Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-11
An Infidel NOn-PIuSSed.

An Infidel NOn-PIuSSed.
The late DR.. Ruff IS, Of Liverpool, on ce
told the following capital story:
Many years ago there came gentleman
to Liverpool, who occupied pulpit there
for two or three years, and during that
time he delivered a course of lectures
which excited considerable interest, espe-
cially among the young men of the town.
He attempted to prove that almost every
thing which the Scriptures declare, was
not true. He tried to prove tEat there
was no devil, no divinity of Christ, No
atonement, aud, in short, nothing which
the Bible says there is. One morning
after he had been delivering one of these
lectures, happened to be in stage coach,
going to town some distance off to speak
at a Bible meeting l was alone in the
coach for little while /; presently three
young men entered and took their seats
One of them was hard-mouthed youth,
and he spoke in strong, rough tone of
voice, and laid down the law with strong
authority. His companions seemed to
look upon him with great respect, and pay
much Difference to his opinions. We had
not proceeded far when he said, " Did you
hear such one last night p NO." said
one of his companions, "what was be
preaching about ?'' "Oh, he did for the
devil in grand STYLE did for the
devil?' said the young man, 4" how do you
mean!' Why, he showed there was no
devil, to be sure" "Ah," said one, d" but
| think that's sooner said than DONE"
L" What. do you believe in the devil ?"
asked the first speaker. The young man
thus questioned looked at me in amaze
ment, aud then at his companions, and
said, What don't we all believe in the
devil ?" NO." said the confident
young man, g don't believe in the devil,
or any such stuff; neither does any man
who pretends to grain of reason or COM
mon sense believe only in wise and
powerful God Almighty Well, thinks l
to myself, here am among three young
men, and | sit still and say nothing;
certainly must speak, Take care what
you are about, thinks l to myself, such
fellows as these are not to be trifed with
if you don't mind they will trip you up,
and it will be the worse for the cause you
mean to serve. Whilst was thus casting
about in my mind, thought my time for
speaking had gone by, and my conscience
condemned me. l determined, however,
that if the subject should be started again,
come what would, [ would cast myself on
the divine guidance and direction-for
felt it was one of those cases in which
might do so-and put in word. Well,
sure enough, did not wait long for an
opportunity. A reference was made to
the Bible, when the remark was again
heard, don't believe in the devil, hell
torments, nor any such stuff. nor do any
men who pretend to grain of reason or
common sense" | looked at him and
said, Sir, pretend to grain of reason
and common sense, and yet do believe In
the existence of the devil or Satan. |
believe that there is place of punishment
for the wicked, and believe that that pun
ishment will be eternal; now, sir, call
upon you as gentlemen, no doubt posses
sing many grains of reason and common
sense, to say why you do not believe these
things" l thus threw the oru1s probandi
upon him. His friends looked pleased,
and seemed greatly to enjoy the idea of
of the coming conflict. He did not feel
quite so we'll satisfied, but took the meas
ure of me from top to toe, aud seemed re-
volving the matter in his mind. At length
he said, Why. sir. l don't believe 1t,
because it is utterly contrary to common
sense" But" said l, that is no ar
gument, remember. Do you believe the
Bible ?" "Yes, sir, do; am not q
Deist." 81 am very glad to hear you say
so now we have some ground to 60 upon.
Is there such word in the Bible as devil
or Satan ?" "Yes sir" "Well, what do
those things mean" He did not like that
at all, but presently he said, "They mean
a great many things" "Then it will be
easy for you to tell me one; give me the
one that comes first to mind" He looked
very blank at last he said, The words
very often mean the grave" Grave, +"
said 1, "we'll try that, sir. In the book
of Job you read, There was day when
the sons of God came to present them
selves before the Lord, and the Craze came
also amongst them'" He was very grave
indeed, and his companions roared with
laughter. 1t does not mean grave
there" said he. well, as you have
been rather unsuccessful at FIRST, you had
better try again" " It sometimes means
an evil principle Within" he replied. BE
lis coming nearer to the mark now, thought
I; and 1 said, ."Well. we'll try that. You
read in the gospel by Matthew that our
blessed Lord was led Of the Spirit into
the wilderness forty days TO be tempted Of
the evil principle within him. Do you be-
lieve that Jesus Christ had An evil prinei-
pie within him. such as you and have
'sir7" "No, sir, ! DON'T . Then the