Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-08
COMMUNICATIONS.

DoGMATIsM.-By the pernicious influence
which it exerts, both in Church and State
Dogmatism has become the direst curse of
our country. Mere opinions, conceived in
mans proverbial ilnpurity, and matured un-
der circumstances the least favorable to their
healthy development, are urged with an over
weening confidence, an offensive pertinaeity,
which too often involves wanton violation
of meekness, humility, charity, and Chris.
tian fellowship; precepts, the observance of
which We may suppose to be essential to
mans well being, inasmuch as they were
enjoined upon him by one who. as a human
law-giver, WAS the most profound economist
and statesman and to whom, az God, all the
workings of policy, and all the events cf
time were distinctly visible from the begin.
ming to the end. The factions which distract
the State, and the dissensions which have
shivered the Church of God into atoms, ell!
flow from this perennial source Of mischief
Ambitious statesmen, and crazy fanatics,
exulting in their self-sutticiency, and ignor-
ing their God, scruple at no means to etfec.
what they vainly conceive their personal al
vantage or their religious duty requires
Absolute truth is far beyond the reach OF
man in his present state, and the remotest
approximation to it is only attainable by
distressing self, and always meekly and hum
bly, looking up to God, the source OF all
truth. Absolute truth to human percep-
ton, is as unattainabe as the mirage wi,ici.
mocks the mariner with all the appearances
of reality, but which continually recedes
from his anxious gaze Ever and anon, some
sanguine and over-conideut inquirer cries
out Eureka" But when his discovery is
submitted, even to the imperfect test of rea-
SOD, it is found to consist of 1.-The stuff that
dreams are made Of" The worlds history
| affords ample proof of this Behold there
the rise and fall of human opinions in regu
| lar succession. What mutations does his
tory record in the principles Of Jurisprudence
of government, and theology? Opinions
| held by the wisest and best men, either re-
| canted by themselves, or controyerted By
others, as wise and good as they. In all
history, both sacred and profane only one
thing is established beyond all dispute, and
that is, that man is nothing, and God is all
in ALL"
In obedience to a law Of mans nature, lie
must think; and if bis thoughts are not reg
ulated according to the precepts of God, he
runs into the widest extravagancies and fol-
| lies; no oath can bind, no law restrain him.
| He becomes law unto himsef-the law Of
sin and death. The remedy for these evils,
of course, is to be found in the precepts of
God, which they violate, and which are so
simple, and, to man, so insignificant, that he
appears to have lost sight of them almost
entirely. In them, however l recognize the
authoritative voice OF God to man, pointing
| out to him the only course which can secure
his peace in this world, and his everlasting
rest hereafter. But in the excitement OF!
worldly conflict and the clash of oppos-
ing opinions, man needs not the voice Of
God, but, taking his destiny into his own
hands, PUSHES mady on to destruction, swift
and sure. B.
Nelson County, Va, April |.