Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-02-17
WHY PUT OUT THE LIGHT .


The gospel furnishes the only light
shed on the country beyond the river
of death. Bright and glorious are
the prospects which unveils to the
good in that land. Thousands have
lived in hope, and died In triumph,
under its inspiring light. If the gos-
pei is not true, the light of heaven is
extinguished, the consultations of hope
are abolished, and the mystery of ex-
istence is impenetrable aud wander
ing. II the gospel is false, man, with
angelic powers and immortal aspira-
tions, Is reduced to the condition Of a
brute, predestinated merely to eat,
drink, and sleep, to propagate his
race, to toll and suffer, to die and rot.
1t cannot be unreasonable to demand
that men who have made such
appalling discoveries shall be panied
at their success. Not to be grieved t
the eXtinguishment of the light, and
hope, and com fort OF the world would
indicate a measure of insensibility
or bias of mind unfavorable to the
earnest, candid, and successful search
after truth.
A clergyman now deceased once
told the writer that he heard the dis
, tinguished and eloquent John Ran
dolph of Roanoke say, that he was
in his early years inclined to infideli-
ty. AT that time, through the influ-
ence of Mr.. Jefferson, and the popu-
larity OF the French Revolution, ii
was common for well-educated young
men to avow their want of faith in
the Bible. Mr.. Randolph said that,
scorning to adopt opinions without
examination, he resolved to investi-
gate the claims of Christianity to di-
vine inspiration. He deemed 1t fair,
as the Bible was a record of the
Christian religion, to read that first.
He commenced a careful and search
! ing examination of 1t, not doubling
but that he should find the proofs oil
its falsehood. He had not read through
it, lie stated, before he was cen WINGED
that n mole might have composed
the Principal of Newton as easily
as uninspired men could have written
the Bible. His conduct was not al.
ways in harmony with his convic
tions but subseq uently, through al
the vicissitudes of his remarkable
and somewhat eccentric life, he was
~'ii OlJSiit Sti VI Snliobi'
anity. Such, we Judge, would bt
the common, If not the universal re
suit OF an intelligent and honest ex
animation of the Scriptures. The in
tellect would be convinced, If thu
heart We're not won. This Is usually
the first stage in the process of con
version.
We commend then to you, skeptic,
Of every class and grade, thorough
investigation of the claims of Chris.
tianity to your belief and reverence
1t invites, demands, challenges your
scrutiny. You owe 1t to yourselves
to society, TO truth, and to God, L
examine it, with n seriousness cores
ponding with the gravity of the sub
jects of which IL treats; fairness
that can be warped by no inclination
interest, or PERCEPTION a thorough
ness, that Will leave no material wit.
ness unquestioned; and persistence
that will not stop short of full and
firm conviction and, reaching the
conclusion that Christianity is true
to embrace 1t heartily, adorn it by
your lives, and commend 1t to the
acceptance of the world; or, finding II
to be delusion, to clothe yourselves IL
sackcloth, and 10 weep and lament
that the only light, solace, and hop,
of the world are gone for From
The Seal Of HeoUen.