The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-03
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
WINTER EVENINGS.


"Never man spake like this man. John vii: 46.
have always been of opinion that the
most convincing proof of the Divine author
ity of the Christian religion may be drawn
from the originality of its doctrines, pre-
cepts, and the character of its author. Let
us look at these for few moments.
In the first place, this religion teaches us
that mankind came into the world in state
of depravity, guilt, and condemnation, from
which they cannot be redeemed but by the
atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. 1t
teaches us that repentance towards God,
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the
indispensable conditions, or terms on which
God will accept his suferings and death as
an atonement for their sins, but that these
terms they are unable to comply with, with
out the efectual working of his Holy Spirit;
although they are endued with perfect free
will, and are accountable for the use of it.
These doctrines, and many others of the
kind are so entirely new, that they had never
entered into the head of any one before, and
never mad any man but this man taught or
spake any thing like them. Imposture al
ways puts on the garb of truth, and resem-
bles her as near as she can; but in all these
propositions there does not appear even a
pretence to probability, and therefore, as
they cannot be invention, we must conclude
that they are true.
In the next place, whilst it is admitted
that the moral precepts of this religion are,
in many respects similar to those of others /;
still in this respect they are also entirely
new, in that they are carried to higkne
grecorpufisy q Perfection, thai
thought of by tne legislators and etR'csl
philosophers of preceding ages. They had
some dim and distant prospect of future
state of rewards and punishments, but they
saw it through glass darkly, sbscured by
clouds of doubt and uncertainty; but this
man spoke of it with certainty and authority,
removed all the intervening clouds, and
showed it in the clearest daylight.
And again; the character of the great
author of this religion, is not less new than
the religion itself. There is no instance in
the history of mankind, of the founder of a
religion, who proposed by it no benefit to
himself, as well as to the worldwide did
not intend to acquire wealth, power, and
dominion over his followers; nor has there
ever been religion in the construction of
which this intention was not plainly and pal
pably visible. But Christ disavows all pre-
tences to such acquisitions-declaring that
"his kingdom was not Of this wOrld chose
nothing for himself, and promised nothing
to his disciples but poverty, disgrace, suffer
ings, and death.
Once more; the progress of this religion
was equally new and unprecedented with all
the rest; for in the course of few years,
it triumphed over all opposition from reason
and philosophy, from principalitieS and pow
ers, and spread itself over all the most civil
lied and learned countries then in the world
This verified the wise prediction of Gamaliel,
who said to the High Priest, desirous of per-
scouting the Apostles "Let them alone J;
for IF this counsel or wOrk be Of men, 1t Will
come to naugAt;; but If 1t be Of God, ye can
not oUerthrow 1t. L.