The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-09-05

long list OF worthless, who have passed off
the stage Of life, to show you the abdip
faith OF the christian, in the merits of his
religion, but time would fail US, and we
must Orbear.
we now propose to turn, for an exam.
pie or two, to the last end Of the infidel
and deis,, who have spent their lives in
warfare against christianity, and see what
influence and power the teachings Of the
Bible have exerred over this class When
VoItaire-one Of the most learned and
famous champions Of infdel,v-uas
about to close bis earthly career. and be
removed from time to eternity, some Of
his infidel companions visited his bedside
to prevent on hi, par, recan,ation,
which they feared, but il was onl- to
witness his ignominp, and their own. He
cursed them to their faces, and ordered
them to leave the room, esclaiming, "be.
gone; IT is you who have brought me TO
my present condition. Leave me, | say,
begone. What n wre,cbed glory is this
which YOU have produced to me r. His
nurse is said 20 have repeatedly exclaim
ed, that. "for all the wealth Of Burope,
she would never see another inflel die :"
and his physician declared that the tor
ments Of Orestes bv the fabled Furie.,
would give but faint idea of Voltaires
agony. This notorious man, in the hone
Of alIaying his anguish, is said to have
made written Remuneration Of his inf
deity. before he expired.
Sir Francis Newport who was trained
in early life, to understand the great
truths OF the Gospel, and who aftetwsrds
became an avowed iuflel, when the scenes
OF time and sense were receding from his
sight, is SAID to have regretted, in anguish
and bitterness Of hear,. that he had lost
his ancient guard "i piery and innocence"
Said he to que OF his inflel associates.
who WAS endeavoring TO Danish his relip.
iousthoughts, "'rhst there is a God, |
know. because continually feel :he er.
fects OF his wrath, that there is a hell,
am equally certain, having received an
earnest OF my inheritance there already
in nv breast that there is a natural
conscience. | now feel with horror and
amaz-ment." And on being asked II hs
would have PRAYER offered up in his be,
half, he turned away his face and exclaim.
ed. "Tigers and monsters! are We also be
come devils to torment me would We
give me prospect OF heaven to make nv
hell more intoIerahIe" Such nv friends
Is the dying testimony OF the in6del and
scoifer Of religion 10 show the power and
excellence Of christianity, which we be,
lieve isone Of the best tests OF it's divine
authority. When they have run through
their career OF hostility to christianity,
and they feei that time and place are
''s' p"sH'"e '"' w e'Su', CoHsC'eHCe, 'nht
vigiIant monitor Of right and wrong-thai
latent spark OF divinity, which quietly
reigns iu the human breast, whispers 10
them, in "stil small voice." that there
is q God Of nature who will rsek ven,
eeancs upon them, and that there is a
furnace Of destruction awaiting them, the
balefu effects Of which they already feel
in their bosom. And this is the legi,i.
mate effect Of the word Of God as pro-
mulgated in the Bible.
Having briefly considered the utility
and importance Of revelation in reference
TO Individual character, We now turn our
attention to the same, 10 reference to ma
tional character.
Nations, like individuals, to continue
prosperous and happy, and TO maintain
their nationality. mus, become vir,uous
and intelligent. That IL to say, the sep
ara,e individuals who compose a nation,
to ensure the progress and prosperity Of
the same, must be instructed in the great
principles Of morality. and be taught in
the varied learning Of the schools. Il,
has been truly said that intelligence !,
the great bnlwsrk Of civil liberty, for a
people, in order TO know their rights and
dare maintain them, must have the ben
e6,s Of educa,ion. Military preparation
and proves, are no more essential 10
national greatness, than intelligence: for
arms would indeed be useless, and pow
der aud ball unsvaiiing, without knowl
edss to guide and direct them in the pro
per channel.
Alexander Hamilton. ono Of the great
est aspoooders Of the Federal Constitution,
when commenting on the old Constitution.
very properly said, 'tbat we are not all