The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-09-28
VOL. VIII.--N0. 366.
POPULAR INFIDELITY.

"What is your opinion of the amount of
inlidelity prevailingl" said one acquaintance
OF ours, a few days since, to another. ~ think
just thisi" was the reply, "that, Will. there is
very little difference Of belief as regards the
essential truths Of religion, such as the exis.
tence and paternnl character Of Supreme
Being, and the wisdom and goodness Of his
universal arrangements in nature, there is n
vast amount Of skeplicism as to the Dirins
ordination Of many Of the visible church
FERNS, ceremonies and dogmas Of our days,
which are made to fl .he foreground as es-
sentlals Of religion" There is, we fear, too
much truth in this reply. Whatever is claim.
ed for religion in accordance with the sublime
harmonles OF nature, or the sublimer, though
simple teachings of Christ, is accepted gladly
by every intelligent, ingenious mind, leaving,
Isearcely scofier or doubter; hut whatever is
claimed oonirsTy 10 such accordance, is rs
widely rejected, or branded with suspicion.
Religion, such as would justly represent
Christs life and lessons, which ought to be
the measure Of Christian faith and purity, has
suffered wickedly through iormalities, deceits,
and hyrocrisies, palmed upon mankind in its
name. Its triumphs have been retarded more
by the treason and falsehood of professed
friends, than by all assaults of open enemies,
and the abundance of this treason and false.
hood is what makes so many skcptcal to.
wards religious annunciations mistakincly
deemingi as they do, that what processes to
be religion or Christianity, must be. Acting
falsely with Voltare and Shelley, and scores
of the bravest intellectual spirits, they assume
that the visible church, good bad or indffer.
ent is the fruit OF Christianity, and proceed
to judge the tree by its fruit Here the mis-.
take is made. The Church may, in part; rep
resent the sound, ripe fruit of the tree of life,
but few will deny that it too often stands
for Dead Sea apples"-fair to the sight,
but bitter to the taste, and ashes 10 the
touch.
Proclaim Christ to-day anywhere, rs he
appeared and addressed himself to the mul.
ttnde, and the first rejecting scoffer Of his
precepts and morality, could not be found
Christ and Christianity, the body and soul Of
the only religion that has the slightest pract-
cability in its pursuit, to redeem the world,
the two great ideals toward which mankind
are every day more earnestly yearning All
may not comprehend them in the same form
or forms, bntall acknowledge in them tho
same glorious, rcdeeming spirit. Can it be
wondered there is skcpticsm toward much
that is put forward MS Christianity. The
wrestling Of his word and example to uphold
the most monstrous wrongs. Tho bunting
OF the edge of his anaihema against pride,
hatred, and usts of the flesh, pampered on
the very so.cnlled altars of God, and yet
calling it the true "Sword of the Spirit."-
How much of the real Christ does the church
present or preach to us? How much of the
Christ who cried, "Wo unto YOU scribes;
Pharisees, and lawyers"-or whoe-er waps
the tongue or lifts the hand to blind the poor
and ignorant to the way of righteousness and
truth. The people love and adore that Christ
who went among them seven days in tho
week, healing their wounds and soothing
their sorrows. But they recognize Him not
in the isolate, unfamiliar being set apart by
the church for special sabbath worship, and
exhibited to suit crceas and dogmas, from
purple pulpits, but scarcely called up for rs
membrance or consolation during the six days
OF toll and weariness. when his presence s
most needed
We speak these words more in sorrow thar,
bitieiness-so'row that those whs have
Christianity in special keeping, cannot, or
will not, introduce their Teacher and Master
TO the world, in that familiar and attractive
character which he assumed on Earth. Could
lie fail, thus introduced, to draw unto him
the fishermen and the cratiemen-would not
the widow and orphan, the sick, sorrowirc
and outcast, again follow Him, with blessings
on their lips, as erst on the Judean highways.
But the cold, white glare of marble walls,
and the glitter Of stained glass, rcpel these
poor O souls from the gorgeous altars dcdi.
Gated TOTO them-an "unknown God."-
Give them, o men, and women of the church,
that Saviour who scorned not to seat with
publcans and sinners" and who was and is.
the unfaing friend of the poor-who has
declared, "lf be lifted up, will draw all
men unto me,"-And there shall be no dam
gerous infdelity il your midst.