The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-03-26
PROGRESS OF 1NFIDELITY.

Il may be questioned whether unguarded Ian
guage on this subject is not too often uttered both
iron the pulpit and the press. That there Is
much in6delity abroad in the world none can deny
Much Of our periodical literature is infected with
it. and it makes great boast Of holding the sceptre
in the domain OF science; and representations are
often made which might leave one to conclude that
the cause Of Christianity was overthrow as a syS-
TEN that had waxed old, and deeayed, and was
ready to vanish away This is great mistake, and
il does harm to give way to any such impressions
These are undoubtedly days of determined an
taeorisna between truth and error, and Ike every
battle of the warrior, 1t Is often waged with
confused noise. We sometimes find professed
soldiers Of the Cross who enter the conflict I'm
such questionable shape that we hardly know
on which side to count them. They may not per
hans be with the enemy, but neither can they be
wisely trusted as standard bearers against them.
But leaving these aside, aud looking at the IN
doubted enemies of the Cross Of Christ on the one
hand, and its undOubted friends on the other,
there is much, in fact there never was more, that
should lead all Christians to thank God and take
courage. The gospel is certainly advancing over
ChriStendom generally, and rapidly 10 spite Of all
opposition. Ministers, churches, and members
are multiplying at a rate that gains upon the mass
Of the population. If the enemy is busy sowing
tares land the devil has never been an idler in
that work. certainly the good seed of the king
don" is also scattered with liberal hand In no
age Of the world has so much been done in the
way Of circulating the Bible, together with good
books and tracts. When We think of the preva-
lence Of in6dehty now, it is well to remember how
tdarkened the whole heavens at the close of the last
century. French Atheism, and German Rational
ism, had struck deep root over Europe, and were
bearing apples of SodOm in abundance. When We
look into the most reputable parts Of the Christian
Church many Of them were chilled to the heart
under hleeSs orthodoxy. With all that is to be
amented in these days, we are persuaded it is bet
ter now than it was then.
If we survey the work Of missions among the
heather, no one can fail to see that immense pro-
gress is making in the spread OF Christianity, and
what has been effected is so much work of pre-.
paratOn, that the faith of the people of God rests
strongly in the expectation of far greater changes
during this last quarter of the century than have
been witnessed during any equal period in the
Christian era.
As TO the idea that nearly all the scientific attain
ment Of the present day is enlisted Against the
Bible, and that it is about to be overwhelmed and
ruined from this quarter. all this Is prodgioas
exaggeratiou. lift were true that the votaries of
natural science were all taking counsel together
sCaius. the Lord and against his Amounted, it is no
more than the kings aud the rulers" have done
long ago. Such men have often set themselves to
the task Of breaking the bands Of the Lord asun.
der. Calmly sitting in the heavens be has laughed,
and had them in derision This is no new thing
on the part Of philosophy, falsely 50 called" it
Is an old trick Paul met it in his day, and trium-
pbautly exclaimed" where is the scribe, where
IS the wise, where is the dsputer of this world?"
God had then turned it all into foOlishness, and
has done so over and over again in ages after.
One Of the most interesting and useful books
that could now be written, would be clear and
truthful sketch, giving the history Of the socaed
scientific objections that for these hundreds of years
have come and gone in swift succession like shad-
oys over the plain-eaeh one in its turn claimed as
a complete refutatiOn of the vast and varied evi.
dence accumulated for ages to demonstrate that we
" have not followed eunningly devised fables"
But after al, it is not true that the weight of
scientific attainment is at this day against the
Bible. There are certainly some names of emf
nence whose recent discussions have been far from
friendly to it. But these are exceptions; the best
names in the list Of eminent men, and certainly BY
far the most OF them, are decidedly on the side of
that Holy Word which, though of.en weighed in
the balances, has never been found wanting Aud
whenever an uDguarded representation is made to
the contrary, it tends to discourage the hopes of
Christian people, if it does not impair their trust