The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-18

Do the facts prove the Bible 10 be reyela
tion from God. Let these flcis be exam
ined. They are all embodied TO your hand
by Horne. IL the evidence Is unaDswtrs
bic, IL would be poor reason To reject The
conclusion because II passes human reason
when the thousand mysteries around u'
equally pass human reason. All the works
Of God transcend our reason. Shall We
therefore disbeiieve their existence! Names
are but of little account. Nutiius dddicths
jurdre in UeTbd m0jestir l. TIE declaration OF
many an Uubelieyer who secretly pins bis
farth on NOltaire, Condorab. DAlembert
Payne. Hume, etc e'c. But In whom have
the powers ~ ieason been more stroIgly
exhibited than in Newton. Locke, Boyle,
Milton, Clarke, johnson. etc. etc., etc, who
had all examined this subject, and were all
believers and not ashamed OF the faitbY
The account Of great names is at least
sufficiently balanced 10 awaken every re-
fieciing man 10 "a serious and profound eX-
animation Of this subject Ii Is too solemn
and awful III lis consequences TO be lightly
and superticially disposed OF. Vague no.
tons Of the goodness Uf God and the JUS
tice OF God. settled by ourselves in our own
favor, and by the scale OF human reason,
are rather q rash dependence, when we arc
assured by great and enlightened men who
have no interest in deceiving Us that there
Is an nfalhbe standard wIbin Our reach
by which we'may ie't the sOlidily OF our
calculations and hopes.
| ought To beg your pardon. my dear
friend, for this letter. had no intention
OF writing such a one when | began.
have beer hurried INFO IT., aud borne along
beyond my purpose, but am most anXious
about it. 1t was only last night that vas
talking to my dear wife about you on this
subject. You know she loves YOU, not
merely because | do, but for your own
sake, and because OF your love for me. We
have both experienced, IN this late tIla. The
consolation OF religion. We are convinced
that our child is in heaven, safe housed
from the storms Of life winch she was
100 delicate 10 endure; aud we trust,
through the atonDg merits, the par
don. ana acceptance Of the Lord Jesus,
10 be united with Der again when il shall
please God to call us But for this hope life
would be lnsuppolt ible 20 us. AS il j., we
endeav0r to live IL much in heaven as on
earth, and endeavor TO do The will OF our
Father on calih aS it is in heaven. This
may all seem very simple and foolish TO you,
but we find il a realty. Would to God you
could be persuaded to try il. know that
Obslinacy Is 40 pat Of your character. |
bave heard you LAY Won wlSb YOU could he
lcye It. Are YOU sure you wish IT, my dear
IriendI Are Won sure there is no latent
wish TO the contrary? II so. then take il
up as new subject. Dismiss your
prepOSscSsi0ns ana give il fair play.
May God. IN His mercy. disposc yon
TO do it. and enlighien the path
Of your inquiry. We are bOth growing
old, and shall probably part on ihls earth.
God forbid that we should part forever.
freely admit that, so far as human virtue
l. concerned, your chance is far letter
than my own; but mere human virtue il
not the preparation for that holy heaven
in which our God is enthroDed. ! have
no reliance on self am vile and worthless.
II | am saved at all know that il must
be of The free grace Of God and through
the merits Of n dying SAVIOUR. 1t is His
spirir alone that can tit ne for the hablta
ton OF the saints on bIsh.
IhurSddU-l sat down To write q letter
to YOU last nIght, not anticipating what
kind Of a letter ii was 10 he, but abandon
ing nv pen to my feelings. ~ always do
when writing TO YOU, and | had written
thus far, ny heart miSoiyinG me all the
while lest should he doing more harm than
good, when ] determined 10 stop and take
the matter under further advisement. |
have accordingly done so, and on review
ing my letter this morning | am very un-
certain whether ought or not 10 send II.
fear it will seem very weak and foolish 10
you, and you will probably suppose that
grief has unsettled my understanding. But
you know that these are not new thoughts
Win me. and OF one thing YOU will he sure.
that this letter is Il proof OF my ardent love
for you. and a proof that relv on your cam
dor and friendship 10 do justice TO my mo-
tive. have not the folly TO consider ihiS
letter as an argument IN favor OF the Chris.
ton religion. know how far and vide the
objections 10 it run, for ! have been over
the whole ground. My object is to prevail
on you to reconsider the subject, and 10 do
il without aversion, not by the light Of your
own understanding only, but by fair eX-
animation OF the authors 10 whom | have
taken the liberty to refer YOU. And finally,
have 10 beg tbat you Will take this letter
in the good part in which you know It IL
meant, and that you will not cease to love
me. WILLIAM W lRT.