The New York herald., 1875-11-21

To this communication Natural" man subsequently
replied, thought he replied But If exclude from
mis- letter all the extraneous matter bearing topics
that / dld not name or touch at all ] should have
little to reply to now Indeed his letter is good
a proof as could ask that my quotation OF the
apostolic statement that "the natural man recevcth
not or knoweth not the things Of God, which are
spiritually discerned," Is correct In his opening
paragraph he acknowledges himself ignorant or that
which criticised and therein shows his own incom-
petenco TO become my critic But since he expresses
desire for further light and information on the topcs
treated in my former letter. will take up his inquiries
seriatim and reply to them in order
First, the Natural" man shows his naturalness Just
as the preacher whom criticised at first showed il by
confounding nature with God. He says:-"As we can
see in this world only nature" &c, and then mmedi-
atey thereafter adds According 70 the Scriptures
Christ was God and God created Christ, or, in other
words Christ God himself Christ was a thing
formed" says my "Natural" critic. triumphantly
"snd you will not deny that he the former OF it,
Tho best recommend ndation that l can mako 70 my
Natural friend s TO study little moro, until he be-
comes capable OF making distinction between per-
son and thing, between the article manufactured and
the manufacturer CT H. for, If Christ was "the thing
formed my critics rationalisin loose as It may
be, forbds that He should be His own creator
Second, my Natural" friend asks, in all serious.
ness 'o what possible spiritual things II
ral men cannot understand themp II the Bible IS
sealed 70 all except those who profess be Christians
Of what possible is itS' Now, TINS Natural"
critic pretends in his letter know something about
the Bible and 4 be has read much OF it may remind
him that 8 is "sealcdn than nature with
which he TO be SO familiar is
sealed The Bible Is collection OF truths;
nature is another collection, There many
truths in both that Natural" cannot fathom or
unseal But there arc many more plain and easily un
derstood Let me refer my Natural" friend to Mat
thew v, vi, VIII and John, ill.,, and when he has ap
pretended these plain truths may suggest others
him. II be will read IL Timothy, Ill, 1911 he will
not want again 10 ask OF what the Scriptures
1--WE are all natural, adds my friend '-Now, who"
he asks, was the first natural who made these
spiritual discoveries 20 &C Well as FAR back as nv
reaning extends If remember rightly Abel the son
OF Adam, was perhaps the first To make these discov
cries Enoch, Noah and Abraham; Isaac Jacob and
Job; David and Solomon; Isaiah, jeremiah and Daniel
Paul. Peter and john Luther aud Wesley, and Others
AL along the ages have made discoveries in this field
and IS to say the least objectionable ignorance in
any man, Natural or unnatural who sets himself up
critic not 70 know something sboutth discoveries
OF those men, especially as their writings and sayings
are ia all our public libraries and are within reach
Of the masses OF men. presume my Natural" critic
did not expect me 10 reply 10 his query, ''Who the
unnatural men OF the present day who are so much
wiser and better than their fellovsf" he
his own inquiry more satisfactorily to himself than
should.
eve have plenty Of crceds but very little religion
says my "Natura' friend. Very likely / won't con
troyert this point though think | could show any
natural that pure and undehed religion before God
and the Father is not such scarce commodity my
friend and his class deem 1t TO be. But asked in
the next place IF any man can be Jealous member of
any church without being injured by it," Here is
lamenable display Of ignorance concerning the obga-
tons and privileges of church membership And while
answer this interrogatory with the most positive
surance that a man cannot be tzeaous member OF
church, without being benefited by II, very respect
fully suggest to "Natural man TO test this thing for
himself There are secret oaths grips passwords
requisite for membership in the Christian Church, and
any denomination viii readily receive Natural man
shall pass critics personal allusion to myself
and will ask him TO prove his OF hand statements about
the wranglng among the churches 1t so much easier
TO make sweeping charge of this kind than TO prove
IL. And may remind Natural man that an asser
uon however positive, Is not proof of the fact or
thing asserted He and probably both agreed as
TO the worth worthessness of seeples churches
but might remind him that those who spend most
money on churches and steepes are they who most
frequently the orphans wall for bread 'Natu-
rail- men like my critic who take no interest in the
church or the steepe save to condemn both, not
very likely to be ANXIOUS or interested in the condition
and welfare OF the orphan or the widow, They put
their money where they think it will do most
good-not TO others but to themselves.
Can "a pile OF bricks and mortar add to or diminish
the glory OF God?" asks my critic again. answer 1t
can Jehovah Himself gave David the pattern OF the
Temple to be built at Jerusalem, and when IL
dedicated He filed it with His glory And for centuries
aiterward the glory OF the Lord abode in the Holy
OF Holes Of that Temple But, furthermore Paul
tells whether eat or drink, whatsoever do
should do all to the glory Of God But If does not
add to diminish from His glory Of what TO recog
nizo God at all at our meals or in our churchesP Why
not convert tnem into cluD rooms ana our
worship to suit the tastes OF natural men?
The next inquiry OF my Natural" critic is one that
relates to the cross, which at the crucGxion became
the symbol Of religion. And he is puzzled to know
why Christ should say, Take up cross and follow
men The spiritual void and vacuum in "Natural's"
mind Is apparent the most casual observer IN this
inquiry II the cross be merely the symbol of religion,
he states, what could be more natural and proper
than for Jesus to say Take up your religion and follow
me ~ And respectfully suggest that if Natural
following Christ and His religion, with His religion
in his heart he would not write as he has written But
this communication is already, fear too long, ana
must leave two or three thoughts in my "Natu-
raln friends letter for future consideration
SCRUTATOR