Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
WHERE DID HE GET THAT LAW 2

WHERE DID HE GET THAT LAW2'
In neat and beautiful city in one of the
northern states. lived lawyer of eminence
and talents. do not know many particulars
ofhis moral character, but he was notoriously
profane. He had negro boy, at whom his
neighhors used to hear him swear with aw
ful violence. One day this gentleman met a
decided Christian, who was also lawyer,
and said 20 him, Il wish sir to examine into
the truth of the Christian religion. What
books would you advise me to read for the
! evidences Of Christianity :"
The piuus lawyer, surprised at the inqui-
/ ry, replied, That is question, sir, which
/ you ought to have settled long ago. You
ought not have put off a subject SO important
1 to this late period Of life.
/ Is it TOO lnte,' asked the inquirer. i new
/ er knew much about it; but | always sup
| posed that Christianity was rejected by the
! great majority of oflearned men. | intend,
! however, to examine the subject thorough
! ~ myself. | have upon me, as my physi-
elan says, mortal disease under which |
/ may live a year and a half or two years, but
not probably longer. What books sir, would
you advise ne to read?
The Bible said the other.
I believe you do not understand me- re-
sumed the unbeliever. surprised in his turn;
4 wish to investigate the truth of the Bible
1 would advise you SIR repeated his
Christian friend, 10 read the Bible And he
continued 1 will give you my reasons
Most infidels are very ignorant of the Scrip
lures. Now, to reason on any subject with cor
rectness, we must understand what it is about
which We reason. In the next place, con-
slider the internal evidence of the truth of the
Scriptures stronger than the external
And where shall / begin ? inquired the
unbeiiever at the New Testament !?
No. said the other, at the beginning
at Genesis
The infidel bought commentary, went
home and sat down to the serious stldy of
the Scriptures. He applied all his strong
and well disciplined powers of mind to the
Bible, to try rigidly but impartially its truth.
As be went on the pernsal, he received oc-
casional calls from his professional friend -
The infidel freely remarked upon what he had
read, and stated his objections. He liked this
: passage-he thought1hat touching and beau
I tiful-but he could not credit third.
? One evening the Christian lawyer called,
: and found the unbeleger at home, walking
: the room with detected look his mind ap-
e parently absorbed in thought. He continued,
e not noticing that any one had come in,
busily to trace and retrace his steps. His
: friend at length spoke. You seem sir said
+ he, to be in brown study. OF What are
r you thinking y
!. I have been reading, replied the infdel,
: the moral law
I! We'll, what do you think of it ? asked
l. his friend.
o 4 will tell you what used to think, answer
r cd the infdel i supposed that Moses was
G the leader of horde Of bandit; that having
I ind ha rad inf re
it over o superStiticuS people; and that on
y Mount Sinai he played offsome sort of6rcworks
r TO the amazement Of his ignorant followers,
re who imagined, in their mingled fear and su-
perstition that the exhibition was supernat-
y ural'
:. But what do you think now !? interposed
r, his friend.
:. 1 have been looking said the infidel, 'intc
f the nature Of that law. | have been trying
to to see whether can add any thing to it, oi
n take anything from it, so as to make it bet
ID ter Sir, cannot. 1t is perfect.
a The first commandment, continued he
ID directs us to make the Creator the object 0
IL our supreme love and reverence. That j:
Sc right II he be our Creator, Preseryer, ant
It supreme Benefactor, we ought to treat him
I'd and none others, as such.
or The second forbids idolatry. That Ger
al tainly is right.
lg The third forbids profsneness.
10, 'The fourth fixes a time for religious wor
an ship If there be God he ought surely t,
d. be worshipped Ii is suitable that ther
should be an outward homage, significant O
;e- our inward regard If God be worshipped
IN it is proper that some time should be Sc
he apart for that purpose when all may wor
up ship him harrnoniously and without inter
rb ruption. One day in seven is certainly no
.ir too much and do not know that it is to
ire little.
3e. The fifth defines the peculiar duties aris
tie ing from the family relations.
ra. Injuries to our neighbor are then classifie
al by the moral law. They are divided into offer
ell ces against life, chastity, property and chara'
Mt ter And, SAID he, applying legal ide
rs, with legal aeuteness,' i notice that the grea
err est offence in each class is expressly forbit
nd den. Thus the greatest injury to life is muI
he der; to chastity, adultery to propert,
be theft to character, perjury. Now the grea
nv er offence must include the less Of the san
.af- kind Murder must include every injury t
the life; adultery every injury to putty and S
the Of the rest. And the moral code is close
he and perfected by a command forbldding ey
er- ry improper desire in regard TO our neighbo
for / have been thinking, he proceeded, 'vheI
We. did Moses get this law +? | have read hist
in ry: the Egyptians a1d the adlacent natlor
all we're idolaters as were the Greeks and R
ca- mans and the .wisest and best Greeks {
S Romans never gave code OF morals LII
this. Where did Moses get this law, whic
an surpasses the wisdom and philosophy of tt
la most enlightened ages2 He lived alta peril
IN comparatively barbarous; but he has giv'
ate a law which the learning and sagacity of
col subsequent time can detect no flaw. Whe
n.y. did he get it? He could not have soar
t is so far above his age as to have devised
JUS himself | am satisfied where he obtain
lor- it. 1t must have come. from heaven.
cas- am convinced OF the truth of the religion
len the Bible