Roman
VII, 7,8. "If any man be in Christ he i
a new creature. Old things have passe'
away behold all things have become new.
6 9 Cor. V, II, Rom. XII, 2. 'Be We trans
d formed by the renewing of your raind'
IS Ephesians ", 2@--24. "Put off concernin
the former conversation, the old man, j..
r nature which is corrupt according to the d.
~ccitful lnsts; and be renewed i'll the spirit
your mind: And put on the new man, whic
after God is created in righteousness an
true holiness" Gal. VI, Is. ''Iu Chri
Jesus, neither circumcision availeth an
thing, nor u~ncircumcision, but a new crei
ture."
in Mr.. Fowler claims that Phrcnology ha
monies with the MOI al nature of man, ar
that nature requires to be renewed befo
" mar can be acceptable in the sight of Go
How then can tie religion of Phrenolo.
correspond with the religion of the gospt
whish utterly changes the natural dispo'
tons of the heart, Transforming the min
translating the soul ''from the kingdom
ne darkness into the kingdom of Christ" fro
VI the dominion of sin to the dominion of rigl
eousness.
Again: Nature, as it now is, is entire
=, too variable to be a correct standard of m
~ rails. If we follow it, it will lead one m
,,a in one direction, and another in an oppos
III direction. One, in WON Destructlvcne
W. was naturally predominant, would be led
~, a career of cruelty, if not crime: while OR
~ in whom the MOI al faculties were predon
~ nant would abhor such a course. Iii ca
-. to see that if nature be the guide, every G
H. wH be ut liberty to toHo~ its inclination
At uhiMersoeUer they may conduct M. \
mr. Fowler, ON page I54th of his work on b
~. reditary Descent, informs us that viclo
III propensitics are transmitted from parents
II children, and are therefore possessed mai
rally. And If nature, as it is, be a corr
standard OF duty, it follows that it is right
indulge vicious propensities, where theyn
:. urally exist.
49, Further; the fact that Phrsnology d.
IRE not contain q system OF religion, adapted
~ the present situation of man as a fallen |
2 iug, may be made manifest from his o
ami admission on page 1863. All our duties
he connected with the atoDement, which, St
his Fowler, is not included IN Phrenolosy, VIII
Ter WIS Sc ,ied before a Savior was needed.
nd Paul says: whatsoever is not of faith
to SIM" Romans XIV, %. And again: Col
it'll slams Ill, II "Whatsoever We do, whetl
.u in word oraleed. do all in the name of