The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-26
Tho Use OF Reason in RELIGION,
Editors Of the Register.

i
| The proper use Of reason in any ma
ter is to weigh all things bearing on
carefully and from these draw the con
slusion, whatever it may be. Especis.
ly is this important at the present d.
in religion, where 60 much is said 10
and against the religion Of the Bible
If any one questions the truthfulness Q
the Bible, or its Divine origin, his onl
true course is not to take into consider
alton any Of those things which cast
shadow oil doubt upon it. but to weigh
all matters bearing on list validity also
Ifany matter in the Bible is above hi
com preh en.ion, then he must exercise
his reason according to the com
mon methods OF considering evidence
: to ascertain whether there is sufficient
evidence and OF the right kind, to estat
lish it. And in no instance ought an
Intelligent being, or one who doubts, to
accept any doctrine, or incident, or fac,
of the Bible until he hiss first satisfed
bis mind that it is true. And when his
mind is thus Satisfied, no matter how
far above his comprehension the par
ticular thing in question may he, he
will receive it with implicit faith.
And faith which arises
from a. intelligent investiga ion
OF the scriptures is far better to silence
all doubts and cavils than ore which
arises from a simple acceptance OF
them. The best and only true faith
lie that which arises from conviction
OF our reason. The religion OF the
Bible first addresses itself to our rea-
son to gan the assent OF the mind,
| th en- from this conviction it asks the
faith OF the heart Accordingly when
Christ gave this religion TO men, he
would first convince their minds by
miracles and other means that what he
said was true He did not ask men 10
believe on him until he mad first con.
WINGED them OF his true character aud
gained the assent Of their reason 10y
proper means.
When be wished to prove 10 them
that he was divine being he did not
simply announce TO them that he was
from God and leave them to believe it
or not IS they saw fit, but to leave men
without excuse be would first convince
their senses and then ask the faith OF
their hearts. In considering these mat
tiers at this distant day there is room
aui utter necessity for the exercise OF
the highes: and most enlightened rea
son. Accordingly men have brought
to their cid the most profound research
and exercised most impartial judg-
meut in considering these matters. No
intelligent Christian minister consents
to preach the gospel until he fret salts
fes himself by evidence that it
ia true, and then with con-
fidence such as only arises from
an entire conviction OF the reason, he
proclaims its unsearchable truths to
men. Were men compelled to take the
Bible on simple faith alone, without
anything 10 convince their minds, it
could not survive a single day. But
everything in the Bible from beginning
to end is founded on reason, and this is
the faculty which must mainly be used
in investigating it, il we would have an
uumovable faith.
II the Bible WAS not reasonable in all
it's doctrines, C., il it does not accord
with all the apparent facts, with refer
ence to our present existence and uIti-
mate destiny, then we could not blame
men for not accepting it. But since lie
truth can be, aud always is spprshend.
ed by reason in The case OF converted
sxep,ics, it is important that this facul-
~ should be first exercised IN contem"
rlatlDg it.
And these remarks are made to
counteract the opinion so common
among infiiels, that there IS no reason
10 religion ard that if they would be-
come Christians they would have to
accept by blind and unintelligent faith
Whist their reason does not commend.
Nav we no, urge all such to give the
attention Of their minds to the Bible
for g time and sec whether it will net
show itself field worthy OF the exer-
else Of the most advanced and intelIi-
gent reason. :,
Religion ia not matter OF simple
faith alone. 1t can only command our
faith after it has commended itself TO
our Intelligence. 1t has secured
the acceptance OF thousands
OF tie best educated men already, who
are compelled to believe in it after har'
ing been convinced by the orerwhsIn'
ing evidence in its favor. And it ID ca
pable OF securing the faith OF every ln-
telligsut man who will consent TO ex-
anime 1t in the light OF true and un"
prejudiced reason. The victories which
it has already achieved with men OF
reason and science shows that it 10
equal to the contest. We do not ask
for the Bible anything short OF a most
thorough and reasonable consideration
OF everything tending to establish It's
claims. When this is accorded to 1t
We do not fear the result. If 1t is the
word OF God at all, it's doctrines and
history are such as will commend
themselves to enlightened investigation.
When it fails to DO this then we Will
consent to give it up. ANTHRoFos'