The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-12-01

4 ~ 0Nu ANl IL 0CNlloEtHNuN- where III
Phrenology can we find any thing illustra-
tisc Of lie offering Of Christ, or Of the
doctrines Of repentance and faith. as msdi-
ums Of salvaiionl And il there is nothing
Of the Kind in PhreBOlogy or other sciences,
how can knowledge Of salvation depend
upon knowledge Of Nature? But again
Before the mind is sufficiently matured tC
eomprehend :he principles Of philosophy ol
metaphysics, it can discern between good
and evil, right aud wrong. Therefore, be.
fore science can be mastered, an individual
becomes responsible for his actions. and be-
ing naturally depraved, stands ia need of an
atonement. And as he may die at any
moment, and without reception Of saliva
tion, upon the conditions proposed in the
Gospel, he must be lost, it is therefore OF
the utmost importance to show the youthful
mind the way of life, before it becomes en-
crossed and entangled in the mazes Of met
aphyscs, OF before it can understand the
wonders disclosed BY natural philosophy
To show that morals precedes the full devel-
opment of intellect, ask any child OF years
OF age, who has had any degree of moral
training and instruction bestowed upon it, il
it is wrong to lie or to swear; It would reply
in the affirmative. Ask it then to explain
the philos ophy of morality-why it is wrong
to do so and so, and right to do otherwise.
1t mi ght answer, because God has forbidden
some actions, and commanded the perform
anee of others. But this would not satisfy
Mr.. Fowler, who finds that right and wrong
are entirely independent of the will of God,
having their Foundation i'll the nature OF
things alone. And hence, to investigate the
rationale thereof would require deeper
study of philosophy than such a child is ca
pable of. The morals of the Bible are far
palmer than the morals of mental philoso-
ply, because more clearly revealed, and
more simple in their elucida!ion. A direct
testimony to truth is more satisfactory to the
mind, than the deductions of reason; and a
positive command or prohibition is more ca
silly understood than meta physical disqui-
stion of what is required by the constitution
of the human mind, upon which Mr.. Fowler
claims to found his system OF morals or nat
ural religion. Conscience, or perception oi
right and wrong may be in advance Of intel
lect, and in youth it generally is. And fur,
ther this power conscience even at an ear
ly age, may be III minated by the direct in
fuence of the Spirit of truth. And so plain
is the way of holiness that the prophet de
clares that "waytaring men, though fools
shall not err therein" (Isaiah -XXXV, g..
Page 22. "The human mind requires
somewhat more of proof than it finds in thu
Bible. The Bible gives us its pse dird sim
ply, but the human mind requires evidence
requires to understand the why and thu
wherefore, and the philosophy of that whicl
it requires that philosophy the Bible doe
not give; does not even pretend to give. /
requires belief on the ground Of II thu,
saith the Lord, and there leaves it."
The Bible then does not consider man a
rational being but as mere animal o
crcdulity! 1t does not provide for his intel
lcct! And in order to fulfil what the Apost
enioius upon us, to be "always ready to giv'
an answer to those who ask us a reason o
the hope which is within u.s." we must leaT,
the scriptures, and search the record o
Phrcnology, for The pAiIoSophy Of erpe'ime"
mL religion! For the Bible gives us merel1
its ipse dirit, unattended by philosophy o
evidence Now this / pronounce iou
slander. The Bible processes to rsason.-
See Isaiah |, IS; Romans XII, /; Titus |, 9.
1t not only processes to reason, but it actual
Iy does reason. Would Mr. Fowler desire
better example Of reasoning than that con
tanned in the fifth chapter of st. John; ant
also in all the various discussions of the Sa
vior with the Jews? Would be wish bette
Especmen Of ratiocination, than the eplstlc
of the Apostles contain? If he could pro
Educe equal upon moral questions, he wouIt
lido well--much better than he does. 1t ha
been objected by sceptics, hot The uds 'ou
reasonings nth schich especially the acriting
Of st. Paul abound, shOW that he derired hi
protessed revelations, tot from God, but iron
his o'Sn understanding! But Fowler, so ia
from authorizing us to lay aside the Scrip
lures because OF superabundant argumcnta
tion, directs us to natural theology for tn
qualification of intellect, upon the pfea tha
the Bible affords 10 food for the reasonin,
powers! Verify Mr.. FOWLER is F0W
LER.
Some things the Bible does not pretend t
prove by argument, and if no other reaso
, of this can be given, we still have a very
satisfactory explanation in the fact that the,
do not admit OF argument, For instance
"a statement of the terms OF justi'icatio
would be rendered perfe.,tly ridiculous by al
attempted philosophical proof. What woul
Mr.. Fowler think Of man who would pro
pose to enter into an article of agreement
and proceed to est.bIish the truth Of hi
proposal by argument?
Again Fowler thinLs that "thus salt
the Lord" is not sufficient guarantee Q
the correctness Of scriptural doctrine, be
cause mans reason must be satisfied. We'll
let us see. LIST. In reasoning upon meta
physical subjects or moral questions, the in
tellect generally draws proofs from matter
of historical nature; and these rest upon n
other foundation than human testimony
Mr.. Fowler himself rests the proof of hi
science upon reputed facts, and for the trut
Of fmany of these he relies upon the testimon
of others. He thinks that thus saith sueI
and such man, is allsufficient to prove tn
Fundamental principles of his system. Blu
thus saith the Lo,d, is not sufi lent Il
satisfy the reason Of man concerning tn
truth of the doctrines of the Bible. End
What is the object of reasoning but to dis
cover truth? And if God sees fit to revea
!, truth to man, without the fatiguing process
of thought, its end is attained The mind i
Tins Immediately ntt in noscnesinn of nrin