New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-28
Eacon's Christinuisy.

iAtVu >hihS up tht llhAltl- "
Tile London Altenarm says In reference 10 this pam
pLlct thai in one remarkable paper Bacon has drawn
up the character of Christian believer in which he
presents under the boldea forms OF contradiction the
dogmas of our creed II IS sort Of proof exercise Of
genius-a napcr 10 rouse attention to stimulate thought
10 compel inquiry As this document is one OF the
least known, perhaps of Bncon's compositions shall
venture to quote its articles entire. They called
The Characters of Believing Christian. in Paradoxes
and seeming Contradictions and are ihiTtyfour in
number:
\ Christian is that believes things his rcaeon
cannot comprehend he hopes for things which neither
lie nor any man aye ever saw ne hb"'f 'oT mn wncn
he knoweh he shall never obtain set in the issue is
belief appears not to be false Ills hopes make him not
ashamed bis labor is not in vain
H. He believes three 10 bc one, and one 10 DO three:
q father not 10 hc elder than his son 10 be equa!
with his father and one proceeding from both TO DO
equal WITH 10th; he believing three persons IN one ma
tnre. and two natures in one person
III. lie believes II virgin 10 be mother of son; aud
that very son Of hers 10 be her Maker He believes
Him TO have been shut up in narrow room, whom
heaven and csnth could not contain ne bole'cs hlm
to have been horn in time who was and IA rom ever
lasting He believes Him 10 have been weak child,
carried in arms who j. the Almighty and Him once 70
have died, who "ony hath life and immortality IN
~. r. believes the God Of all grace to have been
angry with one that hath offended in n1d that
God WHO hates sin 70 be recOnce to himself, thohgh
shining continually. ANA never making or Velig ape 10
make Him satisfaction lie beNcfcs most luSt pVu
TO hare punished most just person and Ia nave Jusl
fed himself through most ungodiy sinner hr pe'
cyes himself freely pGIdoncd and yet Sufficient salts
faction was made for him.
V. He believes himself to he prcclou n Gods sight
and yet oatees himself IN lis he dares rot JUS
'ify himself IN those things wherein ne can ma no
fault with himself and yet bce'eS that Too sccolns
him ia hose services wherein nc IS aDle TO ma many
Vi He praises God for hi, justice. and yet fears him
Tor his nefcy lie IL ashamed that no dares not
pe his mouth before God and yet he comes wh bold
ness 20 God and asks him ANYTHING he needs. lie u, so
humble 10 ecknowedre himself TO deserve nothing
bat evil and vet he believes that God means him AL
good He j. one that fears always. yet is as bold as
don. Tie is often sorr0wiul yet hlFass rtioicinei
many times complaining yet always giving THAT'S
lie i the most owy -mnded yet the greatest aspiFer
most cOntented. vet ever craving.
! VII. He bears lofty spirit in smean condition
when he is ables he thinks neancst or himself He -
rich in poverts and poor in the midst Of riches. He
believes Ill the world 10 he his yet no dsres take moth
ing lhoul special leave from God flo covenants with
Cod for nothing. yet looks for g1ee reward lie los
eth his He end gains by H. and while re ioseth IT, he
Viii. He lives not to himself yet Of al Others he Is
most wise for himself lie derioh himself often yet
no man loveih himself 10 well he He il most re-
preached Yet most honored He hath most Affections
lAd most comforts.
advantages he pains by them. The more he forsakes
earthly things. rho more lie onioys them
| Y lie is the most temperate Of NIL men. yet fares
most deoiouyt he lends ami gives most Freely yet he
The Rreriosf usuIe.; h. Is meek toward all non yet
inexorable b. men He Is the beet child husband,
brother friend yet hates father and mother brchtr
and ,i,t,r lie loves oil men himself yet hates some
men with perfect hatred. .
