The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-25

ence. We know that We live in this
world. Is it unreasonable to believe that
we may live in another world? five are
to believe nothing but what we under
stand we should go through life incredu-
lous and aimless. We are ready enough
to believe on information the things that
relate to this world. But we are slow to
believe in prophecy and revelation,
though both are corroborated by observa-
ton, experience and events. Infdelity,
claiming superiority in reason and com
mon sense, asks us to believe that all of
grandeur and sublimity, all of vastness
and power in the beautiful heavens and
upon the beautiful earth, comes by
chance; that everything is self-created
and self-existing, and that law, order and
harmony are accidents. Those who accept
this theory would find its application to
their business affairs anything but advan-
tageous. Infdelity and communism are
kindred In character, and aim by differ
ent methods to undermine the sanctions
and securities upon which the worlds
welfare and happiness rest. Infdelity
strikes at religion, communism at pro-
perty. One seeks to weaken our faith
and the other demands for the idle and
worthless an equal share in the savings
OF the industrious and frugal. Agra
rlanlsm Communism of milder type)
came to us some forty years ago from En-
gland, with Fanny Wright and Robert
Dale Owen as its apostles. This bad ele-
ment has been reinforced by communism
from France and Germany All three
are working out their destructive mission
in city where unhappily they find CO.
operation and sympathy To these birds
OF Ill omen comes infdelty equally ag-
gressive, with Robert G. Ingersoll as its
teacher. If it be said that, unlike the
communistic leaders, Mr.. Ingersoll is
gentleman and a scholar, the danger is
thereby intensified. The wonder is why
a man of good character and associations
should take pleasure in teachings whose
practical effect is to make his hearers and
readers worse instead of better citizens.
The strongest argument urged against
Christianity, from the days of Voltaire,
and Paine, is that bad men make a pro-
fession of it; that hypocrites are found in
all our churches. This is true. But is
it not equally true that everything in
trlnsically valuable gets debased? Frauds
are practised in business The richest
fabrics have their limitations. Gold and
and silver coins are debased or counter
felted. The evils, however, resulting
from impositions of this nature are not
serious. The intelligence of our people
and the penalties to which offenders are
subjected afford adequate protection, and
for ono hUpOorita 1ubo ~ q I,oc = e.
tession there are at leasSnine conscientious,
devoted Christians. Another argument
against religion is that our. Saviour was
an i1npostor and that as corollary his
teachings exert a baneful influence And
yet both Of the accusations are disproved
by the experience of 1000 years. If
Jesus OF Nazareth had been an impostor
His name and everything connected with
1t would hardly have survived a second
generation. There would then have been
no occasion for the labors of Voltaire,
Paine or Ingersoll Other and numerous
false teachers have appeared and disap-
peared But time and truth have been
attesting the divinity of our Saviour
His apostles and their successors, in
obedience to instructions, have carried
and are carrying glad tidings to the ut
termost ends of the earth. AS far and
as fast as this Gospel travels, the world is
civilized and its inhabitants benefited.
Civilization and its benefcent insti-
buttons abound by the religion which our
Saviour instructed his apostles to preach
to the heather. Geographical lines are
not more distinctly established than
those which mark the progress of mis-
sionaries; and, while religious light
brightens the Christian world, its ravs
dawn upon the darkest portions of the
earth. What have the doctrines of Con
fucius, Mohammed and other false teach
ers done for their followers but to hold
them for centuries in ignorance and bar
barism?
"But, returning to our own city, let
us contrast the labors of two prominent
contemporary teachers-one, Mr. Moody.
a Christian, and the other, Mr.. Ineersoil.
an infdel missionary. Mr.. Moody is
selfmade and self-educated. Mr.. Inger-
soil is gentleman of education. culture
and refinement That Mr.. Moody'g la
bOrs have been in the highest degree
beneficial to all classes will not be de-
MED. The highest and the humblest
listened with charmed interest, and all
left the Tabernacle better and happier.
The gen eral effect both of his preaching.
supplemented by the never-to-be-forgof-
A,.,,r -, IL NJ