Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-12-09


fluence no less marked upon the American Peo-
pie. And the history Of Europe sincetbe Bible
has had anything to do with her, will show us
that when it has been removed from the hands
of the common people, ignorance and supersti-
tion have prevailed, and when the common peO-
make themintellgent and virtuous. The Re-
formation of the sixteenth century brought the
Bible and the people together. Cheat results
followed from this The natioDsO the world
are to-day very different from what they would
have been but for the Reformation. Now, it is
always held that men are TO derive light and
guidance for the future from the instructions of
thepast. II, then, one would simply understand
the history fthe past he must become acquaint-
ed with the Bible as one of the most powerful
causes that have wrought in human society
Hetwbo would wish for simple intelligence
touching the past must know the Christian re-
ligion. Here is plain reason why every man
should study the subject of religion. twill sp-
ply to the unbeliever az well as to the believer
Whether Christianity be true or not, it has had
a powerful influence upon the civilized world.
As one of the powers which have formed aud
controlled nations it is worthy of study
Whether il is true nor not it made the soldiers
! of Cromwell invincible, and constituted the
| strength of the Puritan character, the strongest
character the world has ever seen. great
deal might be said about the influence ofth BIZ
BILE upon history. But enough has now been
cited TO show the importance of the subject
One can understand neither the past nor the
present without good knowledge of Christian
ity.
2. There are great many evidences which
go to show that Christianity is true. Ifit be
true men ought to understand and believe it,
1t teaches us concerning the moral subjects and
on such subjects men need to know the truth.
1t is true that Christianity has always had OPP
ponents who have called its truths in question.
But this fact has led to the thorough investiga-
tion of all the evidences. There are more and
stronger proofs to-day of the truthfulness of the
| variations of the Gospels than of the existence
| of Cicero or even Napoleon. Probably not one
man in five thousand, whether believers in
Christianity or not, is aware of what mass OF
evidences there is in support of the New Testa-
ment alone. Probably no private individual in
the world has CONF plete collection of these ev-
licences. A series of volumes detailing them
would be far beyond the ability of ordinary
men to purchase. No one man has ever gone
over all these evidences. Nor is il necessary
for any man to attempt it. But the fact shows
that Christianity has withstood all assaults
Attacks made upon her have only resulted in
| the strengthening of her defences. In the last
few years her foes have wholly changed their
tactics. They no longer take the attitude as
sumed by the old infdels. They half admit the
truth of the Scriptures and seek to undermine
their teachings by subtle reasonings. Now, it
tshafdly behooves a man to say that religious
system which has borne SO many assaults with
triumphant results, and has 80 many evidences
is worthy of no attention. 1t is worthy of care
| full study. All men need TO know the truth re-
specting it.. And this leads me to say
B. There is great importance attached to the
subject. Every man is concerned in it. 1t has
q direct bearing upon the character and welfare
of every man. If Christianity be true then it
will do one good to believe it. If it be untrue
| it will be injurious. There can be no question
of this. False views of God, and of man s rela-
ton to Him must be injurious to the mind and
| the heart. True views must beneficial and
their benefits will be greater in proportion as
they are the more perfectly obeyed. Any man
can afford to be poor, dsspised and oppressed
| in the world. But no man can afford to be de-
luded, or unjust, or criminal. 1t matters much
to every man what he is in his character. A
mans views too, on moral and religious sub
jects, enter directly into his character. Oh
course mean the views which he adopts in
practice. There cannot be any firm and relia.
bic character that is not based on the principles
of truth. Therefore, every man should study
the subject of religion on account Of its intrinsic
| importance. et5r.I1
| A. To say nothing about the truth of Chris.
tianity for little while, every man who be.
Ieves and obeys it will be better man thereby
The Bible studied and obeyed will be benefit
to every man. He will be better than ifhe did
not study and obey it. 1t will make him all
that any moral man can be, in the first place
There is moral code that is higher in its prin-
| ciples than the Bible. Nor is there any code oi
moral principlesanything like as high, that has
i not been derived from the Bible, directly or in.
directly. And then the distinctly Christian
principles of the Bible viii be benefit to the
best Moralist Ifmen have creator they need
to understand their relations to him. And il
they do understand them and do the duties flow
ing from them, they will be more complete men
and in every sense better, than if they simply
know and do their duties to men. The Bible ID
one only source of full information respecting
our duties to God. Now the fact that Christian
ity thoroughly lived up to will make a man bet
ter than he would be without ii, is fact which
constitutes reason for studying it. 1t is q
fact, also, which shows that Christianity is true
for that which maks us better men must be the
truth ,,i......l.s-.. n.
/ 5. The study of Christianity ia an interesting
study, when once the taste is formed for it. II
is undoubtedly every mans business to choose
what things he will be interested in. He who
is interested in foolish, frivolous or untruthfu
things will be a foolish, unsubstantial man.
He who takes in vicious things will be a vicious
man. He who is interested only in sordid pur.
suits will be a man of sordid character. But ht
who is interested in things noble, true, good
will pattern after them. One can form his taste
and habits after almost any model. What then
will he choose2 1t is question of the highes
moment. Let one calmly consider what he vii
study and think about, and then learn to be in
terested in that which viii do him good. HI
can learn to love the truth. He can learn t
love Christian principles. He can learn to bs
interested in the subject of religion. Many o
the best educated men in the world have takel
the highest delight in studying Christianity
! II can interest the mind then
commend the study Of Christianity to ever.
mind That study is. then, a reasonable thing
! -r,fa