Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-10-31
The Dangers of SkepticIsm.
Editor Rutland Herald =

develop briefly the above topic? AS
this is free-thinking age, it may not be
impertinent to present the dangers that
skepticism must encounter in it's progress
and when it is fully grown. Incipient
skepticism is often looked upon as very
harmless pet, if not indeed a real hero,
called forth by superior intellect, more
extensive research, or more profound
thought, than pertain to the domain of
common minds. By nourist ing incipient
skepticism, it is pushed forward to the
front, where it assumes an attitude and
magnitude that strike terror into the
hearts of its patrons. Let us brifly no.
tice some of the dangers of skepticism
I. Skepticism in ages past made grad
ual advances from moderate or semi-de-
ism, to full blown atheism. The purest
| free-thinkers did not begin with Ques-
tiOning the inspiration or authenticity
of the sacred scriptures, but ''by en-
deavoring to show that the great princi-
| Piles of the unity of God, a moral GOV
| eminent, and future world, are taught
with sufficient clearness by the light of
nature
This position of Lord Herbert was the
untwisting of the rope, (Robert Halls
works, vol. /, p. pa, rather than cutting
! the cord, that hold the heart and mind
of man in connection with Que living
and true God. For this reason, if the
| light of nature was, of itself, and
alone, sufficient to establish the existence
of God and his moral character, and his
| divine providence, then surely this nat
ural light may supercede, or at least,
supplement the teachings Of the sacred
scriptures
To this extent Lord Herbert invaded
the sacred sphere Of the word of God.
and cast his diving rod against the sa-
cred Oraclcs. At this time, it will not
be denied, that skepticism drives tilt
against the leading doctrine of the Old
Testament: the existence of one God,
personal, Omniscient, and Omnipresent.
Atheism is the refined fruit Of skepti-
cism; or rather of slcpticism in its lc-
Ultimate and final resting place In all
countries, dOubtcrs are not satisfied
until they have not only the experience
of a ''dOubtful doubt, but have carried
their doubts to the extreme verge Of eX-
IStencc. and have denied the being OF
God. The mcjpicut doubt, we'll pettcd,
is destined. ere long. to develop into
this great doubt. The dangers attend
ir,r tIi. f,,ll and .f-;.,l do,l,,t that lo,in,
oar. ...;...,.,. ,,r,, ,,,,,.,.l.,,. =, .,.o,,.
Wv" "'' "PP"' III !" ''''l
ti'II'NIA4 i"'Ii" u"S' lL' S'iau"" Oh
this doubt, com" ijol worship. demon
Worship. no worship. There come
hoaetor. ,ronl Eatnfnl and bot;p,r nna
.,.I,.'n ..1 $1,000, ,,..,,.;,,. :. ~.
"ii''i'''' ANA 1'',l ''','' ,''''''2 !" ms
own ways. CH"'r inns regime OIL DOUBT
men cast off fear, restrain prayer; and
cruelty and crime oy.r-run tha land.
TT As this article j, NOT nrofoesa,llv
49,, ,,,o1,..f, f+l.' t,,,;, l,l,,,,.
'''' =, -,
tFealed' ali"" me 10 suggest "tlcF
dangers OF skepticiSm. Doubt does not
o,I i'm lan,,;,,r tbn I.a,li,.r I,o+yir,. of
1,, 0ll r.. +.,,,a,+ 1,nt ;,,.o.I., +l,o 40
mann OF chrlSIIahi'y. IL mas orch Ihe
taYorIte work OF sHcptcS, to deny the
inspiration and authenticity Of parts, at
least of fine New Testament They
don,, an,, o,Iiratin, +, nhsnrvc tbo
rl,S,,- ''3 of ,..,.,,:, 1,nl.
Loro DAY as a day on worship, II"
consequence OF this denial is to remove
the foundation of the moral and rcligi-
GUS culture Of the masses Of the pcopIc
Tho d,vnlon,nnnt nf a rnlig;orl snnti
mont ononr tho nrnrIn drnands IarscrIv
on the preaching OF me gospel ana Inc
bible schools taught, on the Lords day.
It is the business of skepticism TO under
NINA +I,o canfdonoo ma, h.,o j., +I,;s
',''''' '''' '','','.''', '''' nov '''''