Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-12-14
fsor ,hs CAKE lie .
Joseph Barker.

i
in this town on the subject Of Religion, .
subject prominently above all Others as re-
CARDS the welfare OF mankind, Is, as the
! editor has kindly informed his readers,
/ known BY tina, very indefinite term lniidel,
/ as al present applied to all reforners, AIR.
j BARKER has formerly been very efficient
/ dispenser of the Gospel, and has said and
/ " fifteen great many very beautiful things
in favor Of Christianity. But having dis
covered a mass oitestimony disprosing It's
ruth, and impressed with the conviction that
the advocacy OF error is always pernlctoas'
he has, as an honest man always Should
renowned his former profession and opin-
. Ions, ard he nov says and writes as many
! beautiful things agains, religion as he form.
erly ed in It's favor, Of which fact the pabs:c
can judge By listening 70 bis lectures.
As regards the correctness OF morals d
person changing his views on religious sub
jects, adopting this or thu, religious opinion,
or,enouncing them all, no candid person
Will doubt. Ii they should. would very
reyereitiy ask, in what category they would
place the grea, reformcrs Moses, Confueius
Zariasscr, Luther, Gavin, aud a host OF 9TH
eg distinguished men }. IL.
As the editor grants his old "lnfdel'
friend, DR.. H., space to speak OF Dir. BAR
k4z,- he bess about the same amount OF
room for couple Of short extracts taken
al random from Mr.. BARKER's writings be-
fere he aPosta lied from Christianity =
The arguments in favor OF tn. truts and
divinity OF Christianity are more numerous
and powerful at present, than they were III
/ ages past: aud they IRE becoming more
numerous and powerful still. Even unbe-
] licsers themselves are obliged 10 acknow-
! ledge nov, that many OF those doctrines
1 which were objected 10, during the last two
or three generations, as irrational anu m
i credible, are in truth no parts Of the religion
/ Of Christ, and therefore 10 proof that Christ
iantv is irrational and mere d.be.'
| The doctrines OF the Gospel are unfold
ed, and evidence oil their truth is supplied
In abundance, from every quarter. The Cos
pei carries along with i evidences oil It's
divinity In its own doctrines: and evidences
of It's divinity are furnished by the whole
current If history. Proofs OF tie truth OF
the Gospel doetriae are scattered through
the whole universe. and not day or night
passes BY, but what lifts up It's voice in at
testaiion Of its divine original. Still some
d, MT believe. And, il the evidence was
| thousand times stronger, il Is possible that
some might BE- unbeleyers still. Evidence
has no power 10 such Us will not regard it,
Man has il in his power to close his eyes,
AMI ears, and heart, to every sight, and
sound and gracious influence n the universe.
/ If i person should say-"t,ie the mau sui.
fcient light, and lie cannot help but see
Hhen he knew at the same tine that Tie
man had put out his eyes, you would take
! tie NTH 10 be gaitbilng, or Else SET HIM
down S wanting in intellect. And il is the
same with the man Who speaks as i! pcrs
on's belief depended solely on the amount
Of evidence with which he is supplied.
arguments can have any effect on dog and
swine, because they have not capacity II
take in arguments; aud it Is possible for
men 10 80 far initiate the dog and the
swine in their conduct, as 10 reduce them
selves to a level with them in poia. OF Gu
pac;y Msn may 80 far corrupt and perYcEt
their faculties by sin, that they shall put
darkness for light. and light for dur.sne IS
call evil coed, aud good evil There were
such characters in the days OF tha Savior,
and he apr ears to have had reference IL
| such characters in his sermon on the mount
whan he said, "Giyc not that which is holy
to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls b..
lore swine, lest they trainpe them under
Their feet, and turn again and rend you
/ Matt vii g. II our uan8uentS follow thl
advice Of their leader, Robert Owen. with
respect u the unrestrained Indulgence o.
their upPctites, they have no need TO sees
for the caa.e Of their unhelief in the wan
! Of evidence; they may fal it nearer home