Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-05

CoxSuSIcArED.
Mr.. BarbOur's Lecture.

i lNoAHCNiCArED.
Mr.. BarbOur's Lecture.
The fourth Lecture before the Young Mems Chris
tiAn Association, delivered on Friday evening, at
the Second Baptist Church, by b johnson Barbour Esq
II gave We believe. general satisfaction and excited
among some OF hi- hearers know, enthusiastic adn-
ration II ~as learned and eloquent defence Of Chris
nil against the attacks Of modern scepicism with it,
boa-tu "oppp-tious Of science falsely called" The
pretensOns of OF the recent discoveries afforded
tempting theme for the eKercis of those powers Of wit
and satire, ~ith which this gentleman Is known to De en-
do~ed Subectiug these dnngerou. weapons to the nau
ence Of good taste and christian charity he used them
with effect in portraying -ophistry and ab.uriity
In the Library Of the Vatican h- -ad there il copy
of the New Testament bearing on one Of ts leave,
lines written by Longinu-, ia which, sitter recording the
names OF various philosophers he add Paul of Tarsus
the patron OF opinion yet fully proved This in.
tere-ng fragment he said should indicate the course OF
his remarks 1t might remind of another fragment
which shows Us that Paul standing upon Mars
Hill, amid the dead and living PHILOSOPHERS of
Greece, and answering Platos question what is virtue
And Pilates question what is TRUTH With two words
| -Christ and the Resurrection.
IL were welperhaps linger around these ancient phi
osophes in order to show the dezded victims of mod
ern systems that their notions but the revival Of
theories that had been tried and found wanting-but
OF Christianity in our day aud generation that he pro
posed to speak It, past history hidden in innuerable
details apparent in glorious results. Az anst human
pride and over empires it had fought its way. Why hA.
/ il not achieved mOres
The scorner cries
Aud proves it by the cry.
Christianity Is ielt to be grand and awful eiity-by
those who cannot dismiss it a deluson though they
will not seek il friend. Why has it done more
Let each heart the question The shall be
found in the peryersity OF tire human heart which We fee
anu perceive more IN spiritual than temporal things in
both We spend time and money, and waste human life,
to ind Northwest passage, useless if found yet merely
TALK OF ship canal connecting interropcal
Mr. Barbour considered Humes argument against
miracles contendng that the Law OF nature whose sus
pension that philosopher thought less probable event
than that the narrator, hosever reliable false
hood was itself miracle. lie compared the interruption
nature 10y The exercise OF miraculous power To the
cisiona di-cor in the work of Mozart which made the
symphony burst forth sweetly
IN considering the false SYSTEMS Of the day Mr. Bar
bour said he would risk the fate OF GOOD Ogen old
who whSn he thought he had succeeded ia
all the heresies OF hi- time informed by his coempo-
| raries oi the existence OF an hundred ones aud
maiciously told that his views thc greatest
herrsy of all He could not the perpetual why
lie proposed "a speak few words that class who
show their respect for Christianity by the distance
which they stand There minds who profess
ei regard for II, alt formed thought that il is merely
respectable tradition that the Bible Is well enough TO give
olemuiiy To oaths but that requires intel
rctual elion-that modern science had shown its his
n5y to be At fault, and modern philanthropy improved
| upon is bcncvoleuce.
Fac that facts, said Mr. B. increase the happiness
/
scOrn Sierm enough tor the man. who Tor the "a
oi uOorety produces reckless sap the ounda
ons o that Faith which gives comfort Passing the
consideration OF modern metaphysical philosophers M
Barbour selected Sir William Hamilton an, Cousin and ex-
hbed the process 10y which alter profound problems and
answers passed from the the other Hamilton
reached the conclusion that the 6te could compre-
hend the infinite. and literally making addition the
Inscription OF ancient heath,nism had pronounced the
Divine Being TO be the Hn nkHolr, and kHord6ie Col
| These were his words. Mr. T. proposed that
in of rnfrl,
Philosopher, erect in Edinburgh, temple thus inscribed
but tie could say how long the cOuntrymeu OF John
Knox would permit it to remain Mr.. b. pronounced the
philosophy OF .rnHy 10 be the HfHite of absurlity.-
Lorg the Bible had asked who by searching can find
out God, and Paul had been content TO saw NOW we
know in part. But this philosophy is ever asking and
never answering. tie would not undertake the
domain OF the German systems with their egJs and non.
