The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-29

Hence we may Justly conclude that the Hon. Mr..
dS NOT either directly q vor
ism, sin or crime" .Presbyterian" tells MS that
Gus In its logical consequences" For the sake OF
argument we wiil say LET IL appear 80: on page ten
semby we read the fOllswing question and an
swer:-
Q. WHAT arc the decrees Of oodf A. The DEGREES Of
Of for IFS Glory Ne bath
ordained whatsoever comesto pass.
pass Is BY cod Is asorsed Sn@ de-
1r n o Nov e pas
der, or should thrust his New Testament down the
come 70 pass ' Would S have been e9eords,nsa
His own glory; and II it were decrced and iorcor-
dained "Presbyterian" would be but the tool or the
Ss held fol- the c or the
execution OF the eternal and fatal decree. Hence
we must conclude that e but utter
irresponsbility, and since Presbyteranism is
irresponsbiIity, Presbyterianism and atheism must
third are equal TO each other. And all the woes.
and all the SINS and all the basphemies which our
quences or Atheism, must equally befall him in the
logical consequences Of Presbyterianism.
%a and % s 90 ere 1 ar
questions for which ask solutions, and in which
viii be found the settlement OF this great school
difficulty which has now become widespread and
dangerous. First-Does there exist an Infinite
Being distinct from the universe, to whom we are
responsible for our actions Second-If this being
iaton than that Expressed in the natural
uray revealed Thirds the Bible Of the Rev. Mr..
McAlllster and OF 'Presbyteriann an authentic rec
ord OF that revelation any more than TIE Koran,
borg fOurth-We wish "Prcsbytcrian" to show
how or wherein majority can Justly force reyela-
OF conscience. Fifth-T0 show how or wherein the
civil authorities have the right to decide upon the
urai truths, to reject some and e adopt Others.
Sixth--To show how civil authority can force obe-
dIence or support from ils subjects to supernat-
'Presbyterann has answered all these there is
another and very important question remaining
recognition of God and His Bible in the constitu-
tiOn II is but fair to ask whether that God shall be
the God OF the Jews or the God OF the samaritansf
Shall lie be the God of Isaac the God OF lshmael
Shall lie be the God OF Christ or the God Of Moham
mea ssa &c ss the COO q A sS or the GOO
Calvin 2 Shall lie be the God Of tho English Parlia-
ment or the Westminster Assembly, Shall He be
Payne Shall we recognize the Bible OF Joe Smith
or the Bible OF Swedenb0rgY Shall IL be the Bible
be the Bible OF Rome or the Bible of London : All
methinks hear "Presbyteran" answer 1t shall be
The God and the \ shan be the
dinaton and faith; it shall be Presbyterian God
and Presbyterian Bible all others to the contrary
tell tel" You beforehand viii Be evaded in s'Presby-
terian's" rejoinder should he favor us with any.
ATHEOS.
A Criticism ON "Atheos"-Iis Physical
Character.
| To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In reading the reply OF "Atheos" to "McAllister''
in your Sunday issue OF the 18th inst it occurred
to me that men differ In religious belief In exact
ratio to their physical--take notc say physical
ability to receive 1t, in the several degrees OF ad
/ IN 10 crih NV tha n
ent sects, denominations, crecds, &C., now strug
| Cling for the universal dissemination earth Of
the same great truth. We're 1t not for this differ
cnce Of physical-not mental or spiritual-abity to
| receive. all men would centre upon one common
| point Of belief and sectarian differences would
| have no ground for existence.
Thus, we have in "AUheosn man who admits
the absolute existence Of God, while in the weak
EFFORT Of denying Him. when he speaks OF that
| "sect-in the article above referred to-which
shall teach the non-existence Of any other God
than nature and Its laws,' he actually believes in
God and declares God, though he don't know it
himself, and Is much more profound perhaps, In
his desire to believe Alright than many Of our pro-
fessed Christians. In fact they are the same; in
| degree only they differ
Now, propose taking this man on his own
ground and from his own objective point of view
BY the above quoted declaration he, in common
with all atheists, infidels, &C., proclaims himself
believer only in his physical or natural condition.
and therefore can only draw deductions, infer
ences and conclusions from the external state Of
i things which in tangible form surround him. This
! Is not fact OF the man, o searcher OF truth
but rather the result OF his actual condition to
the FIRST or highest form OF animal perception
| wnere the brute ends and the man divine begins
the brute takes cogn n Of things as
difference marks the possession Of o higher order
ofreason or reasoning power, which at once not
away beyond, rom effect to cause. The pet dog
lies AZ your feet. beneath the table, ana accepts
that it ever occurred 70 that dog that were
II not for the law OF attraction or gravltaton
which governs the fall OF said morsels that he
| might go hungry very often by reason OF them n.y.
ing up instead OF down. or think you that
all the delicate morses that ever fell to
OF his race the existence Of said law,
as the falling apple did to Newtons think not.
The dog accepts the crumbs as matter OF course,
| as, indeed, do many men, and, when hungry, he
| feels very grateful, as also does man. The dog
naturally looks up to man as his source Of supply;
man as naturally looks up TO God-that is, II he Is
brute. "Atheos' undoubtedly believes in God as
Tar as ne Is at present capable OF believing; but,
were he further advanced in the order OF creation,
with an intellect capable OF going beyond the mere
evidence of his own natural senses he would at
once understand that nature and its laws are the
sclfevident results OF the existence OF q God-but
not God
Just as great invention ia proof OF an intelii-
gent inventor just so is the presence OF nature
and its laws q proof OF God, and even as the
thing invented is not the inventor, nor part
proper OF him personally, even so is not nature God,
nor part absolute OF His personality.
But the subject Is too extended for full discussion
at this time, yet II "Athcos,n or any OF the many
who have been quoting from the Bible in the
HERALD OF late desire TO look further into the sub
ject 1t 0an be shown even from their own stand
point (materiasml that there is u God, without
referring TO the Sacred Writ at all J. SESE.
ministerial Movements and Changes.
BAPTIST.
The Examiner and Chronicle (BaptisD and the
IateligencT 0icformed), both OF this city, are at
oggcrheads on the question OF infant or adult bap-
tism and the relative merits OF sprnkng or i'm
mersion. In the FIRST, Fourth. sixth, Eleventh and
seventeenth wards OF Philadelphia the Baptists