The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-04-28
Letters Of d. ID. +. ON the Evil.
idence Of christianity. =
LETrgR IY.

y
persons that met in council to estab.
fish a new canon, and what anthori.
ty they had for 50 doing2 The coun,
Gil Of Laodicea was the first that Sc
lected the present Gospels from the
many then extant, and declared
them inspired, and scripture; about
the end Of the fourth century, In
answer to this, we find that they
plainly appear to have been set OF
men entirely unqualified for such an
undertaking; for according to the
best authorities we may collect a
majority in these councils was al
ways formed By faction and intrigue;
that the members were led by inter
est, prejudice and passion; and that
they were contentious, ambitious, ig-
norant and wicked. The judicio1s
Mr.. Chandler gives such character
to the Fathers, and such descrip.
ton Of all general Councils, as must
be very convincing how improper
they were, and what little authority
their determinations ought TO have.
He says, (Introduct. to history Of the
Inquisition, p. ILL., at is infinite, it
is endless labor to consult all that
the Fathers have written; and when
we have consulted them, what one
controversy haye they nationally de-
cided? how few texts of scripture
have they critically settled the sense
and meaning Of? How often do they
differ from one another, and in how
many instances from themselves?
Those who read them, greatly differ
in their Interpretation of them, and
men Of the most contrary sentiments
all claim them for their own. Ath-
anasians (Trinitarians0 and Arians
UnitariansD all appeal to the Faith
ers, and support their principles by
quotations from them. And are
these the venerable gentlemen,
whose writings are to be set up in
opposition to the Scriptures Are
creeds of their debating TO be sub.
.mitted to us as the only criterion Of
orthodoxy, or esteemed as standards
to distinguish between truth or err
rors? Away with this folly and SUI
perstitionl The creeds Of the Faith
ers and councils are but human creeds,
that have marks in them of human
fraility and ignorance"
Another eminent persons declares
(Barbeyr Hist. and Crit. account of
the Science of Morality, chap. TX
and Ky The Fathers, you say,
whom you regarded as the propaga-
tors Of the Christian religion, must
necessarily have been men of true
piety and knowledge; but it has been
maintained and proved TO you by a
great number Of instances, that the
Fathers have not only fallen into
very gross errors, and been most pro-
foundly ignorant of many things
which they ought to have known;
but farther, that most Of them have
more or less suffered themselves to be
such as is neither regular nor justi-
fable. In the first ages Of Christi
anity, and those that followed after
the men most applauded, and who
bore the greatest character in the
church, were not always those that
had the greatest share Of good sense,
or were the most eminent for learn
ing and virtue"
As to general councils, II think it
will evidently followfrom this account
says Mr., Chandler, qntroduct. to the
Hist. Of the Inquisition, sec. III, p.
l00-102.( "That the determination
of Councils and DEGREES of synod as
to matters of faith are Of no manner
of authority, and carry no obliga-
tons upon any Christian whatsoev.
er. | will mention here one reason
which would itself suffice if all 9TH
ers were wanting, viz: that they
have no power given them, in any
part Of the Gospel revelations, to
make these decisions in controverted
points, and to oblige others to sub.
scribe to them; and that therefore
the pretence to it is an usurpation
of what belongs to the great God
who only has, and can have the right
to subscribe to the conscience Of men.
But, to let this pass, what one coun.
Gil can be fixed upon that shall APP
per to have been composed of such
persons as upon impartial examina-
ton might be deemed fit for the
work of settling the faith, and Of
determining all controversies relat.
ing to it? | mean, in which the ma
jority of the members may in chart
ty be supposed to have been disin-
torested, wise, learned, peaceable and
pious men. Will any man take to
affirm this of the council of Nice2
Can anything be more evident, than
that the members of that assembly
came, many Of them, full of passion
and resentment; and others we're
crafty and wicked; and others igno.
rant and weak? Did their meeting
together in a synod Immediately
cure them of their desire of revenge,
make the wicked virtuous, or the
ignorant wise? If not, their joint
decree as synod could really be of