sgos their sciites and oeeti'es. lie could hear the
dn OF the belgerents hid R 2g and recognized the
war OF nhnites waged without results by Scheng and
hant The lecturer then quoted the beautiful aud i'm
prcsve testimony OF Colrlge who having roamed
less yoyager amid increasing doubt and darkness returned
TO simple aud chidke faith in Christ the highest wis
dom and the purest happiness need something Chris
tani supplies that something 1t is !he opening eye and
the dawning light Faith at once the arched roof and
completing keysto
1t pass, continued Mr.. b. from philosophy 10 the
positive sciences which OF these say complete.
II We consider Geology aud its interesting connections
with zoology botany and comparative anatomy who does
not DO" TO It's wchery and own tie suggestive influence
OF its relics, But here too, find pcrpeIity and un-
certainty Twenty years ago the old Red sand Stone
was considered the ultima thule OF discovery but more
recently the contest had been between the Sluran and
the Cambran controversy what similar the ques-
ton whether Pelion upon OsSa Ossa upon Peion
How the boundaries Of these pncpaes TO be ad.
u'ted dd not yet appear unless Austrian negotia
tor should come III and Idke6oh. As vet, bdsi,
had GsH found for peacgiR HfsOtiGnoHs. The opera
tons OF geological science did not embrace
part OF the earths surface They should alarm noue aud
the Christian least of all Beyond Certain point ap-
peAed that even the leaves OF the stone book
broken up by time as TO give forth no language. FroH
these ana similar considerations adduccd by him. Mr. b.
saw IN geology no stumbling block Christianity We
are not bound to consider the six days creation mum.
OeTns our own periods OF time, If time counied
III Heaven a. II i upon earth.
Passing to the evidences OF astronomy the lecturer
crbed much OF the controversy predcatcd upon this
ece To the obsnacy OF doctors who would its
truths because they had not been dreamed OF in their phi
osophy. Had Calico announced his discoveries a. aid.
to truth rather than truths subversve Of existing
tens. be lsd passed like Copcrncus unharmed. lie was
alike wanting in the simplicity OF science and the courage
OF the martyr. BY placing Luther and Calico side BY
side, We learn whether science religion inspire.
It's disciples with moral courage. HoNever humbng il
may bc 20 find that where We had supposed few thou
sand stars TO exist untold millions found, the Chris
Van hnds ~ true science the ally OF religion. Humboldt
had undertaken to describe the uniycr-yet after vo-
lne aiter volume and appendix acr appendix cou ssed
thai the best COSMOS was found ~ the lOih Psalm.
MI u. next alluded 10 the modern teachings on the
/ oi the poet.
While We give laws to distant worlds
We trihe with own.
Tie pronounced the theory Of Jumps and sparks and in
candcsccnt masses hing oG from the anvil Of creation "
oc the substitution Of rrvvctcnt ior the rung
periods OF the lsth Psalm. Even mathematics j. still try
ing To rsect rs angles duplicate it, cus and square IL.
circles She could never cllciiatc the proposition,
Where self Is given 10 find out God
But said Mr. b. have deal with Indifference rather
than lnhichty When man. u earnest asks i there
tod thousand witnesses within and around Us an.
swer there g. l. Tie God Of love? Faith, reason. sci
encc tells u he sthen has he lett thousands OF years
without one word uf command token OF affection -
Musi cry with kfchcr. I'VE have Father and rea-
te the conception OF Lucrcus CrvatOu without support
or protection, fsling falling
Nr H. dwet upon the influence OF religion upon ind-
dvidua happiness and character anl the CONSERVATION
Of national safety Tie had endeayorcd to show its
superiority o. human Wisdom and human coutryanccs
tie saw great benefits likely from such an asso-
ciaou a that before him. enistng s the available strength
ois members While charged upon the tha,
the religion which they advocate their trade t
the Dascs Of moral cowardcc n the lay for.
VA tn flt4r~ ILL.,. a..