Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-05-23
Where Did he get that Law ?

i
the Bible to examine it, character have been con-
strained to acknowledge its perfect moral stan
/ dard We are told that in city OF ono OF the
northern States, lived u lawyer Of eminence and
talents. lie was notoriously prohne, llc had a
colored boy at whom his neighhOrs used to hear
him swear with all violence. One day this gen
tleman met professor of religion who was ais
Il lawyer. und said to him, wish sir to examine
into tho truth of tho Christian religion, What
books would you advise mo to read on tho evil
dencc of christianity
Tho Christian surprised at tho inquiry re-
piled
That is n question sir, which you ought to
have settled long ago. You ought not to have
put of subject so important to this late period ol
| life
,ls it too latel' said tho inquirer. | never
know much about it, but always supp ,scd that
Christianity was rejected by the great majority
of learned men. l intend however, now to ex-
anime the subject thoroughly myself | have
upon me- as my physicians say, mortal disease
under which may live year and halt or tw"
Years, Years bu. not probably longer. What books
sir, would you advise me to read
The Bible, said his friend
i believe YOU don't understand me, resumed
the unbehever, surprised in his turn; Il wish to
investigate the truth of the Bible
Il would advise you, sir, repeated the Chris.
tian read the Bible. And, he continued,
will give you reasons. Most inhdels are very G-
norant of the Scriptures. Now to reason on any
subject correctly we must understand what it is
which wc reason about. In the next place, |
consider the internal evidence OF the truth OF the
Scriptures stronger than the external
And where shall begin inquired the un'
believer. with the New Testament!
NO, replied the elder, at the beginning, at
Genesis.
The infdel bought Bible, went home, and
sat down to tho serious study OF its contents, to
try rigidly but impartially its truth.
AS he went on in its perlsal, he received oc-
casionaly calls from his christian friend.
The infidel freely remarked upon what he had
read, and stated his objections. He liked this
passage-he thought such text touching and
beautiful, but he could not credit third.
One evening the friend called and found the
unbeever at his house walking the room with
detected look, his mind apparently absorbed in
thought not noticing that any one had come In.
lie continued to walk the room. His friend at
length spoke:
You seem, sir, to be IN brown study. OF
what are you thinking!
Il have been reauing the moral law
Well what do you think of it! asked the
elder.
Il will tell YOU what used to think, answer
of horde of banditti that having q strong
mind, he acquired great influences over super
stitious people, and that on Mount Sinai, he
played off some sort of fireworks to the amaze
ment of his ignorant followers, who imagined,
in their mingled fear and superstition that the
exhibition was supernatural
But what do you think now! intcrposed his
friend.
-. heyo hez7, lootirc;,' said tho infdel, into
the nature of that law. | have been trying tc
see whether can add anything to it, or take
ANYTHING any from it, so as to make It better Sir, l
cannot. 1t is perfect, perfect law. The first
commandment continued he, directs us to make
the Creator the object of our supreme love and
reverence. This is right. If he be cur Creator
Preserver and Supreme Benefactor, we ought to
treat him, and none other rs such. The second
forbids idoatry That certainly is right. The
third forbids profaneness. The fourth fixes
time for religious worship. If there be God
he ought to be worshippid. 1t is suitable tha
there should be an outward homage Significant o
our inward regard. If God be worshipped 1t Is
proper that some time should be set apart iol
that purpose when all may worship him har
moniously and without interruption One day
in seven certainly is not too much, and | do no
know that it is too little The fifth defines tht
peculiar duties arising from the family relations
Injuries to our neighbors are then classified BY
the m oral law They are divided into offences
against life, chastity, property and character. =
And said he, (applyng legal idea with ega
acuteness) 1 notice that the greatest offence il
each class is expressly forbidden Thus TIT
greatest injury to life is murder; to chastity
adultry; to property. theft to character, PERU
ry and the greatest offence must include ever.
injury to purity, and 80 of the rest And tn
moral code is closed and perfected by comman
forbidding every improper desire in regard to ou
\ neighbors 81 have been thinking, he proceeded
where Moses could have found that law. hav
read history. The Egyptians and the adipcen
nations were idolaters so were the Greeks an
Romans; and the wisest and best Greeks or Ro
mans lever gave u code of morals like this
Where then did Moses get this law. l agai
ask myself-a law which surpasses the wisdor
and philosophy of the most enlightened ages /
He lived at period comparatively barbarou'
but he has given code of laws in which tn
learning and sagacitv of all subsequent time ca
detect no flaw Whe did he getit! lie coul
not have scared so far above his age as to hay
devised it himself. am satisfied where he OF
tanned it. 1t came down from heaven. l al
convinced of the truth of the religion of I'll
, Bible