Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-10-31
&eadinq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
lVrIgHHIJ
THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.

origInal.l
THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.
When we contrast the religion of the Bible
with the various forms of Paganism, we find
in the former something that all other forms
of religion lack. Christianity elevates man,
but Paganism does not. Many of the ancient
Pagans were intellectual giants and prodigies
of learning; but withal they were moral
dwarfs. The school boy who has enjoyed the
advantages of associating with Christians,
and attending upon the ordinary public wor-
ship of God in Christian land, has clearer
idea of virtue and vice, or what is right and
what is wrong, than the most noted of the
heather sages. Christianity has done for
Christian lands what learning and intellect
never did do for any Pagan nation. Christi
anity subdues the passions and controls the
appetites; Paganism never did this. On the
contrary, it gave loose rein to the groveling
appetites of human nature. The same thing is
true respecting infdelity. 1t opens the flood
gates that deluge of vice may sweep over
society. All those principles and practices
which are allowed by in6delity, are injurious
to man as a social being; and if they were
permitted to be fully carried out, would sap
the foundation of the social fabric. A ma
tion, or even community, in which there is
no Christian influence felt, would be most
undesirable place. We might ask who would
select such locality as home? One of the
fundamental principles of christianity is that
it teaches love to man as we'll as love to God.
In regulating the social intercourse Of men
with each other, there is nothing to be com.
pared with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1t
does more for men in promoting their social
welfare than all things else, and cost less than
any one Of the many means to which men
often resort. Even in Christian lands, re-
course is had to multitude of means to Sc
cure justice to the several individuals and to
promote the general welfare Of the whole.
We may instance the court house with all its
train of accompaniment. We are not speak
ing disparagingly of human tribunals Of JUS
tice but as an institution for the promotion
of peace and harmony in society, the court
house with all its appendages Of judge and
jury and lawyers is greatly inferior to the
church, and is infinitely more expensive.
The church does more for the present happiness
of the human family than all things else, and
costs the world comparatively nothing.
In everything except Christianity, there is
mixture of good and evil. There was some
good things in ancient Paganism, and there is
no doubt some good principles advocated and
practiced by in6dels; but we defy any man
to show one tenet Of the Christian religion
that is not good for man both as social and
as moral being. When stripped of all that
man has in his folly appended to it, and all
that he has in his presumption detracted from
it, Christianity stands forth the very embodi.
ment of perfection. Its benign influence is
felt on every member Of society. Even the
dumb brutes are made participants of bet
ter state of things. The Christian is merciful,
kind and gentle to his domestic animals.
Christianity promotes all that is virtuous and
manly, and discountenances all that is vicious
and undignifed. 1t converts the forest into
fields. 1t beats the spear Of the savage into
e scythe, and the bowie-knife and dagger into
the hoe and rake.