XI lie desires TO have grace than any man hath
I'm the world vet Is truly sOrrOwful when he seen nnT
man have less than himself he knowel no man aftor
tne Gosh yet gives oil men their due respects he Know
eth he please man he crnno iS ne servant ., hIN
lie peace maker vt Continual tighter and Is an
XII He belcyc. him 10 be worse than m infdc that
~
wloat care He accounts all h.s supericrs yet stands
stiy upon authority. lie is severe to his children
becanso he loycth them, and by bcng favorable unto
his e.,omy be rev enEeth himself upon him.
XIII. He believes the angels 10 be more excellent
creatures than himself and yet accounts them his
servants lie believes that he receives many good
things by their means and vet DO neither lTays for
their assistance offers them thanks which he doth
not dslain 10 do to The molnest Christian
XIV. lie believe hin elf 20 be- a hiDg, no" mean
snever he be- ami great lie be yet he thinks
himself not TOO good to be servant to the poorest
XIV. He il often in prison, yet elwnys at liberty
freeman though Trvant. He loves not honor among
mon. get highly prizcih good name.
XVI. He believes thai God hsth hidden every man
that doth him good Ia do he yet Of any man i the
most thankful 10 them that do auglt for him. He
would lay dow his lie 10 save the soul oil bis enemy
yet will not adventure upon one sin 10 save the life Of
Lin who sayed his.
XVII lie sweari to liz own b,derance and chang
th rot yet he knowei that hs-oath cannot tie him 10
XVIII. He believes Christ to have no need Of any
thing lie doh ye, msleth account hat b. doth relieve
Christ in al his acts Of charity. lie kn0vctb he can do
nothing cs himself yet abors 20 work cut bis own sal
walton. lie procsscth De can do nothing yet rs Truly
prOf.tcth he can DO III things he knOwcih that hrsh
and blood cannot inhelii the kingdom OF God yet be-
leyelh he shall 20 TO Heaven both body and son.
NIX. He tromhles ri Gods word. yet counts IL
swcoer 70 him than the honey and the honey comb, and
dearer ihan thousands Of gold and silver.
Xxx. H. believe. that God viii ncvor damn him mud
yet ie1rs God for beng able TO cast him into cn lie
knowCib he shall not be saved by for his good
work., yet he doth I'll The good works he cln
NX he knOWcil Gods providence Is in all things, yet
is digcnl in his calling ard business. as il hc were
10 cut out the thread Of hsown happiness lie believes
beforehand that God hath purPoscd W hat he ahall be
and that nothing can make him 10 alter his purpose.
ye, prays and cndcayogs ms il he ~oud force God 10
-qF. Inn forever.
XXI. He ploy' and !p,oIs Cor that which be is conf
dent tod means 10 give. and the uTcd le IL,
the earnestly hc proys or taat Inc knows he shall
never Obtain ana yet gives not oyor. lie pfays aud la
bor for that which Lc know, he snl be DO les hnpr.
without; he prays with al h. bellt not 80 be led into
temptation yct rci0iccth when he - fallen INTO III he
believes his pIayeIa are Heard, even when they are
denied. and gives thanks Tor that which lie prays
XIII. He hath within lin both flesh and spirit yet
be Is not doub!emlIdcd man; he IS often Jed captive
By the law OF in set il OF gcts dominion over him
70 cannot sin yet 10 nothing without SIN lie doth
no.ng against his Will yet b. doth What h. would not
he wnycrs and doubtatl, yet obtains.
NhIV. He Is oitcn tossed and shaken, YET it il as
Mount Soni he IL serpent and dove; lamb and q
ZION; reed and cedar. lie II sometimes 70 troubled
That he thinks Hcshing be trn, in religion yet
think 10 he conbi not at al be troubled lie thinks
sometime that ~ hath mcrcv for him. yet resolves
to die in the pursuit Of H. lie believes Ike Abraham
against hope aud though he cannot answer Gods
logio, yes viii tho wonon OF Canaan, he hopes to pre-
vail With The rhetoric oi llnportunils.
ky. Ae Mrestles AID yet prevails; and though |
Jeos not III IL si Sm ' 60 Without he en-
nav Kissing lie sometimes thinks hiueif to have no
.ass a. On and YET how poor and elaeted loe,er he
~ fote under Heaven that manifest worldng.