Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-05-30
For the Advertiser.
NEoq EpTcCnpnq-

Way DEhN DIX Ill is uue 10 you, as teacueE vi
the law of life to say that in your reply you abored
under at least two mistakes. First, in supposing
that desired to scribbe mere stale controversy,
rather than have my inquiries seriously met Hence
YOUR requirement of originality on my part and sub
mission Of my articles to your inspection, and your
indirect but unms,akable request that the inside
editor should subserre this purpose Of yours.
Second, in supposing that meant to advocate
some favorite system of religion. Hence your
mighty tilt against the Catholics, in which you made
an onslaught against all other sects, and rudeIy
pushed YOUR own back into the night OF tlme,"
and closed your eyes against its well known origin.
To require me TO be original upon The tirst part oil
my oposition-assuming it to be true-'s TO re-
ouire me to violate truth. Because truth IS always
the same, and cannot change. And upon this sub
ject it may be transmitted, not originated.
Besides, upon matter of such vital interest, u
would be an act Of injustice to the readers OF your
paper to suppress stronger for weaker argument.
The truth is. Sir, the question before US is plan
abstract proposition, in the discussion OF "hich
there is no necessity or proprety in making in'iol,
Gus illusions to or distinctions between any sect O.
Christians II Jesus Christ is not now on earth IN
the form of visible, authoritative and infable
church as teacher of the christian faith, then this
faith is an impossibity
This may seem strange TO you, considering how
YOU and were raised, and in country where
teachers of the faith are made and treated as un-
tremendously as petty constable.
But so it is, we have the teachers, and wish now
to know from you what is the true teaching.
You have said that misranslated the Creek
but this translation is the approved by bundreds
nay, millions of others. If every one is t" he
preacher for himself, will you please to say who is
to be the hearer2
If every one is to be teacher for himself, who is
to be the learner-tlc disciple
1t is not the dictate of merely, but the ac-
,ual teaching of scripture, that we are in serious
difficulty and danger upon this subject Our
most dear brother Paul, according TO the wisdom
given to him. hath written TO you, as also IN all hls
epises speaking in them of these things, in when
are some things hard to be understood, which the
unlearned and unstable wrest: as also the other
scriptures, to their own perdition. ."-2 Ihes' ch
These things are hard to be understood" This
is my difficulty, and yet misnterpretatlon involves
my perdifion-this is my danger.
Two men may have each the bible, but neither
have the word of God for this consists in the true
meaning of the word Of God. Opposite and con-
tradictory interpretations on the part OF Gods min
listers are an awful SANDER upon the Holy Ghost.
He would not send his ministers to teach US such a
tissue of plpable contradictions, to believe which
is all impossibily though they may swear to 1t with
tears in their eyes. Why have you received the
gospels Of ST. Mark and st. Luke, who were not
Apostles, and rejected an authentic work of great
excellence, written by one who was an Apostle and
declared 10 he ta., of Tie ioly Ghost. speak OF
St. Barraos. .:e;s !! 2iActs IA ch.
If lar. - r.a@ 81. F, och myself, it is certainly
impor -: :.,. - -e;. gospel am to read. In
my IL, 49, "r tie hrsl o@' years ''-
ter Gil, purious gospels were pro-
mulga.ru =. ,. o.. being dead and the gates
of hell or something else" having prevailed against
the church, how were the spurious eliminated
! from the genuine gospels, so that may now know
with certainty that am not called upon to believe
the spurious! Answer this, and answer it to the
reasonable satisfaction not of women and children.
but of men who expect to give a reason for the
Gait; within thcn,'-or infdelity is inevitable
How is it that private Interpretation Of scripture
leads to infdelily the part of one and to christi
anity on the part Of another, and that too after
learned and profound study as in the case OF our
DR.. COOPER Infdety in such case is legiti-
mate conclusion, and stands on one and the same
ground as your belief, to wit: private judgement.
The bible we are told is book of peace and recon-
cation, but vet see hundreds Of sects all claim
ing to be teachers Of the word Of G"d, wrangEng,
arguing, disputng controvcrting and contradlct'ng
each other as to its meaning and only agreeing to
recognise each other as christians upon condition
that each should be allowed select his own faith.
|, is true that for ME to exercise that certain and
unwavering and cheerful assent Of the will and un-
dcrsanding, (Which is taith) to the teaching Of one
exclusive of The others, is an impossiblity-yet |
cannot see why should not in effect, be recognized
as pretty fair christian, exercising as do private
| judgment, and being my own teacher without the
fear or favor Of any one. do not pretend to say
that there il no such thing earth as the christian
fai,h-but | do say that if there is, there must be
!! Just such teacher is required by my PROPOSE
ton. II our multitude of teachers were silencrd, q
! difficulty would remain. For he who grounds his
faith on scripture only, that is on the result Of his
exegetical sudes has no faith, can have none, and
understands not its very nature. Must he not be
always ready to receive better information; must
he not admit the possibility, that by mature study OF
scripture another result may be obtained than that
which has already been arrived att The thought
Of this very possibility precludes tie establishment
of any decided, perfectly undoubtins and unshaken
faith which alone is deserving of the name.
Opinion is not faith, and more. it s not the faith
II this is not true, then hold that DR.. COOPER died
in the faith. lNQolREk.
For the Advertiser.
AT meeting of Sauda SentineIs," held at
Mount Willing, on Saturday the Gath Of May, for
r ,f enoot IN