The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-03-23
Correspondence.


printed in your last number, has thrown
the gauntlet, but is wonderfully partial in
the choice of bis combntants His exclu-
siveness reminds US Of the chivalric spirit
which actuated the sclons of noble extrac'
ton In days of the past. In their tournays,
mobiles gave challenges to, and accepted
them from only II recognized as their
equals or supcriors in rank As we are
unacquainted with the personality OF ''P,
it may be we have tackled Titan, as be
is very express in his invitation, although
generously allowing Middlebury many
competent minds, yet plai1'y intimaIing
that only President, Professor, or Cler-
gyman is worthy to give reply TO him
Now as we thought President, Professor
and Clergyman would be more wisely and
usefuly employed in their respective du>
ties, perhaps more humble individual
could, withou. offense, venture reply.
Religious controversies usually are not
productive of good, for bitterness is allow
ed to enter 10, and destroy such good eff
feet as might arise from n fair and candid
o. ~ of diverse opinions, In this
communication. and in Others, if others
there be, our aim shall be TO deal frankly
and openly, desiring rather to know tie
truth than to enforce our doctrine. We
shall be short in this reply, not intending
10 enter into minute analysis of Mr.,
Miler's belief or his champions elaborate
article. Let VA examine the leading
points Firstly, "P" discovers two fatal
mistakes in your statement that a rejection
Of any portion Of the Bible invalidates the
whole system Of revealed religion He
strains hard to draw bis first inference,
viz. that God has revealed himself in nc
other way to His creatures except through
the Bible. This certainly is not u nece5-
sary deduction, out rather it would seem
convenient one. With him we would
hold that this lie an untenable position, for
we believe that the attributes of the Cree
ator in various ways are laid open to our
understanding independently of written
teachings. Dull indeed is the mind on
which Nature cannot impress her lessons.
If more attention were paid to instruction
which can be drawn from Nature in her
varied forms, and less to useless theolcgi-
cal bubbles and ism wrnnglings, religion
would be purer Yet all revelations from
whatever source derived (nnless through
the medium of spirits. aud at that fountain
we have not drunk and therefore are ig-
norant Of any particular or peculiar infor-
nation concerning The unknown) is not
beyond those Of Holy Writ, and in every
particular, even to tie minntost, perfectly
comedies with them Natural religion
carefully and sonndly argued will not lead
il can 90 will validate the revealed The
second, lie the great point Of SpirlIualism.
On this in great - asure it hangs claim
to acceptance or REJECTION. Establish the
right to keep whatever of the Bible that
is consistent with a dogma conjured up in
the brain Of some Leo Miller, and
Spiritualism, Atheism, Desm or any
i'm will be established on firm foundation,
and may advance unobsructcd to their
destined goal. Such liberty would bud
as many sects as there are verses in the
Book, and the darkest bewilderment and
confusion would result 10 the religious
world. Infdelity would have glorious
triumph, and the textbook Of Christianity,
the Bethlehemic slur which has guided
the nations from darkness to light, from
ignorance and superstition to enlightment
and civilization would be blotted out fore
ever
Ne. = -''ual''s accommodate their doc.
trine to the Bible, and not the Bible
to their doctrine, then, at least reasona-
BILE appeal could be made to orthodox be.
levers, and all men of learning and sound
judgment to make examination of their
tenets, and fair hope could be enter
tanned Of their acceptance. But they
would limit US to reasons bound, and
would build upon the basis it may furnish,
religion to satisfy an immortal soul, -
How absurd, how delusiyo Reason has
to do only with the finite, the seen, the
felt, the known; beyond that If We would
60, we must be borne on the wings of
faith, Rect with the finite, we stop at
the grave, aud where is the abundant
proof OF Glorious Immortality beyond.
The Bible rs whole ia accepted as truth
by the far greater portion of the worlds