Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-09-30
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
"THAT MESSENGER OF GOD"

For the Yorkville Enquirer.
"THAT MESSENGER OF GOD"
Mr.. Editor Il must confess that this sort Of
writing is not pleasant, and that Icommence this
communication without that feeling Of animation
necessary to make it interesting to one class Of
readers but looking to the object and end for
which this discussion was undertaken, and inn
pressed with o sense of the duty resting upon me,
I take up the burden, as an individual afflicted
with some constitutional arrangement, swallows
dose of nauseous medicine, not from the love Of
the physic. but from hoped.for good to result
finally from it. can truly say, this discussion
was not of my seeking and the ultimate object Of
it shall end, hope, only with the end Of my e1-
istence on earth. My purpose in all have said
was not, or shall soy will not be designed for the
passing moment, but looks to the good Of those
who shall occupy the places in society, which both
E. A. Crenshaw and myself before long, accor-
ding to well known la,p of Providence, or, If the
expression be preferred, according to the will of
God, will occupy no longer. Ihope, it has been
apparent, that write for the intelligence of the
country, and not for the applause of the ground
lings.
The special design of the present writing is to
prove from the authority Of confessedly distin
guished theological authors, that conscience in
man, as the workmanship of God, and as it comes
into being from his hand, is not blank and un-
meaning thing-that tits endowed by our Almighty
Maker with important powers and prerogatives
inherently-that these exist independent of all
outward objects, circumstances, or rules and that
conscience is a most important portion Of mans
moral nature, exhibiting the power, wisdom and
glory of God as all His works more or less must
necessarily do.
DR.. Thornwel properly observes: "It is one
thing to say that reason is la~, and another to
say that it is perfect law" In contending for
conscience as law, I have never yet signifed by
single word, that it is perfect law, or that it
supersedes or sets aside the revealed law, that
the revealed law is not, when understood, the
paramount law; but do contend that conscience,
showing the work of the law written in the heart
by the finger of God is sufficient to leave man in
excusable, though they have no other law; and
that the Christian who attempts to disparage this
work of God in mans moral nature, and scouts
its dictates as it reveals and proclaims the will Of
its omnipotent Fashoner is playing into thehands
and following the fashion Of inidety and atheism.
The duty of the Christian is to recognize God in
all his works: for His works are all in harmony
with each other, and in each his hand displays in
o degree his heart.
But let US attend to DR.. Thornwell. He says:
"The elemental principles Of right, therefore,
which are involved in the very conception of a
moral nature, must be conceded to man as man.
They are the birthrghts Of his being, and not the
legacy of subsequent revelation. An intelligent
creature, without primitive beliefs to determine and
regulate the operations of the cognitive faculties,
would be no greater absurdity than moral andres.
ponsibe creature without primitive la,rs Of right to
determine and regulate the operations Of moral
Judgment" This language of DR.. Thornwel is
plain to those who wish to understand. Those hav-
ing his book, and who have read it as they should
have done will readily find the extract, and those
not having the work, care nothing for the page.
According, then, to DR.. Thornwell, certain 'prim-
itiue laus of right to determine and regulate the
operations Of moral Judgmsne' in man "are the
birthright of his being, and not the legacy Of
subsequent revelation" these primitive laws must
be conceded to man as man. In what then does
DR.. Thornwell differ in this respect from A Pres
byterian, when I said in my first article that
"God has given all of his creatures laos in forms
other than written in the Holy Bible"-not other
laws, or all laws and these laws ''are written In
the light and law of nature-in His Providence
in reason properly exercised-and in conscience"
Does DR.. Thornwell mean to signify that these
s.primitiue belies," and these 'primitiue lars Of
right" either make void, supersede, or contradict
the revealed word of God? Such supposition is
absurd. Why then should such supposition be at
tributed to "a Presbyterian" when no language
from him has contributed to such imagination Be-
sides, Dr. Thornwell in various places of his book
uses these expressions "original principles Of
right spontaneous processes Of conscience"
-"its (conscience) fundamental laws"-'prime
data"-"they the scriptures) presuppose con.
science, or sense Of the fundamental differences
of right and wrong"-"laws Of conscience" and
ssprimary dcta of our moral nature''-which clear
ly indicate his sentiments on the subject under
consideration, and establish the whole view for
which "a Presbyterian" contends.
In accordance with these remarks Of DR.. Thorn
we'll are the following extracts from Rev. McCosh:
"But while all philosophers ancient and modern,
with the exception of those who wished toproduce
universal skeptloism, agree in regarding certain
principle, as presupposed when the mind is employ
ed intellectually it has not been so frequently OBJ.
served that there are similar principles implied In