The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-08-14

find then the onl y mode of progression
in religion is in the knowledge of its
doctrines and the practice Of its MOI ais
in scripture truth and holiness, it is TO
"grow in grace and IN the knowledge OF
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ" In
religion the spirit of progress should
bring man nearer to God; the noble as
pirations of his soul, the mighty outgo-
ings of his spirit should be responsive to
that 'great voice from heaven, saying;
come up hither." 1t has beer fatal to
the best interests of many, that their pro-
gressive spirit has outstepped its legitl-
mate sphere, and attempted the i'm
provemcnt of that religion to which God
gave the finishing touch Of perfection
eighteen centuries ago. By this they
have cut themselves loose from the
simple truths Of christianity, and dis
carded the Bible as an old fashioned and
antiquated book. The Bible SAYS, An
gels are ''all ministerlng spirits sent forth
to minister for them who shall be heirs
of salvation" This is not enough tor
modern progress. The doctrine must
be improved. A pretended conneXlon
is made with the spirits, and We have
thrust upon us, as from them, all sorts
OF communications, alike repugnant to
our better feelings and affections, con-
Trajectory to themselves, and derogatorv
to all Just conception Of spiritual inter-
course. | say itnot proianely, but what
a hell of heaven it make, where the
spirits speak with each other by thump-
ing tables, rocking chairs, or other meth
DDS equally silly and contemplate.
| This is fruit OF perverted progress
sive spirit, and another evidence that
'FooIs rush in where Angels fear to tread
As before said, faith is also one ofthe
grand elements of the present age.
Man is a creature of faith. He must
believe. Faith IS as natural to him and
as essential as is any other feature of his
moral constitution. 1t enters into all
the relations of life, without it there
could be no commercial or social inter-
course, no arts, no sciences, no cduCa-
ton, no civilization. Pyrrhonism is a
fable, there never was and never can be
universal skeptlc. But we would
speak more particularly Of faith in its
religious aspect. God has provided the
Bible for mans religious faith. This is
its putulum; upon this it feeds and
strengthens, and when deprived of this
there is neither regularity nor conSis-
itency OF faith. Hence, it is when mans
faith is severed, compulsitiveiy or vol.
UNFAIRLY, from the Bible, It must tx upon
something, and the most absurd and eX-
travagant vasaries are readily credited
For this reason, inidels are generally
the most superstltous; with all their
Boosting, they receive with easy credu.
lily, things thousand times more diff
cult and incredu!ous than anything in
the creed of christianity. This is the
penalty God has affixed to the prostitu.
ton Of Our faith from its legitimate OBJ.
: lect. Hence, when men once quit the
Bible, they rush into all manner OF delu-
sions, Mormonism, Spiritual rappism,
and every other contemplate ISM finds
credence and makes rapid progress
This is Gods own commentary on the
defamation Of Holy Writ: because
they received not the love Of the truth,
that they might be saved-God shall
send them strong delusion that they
should believe lie, that they might be
damned who believe not the truth but
have pleasure in unrighteousness." B.