The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-18
What Is Truth:
Editors of the Register.

Is the Bible true? Fit is, then, what
are the doctrines which it teaches? If
it is not, is there any other system
which is TO be received in its place, ard
what are its teachings?
There are hundreds of thousands Of
people whose faith in the scriptures is
disturbed by no doubts. This is state
OF mind greatly to be desred. Let no
man suffer himself to be driven from
this position il lie has really attained
it. There are other multitudes who
either utterly ignore all such questions
as those which are asked above, and
live merely ior the present life; or who
have sunk into the dreary abyss OF in
fidelity or false religion. Blu: there is
a third class which occupies sort Of
intermediate ground. They differ in
the state OF their minds. Some are
barely tempted TO feel uncertainty, and
desire to be confirmed in their conf
dence in the Word OF God. Others Of
them are trembling on the verge of q
scepticism which would doubt every
thing. In the hope OF aiding this class
what follows is written.
The question, what is truth can be
aparered satisfactorily. Scepticism can
not be justified on the ground that in
the midst OF the conflicting systems
and opinions which prevail in the
world iu regard to religious objects. it
Is impossible to know what to believe.
The queries whether the Bible is the
insured Word OF God, aud what are its
essential doctrines, can be conclusively
answered.
One reason which warrants this as
sertion is that the evidence OF the Dr.
vine origin of the Scriptures is OF such
a character that We can for ourselves
Examine it, and form sound opinion
in regard to it. The proof is not def
cient in any direction. The manner in
which the evidences of Christianity have
beep developed until they have attained
their present iullness, furnishes one Of
the most remarkable lines of the ex-
emplicstion of Gods providence. The
order very often has been first an attack
by infdelity OF some kind, upon wha'
has seemed to it to be weak point
But by and bg the necessary means o
refutstion has been discovered. Anc
the result has been NOT merely tina
the attack has been met, but a new
croupd of confirmation to the truth has
been developed. In this manner, a.
the ages roll, away stone alter stone II
immovably built into that wall OF evil
depce by which the Bible has surround
ed itself With the lapse OF time TIT
proof OF is Divine origin, instead OF be-
coming weaker as might have been an
ticipated, really strengthens. We hav'
abundant means Of ascertalnlng TIT
truth.
The difficulty which is sometime
suggested in regard to these evidence
is that men who lack the opportunlt.
OF learning and leisure cannot examln
them for themselves. The Blbl
is a document which was writer
in fragments ages ago. The inquire
which may be raised as to when, wher
and by whom the various books wer
composed, whether it is original, wheth
er it. as we now have it, is the same a
that which was first given, are import
ant. But they are OF such a characte
that, except in rare cases, the mechsnl
aud merchant cannot investigate then
with that care and independence who
an original solution of these problem
/ would demand, before such points, IN
mass of men must be content wit
second hand testimony. This. hoWeve'
it may be incidentally observed, oug,h
to be conclusive when presented b
persons in whose learning and honest
we can place confidence, just as it is r
gsrded when offered in regard to seculs