The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-09-24
FoR THE DEMOCRAT.
INFIDELs.


impropriety ia the discussion Of the truths Of
Christianity in a secular or political paper, pro-
vided it's readers take an interest in it The
object CT secular journal is to please ite patrons
and readers, and it is the duty Of Christianity to
sssk every opportunity to present its claims to the
public Row. if these be truths, it follows that q
discussion of the divine origin of Christ or, what
is the same, the discussion Of Infdelity, is quite
proper, whether in secular journal, in the pulpit,
on the public Streets or in the private circle.
If the divine origin of Christ be unreasonable CT
untrue, it cannot be too soon banished from the
thoughts Of men. But If, on the other hand, it
be true, it is truth of such transcendent impor-
tance that it should be presented to the universal
acceptance of men on all occasions and at all
times, provided order and decorum bs prsservsd
Your correspondent, Junius, therefore, does
nothing wrong when he presents his objections to
the religious system of Christ in secular paper,
provided he be actuated by love of truth--by o
not unamiable feeling. You do nothing wrong,
Mr.. Editor, in printing them, if you thereby
please and crafty your readers. While the
world stands, truth can never be injured by dis
cussion-can never be injured by the closest scru-
tiny of her.
And moreover, men present their objections to
Christianity at all times and on oil occasions.
There is hardly q sermon preached in which the
objections to Christianity fail to be presented A
sermon is defense against the objections men
bring against it. Nothing prevents the universal
spread of Christianity but the objections men
urge in opposition. The object Of preaching,
therefore, is to defend Christianity; and the only
mode, of which have any knowledge, in which
that defense can be maintained, is by fairly and
fully presenting the objections to the system of
Christ, and then showing their want of foundation
in reason. Every objection referred to by Junius
have heard referred to in the pulpit, times
without number, and as often there shown to be
groundless.
The idea that Christians should, or could prop.
erly, object to the presentation Of objections
against Christianity, is simply an absurdity. 1t
is the main cfice Of the Gospel ministry to dra,o
forth from men their objections to becoming
Christians.
profess to be Chiistian-one Of many years
standue-ani never fail to ask men, on all
proper occasions, why they do not become Christ
ians. This pits them at once to presenting their
objections l am glad to preach the truth of the
origin of Christ, TO Infdels, wherever can gain
their ear.
OF course do not think political journal the
best place where the discussion should be carried
on but then. the objection should not come from
Christians l think the best place to carry on
this dispute is in the pulpit think all Infdels,
in pursuit of truth, should privately present their
objections to Christs public ambassadors, and
these objections should, in the pulpit, receive due
respect and due consideration. But still, if inf
dels or sinners prefer another mode, it is not the
part of wisdom in Christians to refuse to avail
themselves Of that mode, occasionally. They are
to be all things to all men, if haply they may save
some. The injunction of Christ to his eficers is
TO "Go" in search of the opposers Of His system,
and preach it to ''epery creature hearing and
answering questions. But, sir, for one, think
Junius entirely mistaken in his supposition that
Infdels are abused in the Christian Church. |
have been an attentive attendant upon the ordi-
nance of preaching, and have, think yet to hear
one word of abuse of Infdes There is dis
tinction between Inidels and Infidety, which
preachers, | am persuaded habitually take
Abuse is uyoundsa charges of i'll conduct or i'm
proper principles. The charges must be unfoundsd
to constitute abuse. J. have, confess heard
ministers lash In6delity. and lash it deservedly.
But the prOpriety of this depends upon the truth
or falsty of the system Of Christ.
If the Gospel points out the only pathway to
permanent happiness and security, then, as Inf
deity opposes Christianity it opposes the only
method known to men, calculated to raise our
race in the scale of being. If it do this, as is
charged upon it by the disciple Of Christ then,
the castigation it gets is not abuse, but right and
proper.
No man has any just ground of complaint
against any abuse of principles whose practice
stands in the way of the public happiness 1t is
charged upon Infdelity tha, 1t impedes the public
happiness, and the reason given for the charge is
that 1t opposes the dlVne origin and authority of
Christ, whom we regard as the only name given
under heaven whereby men may be saved
Very many Christians have tried Infdelity.
The general rule is for men FIRST to be Infidels,
and then Christians-hence our recruits come
from the ranks of the Infdels. We make a
hundred times more Christians out Of Infidels
than Inidelity out of Christians In other words.
where one Christian falls back to the embrace Of
Infdelity, hundred Infidels embrace Christ.
Opposition to Christ is lnfdelity, and it may be
or practical, or both. Those Of us
who have tried Infdelity do not think well of it.
We have tried the system of Christ, and like it
exceedingly. We have never known the instance
of any one, who passed from Infdelity to Christ
regret the change in ts hour Of death But we have
known many Infdels regret their choice, when
remorse, vain and fruitless remorse was their only
consolation. Christians are willing to give any
assurance of which they are capable, of their firm
conviction that the truth Of Christ tends to the
oy and comfort Of the sonl, in adversely and
in sickness and health, and in the
hour of impending death. We, from the expert.
snce that we have had of Infdelity, think it has
40 such beneficial tendencies, butrthe contrary.
We think it gloomy and unsocial we think it
lrear and forhidding; we think II poorly quail
led to aid any in til effort to rise above the
Iorninion nf animal dasiraa. We think Il ;roo,oa