The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-01-05


every good work suggested by enlightened
beneyolence or Christian duty. His theo-
lloical studies were Systematically pursued
through many years, in whatever leisure his
profession allowed him. His favorite au-
thors were Hooker, Baxter, Watts, Faber,
Flayel, Robert Hall, DOddridge and Jay,
Massillon and BoudalOue were frequently
in his hands. Of Baxter, he says, in a let
ter to his daughter-"I took up the Saints
Rest lately, and found it like an old sandal
wood box, as fresh and fragrant as if it had
lust been made, although it has been eX-
haGne its odour for hundred and eighty
years" :.
He had been a careless witness, in his
Younger day, to that prevalence OF free
thinking, in reference to the authenticity of
the Christian religion, which, at that period,
had become somewhat notable in Virginia.
The reflections of his ripper age pictured this
tendency of opinion, to his mind, as an IN
sidious and fearful malady, which was not
less destructive of the integrity of the social
constitution, than it was perilOus to the in
diyidual. He had himself read VOltaire,
Bolngbroke, Hume, GibbOn, Shaftesbury,
Rousseau, Paine, and Goodwin, and other
strong or striking writer's Of that school;
bue they had not shaken the groundwork
of MS faith. DE could read and admire,
discriminate and repel. He was, neverthe-
less, fully aware of the fascination which
their learning, genius, wit and eloquence
gave to their intrepid scepticism. He had
often occasion to remark how brilliant par
adOx and bold assault upon common opinion,
witty apophthegm and dexterous satire cap
tivate even vigorous minds, predisposed by
education or by temper to assail whatsoever
rests upon the authority of the past; and his
personal experience had warned him how
much more subtly these devices were calcu-
lated to ensnare and capture the unfOrtihed
mind of youth. This conviction ripened
into painful soicitude of which we have
many proofs in his correspondence. His
admonitions to his children and to his youn-
GER friends are often pointed against this
danger. l find his letters urging them to
the careful perusal of Horne's Introduction
to the Critical Study of the Scriptures,
Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in
answer to the Age of Reason, Buffers
Analogy, Paley's Evidences of the Chris
tan Religion, Addisons Tract on the same
subiect,-Faber's Difficulties of InhdeEty,
and other works of this class. To Horne's
Introduction, particularly, he was accus-
toned to express his obligations for the con-
yiction of his own mind,-and he never lost
an opportunity of commencing it to friend.
Mr.. Wirt's estimate of religion was di-
rected rather to what it taught men to do,
in eontradistinctiOn to what, in the region
of theology, it taught them to think; he was
therefore much less devoted to sect than he
was to that higher essence Of Christianity
which is common-or processes to be So
to ali sects. Duty had an exalted signii =
canoe IN his esteem. 1t was the summary
of his morals, the constant Indictment to his |
labors, and the practical demonstration of
his piety. 1t rendered him humble before
his God, faithful to his country, true to his
iellow-man, scrupulous in Judgment of him
self.
Constructing his religious opinions upon
this basis, his mind re ected religious SEN
sualism in all its forms. He sought in reE-
gion a qualification Of the understanding
and not of the senses. He cultivated
simple worship, which did not depend upon
the stimulus of the imagination for Its earn
estness or its perseverance. 81 do not think
he says in his corespondence-"that en-
thusiasm constitutes religion, or that Hea-
ven 3 pleased with the smoke of the pas
sions, any more than with the smoke Of rams
or bulls. There is a calm, steady, enight-
ened religion Of the rational soul, as firm
as it is temperate, which | believe is the re-
igion of Heaven. Its raptTes are those
Of the mind, not of the passions; its costa
sizes are akin to those of Dayid."-Kenaedy. |