Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-12-14

.yo.euh BARKER.


in this town on the subject OF Religion, q
subjec, preeminently above allothers as re-
CARDS the welfare Of mankind, is, as the
! editor has kindly informed his readers,
known BY tia, very indefinite term lnhdel,
as "a, present applied to all reformers, MIR.
BARKER has formerly been very efficient
dispenser OF the Gospel, and has said aud
FIFTEEN great many very beautiful things
in favor Of Christianity. But having dis
covered a mass of testimony disproving its
ruth, and impressed with the conviction that
the advocacy Of error is always pernlc!ous,
he has, as an honest man always should,
renowned his former profession and opln-
Ions, aid be nov says and writes as many
beautiful things against religion as he FORM
erly e.d in its favor, of which fact the public
can Judge BY listening to his lectures.
A. regards the correctness OF morals OF Il
person changing his views on religious sub
jects, adopting this or that religious opinion,
or,enouncing them all, no candid person
will doubt. If they should, would very
revereitiv ark, in what category they would
place the great reiorncrs Moses, Contucins'
Xaras.cr, Luther, Calvin, aud a host Of 9th
er distinguished men ). IL.
As the editor grants his old "lnhde!'
friend, DR.. H., space TO speak OF Dir. BAR
kkx,- he bess about the same ainount OF
room for couple Of short extracts taken
at random from Mr.. BARKEg's writings be-
fcre he apasta lied from Christianity -
the arguments in favor Of tn. truth and
divinity OF Christianity are more numerous
aud powerful at present, than they were IN
aces past: and they gre becoming more
numerous and powerful still. Even unbe-
levers themselves are obliged to acknow-
ledge nov, that many OF those doctrines
which were objected TO, during the last two
or three generations. as irrational anu m
credible, are in truth, no parts of the religion
Of Christ, and therefore no proofthat Christ
| ianity is irrational and incredible"
| The doctrines OF the Gospel are unfold
/ ed, and evidence Of their truth is supplied
/ In abundance, from every quarter. The Cos
j pei carries along with i evidences OF its
! divinity in its own doctrines; and evidences
Of its divinity are furnished by The Whole
| current Of history. Proofs Of the truth OF
/ tie Gospel doctrine are scattered through
| the whole universe and not day or night
passes by, but what lifts up lis voice in at
j testation OF its divine original Sill some
d, MT believa. And If the evidence was
/ thousand times stronger, il is possible that
some might be unbalieyers st!li. Evidence
i has no power 10 such as Viii not regard II.
/ Man has il in his power to close LIS eyes,
and ears, and heart, 10 every sight, and
sound, and gracious influence .ht the universe.
! II a person should say-"Gise the man sui.
tieieut light, aud he cannot help but ee,"
y hen he knew at the same time that the
man had put ont his eyes, you would take
| the man to be clubbing, OF Else set him
down j: 5 wanting in intellect. And it is the
same with the man who speaks as il pcrs
on's belief depended solely on the amount
Of evidence with which he is supplied. N
arguments can have any effect on dog ans
swine, because they have not capacity Il
take in arguments; and it is possible toi
men to 50 far initiate the deg and the
swine in their conduct, as TO reduce them
| selves to level with them in poin. OF ca
pacity Men may so far corrupt and perVeF.
their faculties b. sin, that they shall put
darkness for light, and light for darkness
cal! evil coed, and good evil There were
such characters in the days ofth4 Savior
and he appears to have had reference t.
such characters in his sermon on the mount
when he said, "Giye not that which is holy
to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls be
lore swine, lest they tralhpe them undei
Their feet, and turn again and rend you
Matt. vii, 6. Ii ctr opponents follow tbs
advice Of their leader, Robert Owen, with
respect to the unrestraned indulgence o
their appetites, they have no need TO seet
for the caue of their uabelef in the wan
Of evidence; they may fad it nearer home.