The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-07-29
rllaneot1s.
Judge Black on IngersOll.
What he says Concerning the Author,
ITCHY of the Bible.

Judge jeremiah S. Black that master of
controversy, and Col Robert &. Ingersoll,
the orator, meet in mental contest in the
pages of the August North american Re
rie1o The subject is the Christian religion,
of which the one is as devoted professor as
the other is violent opponent. Judge Black
in his paper says concerning the authenticity
of the Bible:
First. There is no good reason to doubt
that the statements of the Evangelists, as we
have them now are genuine. The multiple
cation of copies was a sufficient guarantee
against any material alteration of the text
Mr.. Ingersol speaks Of interpretations made
by the fathers of the church. All he knows
and all he has ever heard on that subject is
that some ofthe innumerable transcripts con-
tanned errors which were discovered and cor
rected. That simply proves the present in
tegrity of the documents
Second. | call these statements deposit
tions, because they are not entitled to that
kind of credence which we give to declara-
tons made under OATH but in much higher
degree, for they are more than, sworn TO-
They were made in the immediate Prospect
of death. Perhaps this would not affect the
conscience or an 'atheist-pafher would an
oath, but these people manifestly believed in
judgment after death, before a God oftruth,
Mnosc ulspieasuic they ic"icu "po'c All
things
Third The witnesses could not have been
mistaken. The nature of the facts precuded
the possibility of any deusion about them
For every averment they had the sensible
and true avouch of their own eyes and ears
Besides, they were plain thinking, sober, I'M
imaginative men, who, unlike Mr.. Ingersoll,
always, under all circumstances, and especi-
ally in the presence of eternity, recognized
the difference between mountains and clouds.
1t is Uncomfortable how any fact could be
proven more conclusive than The statement
of such persons, publicly given and steadiast-
ly persisted in through every kind of pcrse-
cution, imprisonment and torture to the last
agonies of lingering death.
Fourth. Apart from these terrible tests,
the more ordinary claims of credibility arc
not wanting. They were men of unimpeach-
able character The most virulent enemies
of the cause they spoke and died for have
never suggested n reason for doubling their
personal honesty. But there is affirmative
proof that they and their fellow disciples
were held by those who knew them in the
highest estimation for truthfulness. Where
ever they made their report it was not only
believed, but believed with faith so implicit
that thousands were ready at once to seal it
with their blood.
Fifth The tone and temper of this nara
two ;mnrose NC with n sentiment Of nrofound
ra sr af II does not onneor that The staIc.
,nspts of tho Evan@elists We're ever denied Inv
an ni nerson who nretended to know the facts
W WI pi wn call the fundamental trnths Of
rh nc, copa;st of great nublic events
whicn ore Sufficiently established Inv history
When; ;tH SnnciaI nroof From the fncts estob.
l;s,,ad hv Ills evidence If follows irresistihlv
,hat Tho ~ oosnel hos come to rs from Cod
That r sill siienccs MI reasoning about the wisdom
and , ;nstice If its doctrines since il is limos.
S sII oYon 70 imoqinc that wrong can he done
SnD'c commanded bv TINT SoyeTeicn BEING
whose will alone l. the intimate Standard ri
OIL IE ;nSt; ma'' ''' ~ >>''>'''' -
Tt" ~ eIoouent nerorotiop on tbe Christian
re1ia;,n cnncludes Judge Racks article in
tb;ss otriIing and fmli?souled language -.
1 sI'5 rei;gion has come down tn ms throuph
,,a n a5,as s,tondaJ oil Tho wov bv righteonS.
n ,ms ." ;nst;oe temnerapce merry tra5snorent
tr,,thf,,InoSS eynIt;ng hone and Willie. WINGED
charitu Never was its influence for g6od
nn"ra gSio;niv nercentihle than now II has
mnt oanwo,.tod nnr;fied and reformed all mon
Fnr ;,S ;rs, rr;nc;nia is thc frccdom ofthe In
man o viii Ill and thoro orn those who chose IN
raiac, !, Rut tn tbn mass If mankind di.
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