Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-07
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

Extracts from an Address, del;vered be-
fore the PhitanthrOpic and Dialectac
Societies, at Chapel HiW, June 18th,
1888, Jy the Hon. GEORGE E. BADGER.
With the opinions which I entertain,
cannot conclude this address without call
ing your attention to another subject,
which, as it is the most important to you,
ought not from any Difference to the ca
price Of fashion, to be omitted here. L
wish to urge upon your consideration,
the claims of the Christian Revelation
Unless grounded upon this, every system
for the government of life must not only
be incomplete but radically Detective
1t is this only which gathers into one, and
invigorates with the energy Of single
controlling motive, all the detached rules
of conduct, and gives harmony, strength
and beauty to the whole. That you should
in theory reject it, or even be skeptical
touching the truth of Christianity, is not
readily to be supposed. Such a state of
mind, if it exist, is probably no more than
a youthful vanity Of opposition and yet
it is dangerous and ought not to be indulg-
ed. Opinions, for whatever purpose as
sumed, when often expressed, acquire a
certain influence over the mind and
when supported with the zeal and ANNA
ton of frequent controversy, although at
first solely to signalize dexterity in argu-
ment, at last grow into habit of thought
nearly akin in its effects to actual belief:
At all events, the sacrifice of sincerity to
love of display Or desire of triumph, can
not but have an unhappy effect upon the
character-diminishing the regard for
truth, and the ability to discern it. But
the rejection Of Christianity, or even scep-
ticism concerning It, csn be only the re-
suit Of want Of consideration. Let me,
then, urge upon you diligent examina-
tion of the grounds Of our faith: 1t fears,
it need fear, no examination, however
strict, which is full, fair and Intelligent.
Such an examination, it is not too much
to say, will result in entire conviction
But those who reject, do not generally ex-
anime; or, it any examination be made,
it is after the rejection, and chiefly with
view to confirm the previous decision. To
men unaccustomed to investigation, and
either obliged, by incapaeity, or inclined
by Incidence, to take their opinions from
others, such conduct may be natural but
the great principle of true philosophy is to
submit to reason, to subject every matter
to careful inquiry, and to judge of every
fact by its proper evidence. Had this
rule of good sense, adopted in every de-
partnent OF science, been applied to Chris
tianity tas in all fairness it ought) univer-
sal faith must have been the consequence.
But it is much easier to cavil than to rea.
son u; a laborious deduction from particu-
lars, theugh sure, is a slow process for
the discovery OF truth /; and hence ready
and compendious method has been adopt.
ed, to dispose of Christianity, without trou
BILE to investigate its evidence or consider
its claims. Arguments priori Gf argu
ments they may be called) have beer
brought forward ingenious criticism, su
perfcial learning, and above all, delicate
ridcule for the refined, and coarse ribaldr,
for the vulgar, have been made the means
to unsettle the faith of men capable OF bet
ter things; while, all along, the question
Of Christianity, as question OF fact to be
tried by fair and dispassionate examina
ton OF its proofs, has been overlooked Oh
forgotten. Hence, at times, it has beef
fashionable to speak, or at least to think
of our religion as the fit solace of old wive
and ignorant mechanics, but little worth,
the attention of|the learned and polite
Hence, with too many, it has become fasl,
ionable to reject this religion religion
which, for eighteen hundred years, ha
exercised a controlling influence over tn
affairs Of mankind ; which, with all til
To l., Al
and folly Of its professed votaries, has, b,
its own energy, elevated-the character O
man wherever it has come which ha
subdued the violence. enlarged the beney
olence, and increased the happiness, q
the human race; which has numbere
amongst its friends and supporters thos
most distinguished for high mental endov
ments and which proves itself worth
OF all acceptation, by the pure and ele
waited morality it teaches morality
which, though often sought for, the wit
man could never discover, and yet, whe
disclosed, is found to be ST. exactly adal
ted to the wants Of our race, that we wo1
der it was not discovered by the frs
seeker,-a morality which, no man can ia
TO perceive, if universally practised, ,woul
at once Danish moral evil from the woslt
render physical evil inconsiderable, An
restore the golden age of virtue and hi,
piness to r,ankind A religion, so anciei
and so benehciaily influential. SO atteste
and so recommended, is not. without orc,
folly and guilt, to be rejected without !,
auiry: with inquiry there is little fear
its rejection. Let it be tried either bv i
external proofs, its internal character,
the number and value of it's testimoni
to its truth; and 1t will manifest it's ii,