The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-17

say, Paine's Age of Reason, OlmSteu $
"Bible its own .Refutation, and "Ecce
Homo.
In the Spring of 1898, while looking
over a few books which had been sent on
by book-merchant' in New York, for
sale in our new territory, my eyes were
attracted by one with the novel title of
= "Eeee Homo" In glsncing over few
of its pages perceivedthat it contained
the rankest in6delity. AS there was but
n one copy, purchased it. After taking
it to my room, and examining it suffi-
ciently to discover that its author had
presented nothing new, or even ingeni-
Gus, and that it aboundea in the most
blasphemous abuse of that name which
is above every name, dashed it into the
, fire.
Reeently I have read with care q modern
work With the sansc siis:s,.and, as / be-
lieve, also of transatlantic authorship
While reading the latter, the question
arose in my mind-which is the more
dangerous book, the old or the new
'-Eeee Homo?" And l have deliberate
ly settled down under the conviction that
the new will do more INJURY than the old.
Satan has grown much wiser during the
last fifty years. In the old "Ecce Ho-
} mo" he defeated himself. In the new he
has succeeded admirably. Poison is not
half so dangerous when vibrating in the
centre of the rattle-snake's coil, as when
it giveth forth its color, red from the cup,
and moveth itself Alright. Were l COM
PEELED to place son whose reG-
gious principles were unestablished in the
company of one whose mouth was full Of
cursing and bitterness, or of another
whose words were smoother than butter,
and who spoke of Jesus Christ as sur
passing far all men that ever lived in
wisdom, purity, and benevolence, but who
would scout the idea that it was his hand
that garnished the heavens-that laid the
foundations of the earth, and that spread
the flowing seas abroad, l should not
hesitate moment to place him with the
former.
The author of the new "Ecce Homo !"
would by no means speak disrespectfully
of Jesus of Nazareth. Oh no He is the
"Good man" "The greatness of whose
mission, signs miraculous, or considered
miraculous, are said to have attested at
the moment of his baptism. Neverthe-
less, nothing is more natural than that
exaggerations, or even iaveatiOnS, should
be mixed in our biographies, 4. e. the
books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John,) with genuine facts. There is moth
ing necessarily miraculous in the appear
ance of the dove, and peal of thunder
might be shaped into ineligible words
by the excited Imagination of men accus-
toned to consider thunder as the voice of
GOD. p. 16. Now justsuch sentiments
as the above, surrounded by many that
are novel and attractive, Iregard as more
dangerous by far than the open blasphe
my of the ''Eece Homo" burnt more
than forty years ago.
About this time my infdel friend ex-
pressed a great desire that | should
preach at his house. 1 consented, and
left an appointment about month in the
future. His residence was nearly twenty
, miles from my own. When [ reached
his house on the Saturday previous, l
found number of religious persons from
distance whom he had invited, and
whose presence rendered it very agreea-
Bile to me. He had school-room near
his house fitted up so as to render the
audience very comfortable. A covered
, table was set, upon which lay large
family Bible. He had chair for him
self near mine. He took great pains to
see that all who came in were accommo-
dated with comfortable seats. A stran-
ger would have taken him for devout
elder, whose soul was deeply interested
in the services of the most High. There
, were many present who seldom had an
> opportunity of hearing the Gospel, and
D have always entertained hope that
f the word dispensed that day was not in
2 vain.
) After we had returned to the house,
q and a number whom he had invited to
: take dinner were seated upon the Piazza,
{ the Scriptures became the theme of con-
( versation. To the astonishment of most
present, the General reiterated his old
5 sceptical sentiments. In the circle
e there sat young lawyer of more than
t ordinary talents, and who has since occu-
: pied distinguished position in his pro,
f fession. He expressed the utmost sur
= prise at hearing the truth of the Bible
t called in question, and at once took up
= its defence. could not but feel half re.
E gret that inasmuch as my old friend was
an unbeliever, he had not presented some
: of the higher and more intellectual OBJ
iections, as | was confident he had an