Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-23
RRaaiaaEur tHe Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
IOriginal.l |
ATHEISTS.

REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
orlgina
ATHEISTS.
The classical scholar needs no definition of
the words atheism and atheist. Their ety.
mology is so plain that he discovers it at a
glance. To those who possess no knowledge
Of the Greek language, a definition Of these
words may Be necessary Atheisn1 is the
doctrinal creed of the atheist, and an athe-
ist is one who denies the existence of God.
There are two kinds of atheism. Such
being the case, there are necessarily two
kinds of atheists. One kind of atheism is
denominated theoretical, or speculative
atheism. The other kind is properly called
practical atheism. The theoretical atheist
is an Individual who has adopted, as his re-
ligious creed, the sprineiple that there ls in
reality no God. The practical atheist isthe
individual who rejects in theory, the prlncl-
pie that there is no God, but acts as II there
is no God. In theory, few persons have
adopted the principle that there is no God,
consequently speculative atheists have new
er been numerous. In fact, the thing Is so
absurd that by far the greater number OF
those who have. reflected on the subject, 1t
has been concluded that no man ever did or
can actually believe that there is no God.
The reasons assigned for this conclusion are
many and potent. The speculative atheist
can give no reasonable account of either
himself or the multitude of things which
make up what is called the world. He can
not say they were created, for he denies the
existence of creator. He dares not say
they are preserved, for be denies the exls-
tence of a preserver. The theory Of the
atheist is in direct and open conflict with
the consent of mankind in all ages of the
world, in every section of the globe, in all
conditions of society and in every circum-
stance of life. The atheist cannot satistac-
torily account for the fact that all the human
family, except himself, believe in the exis-
tence of God, if there is, according to his
theory, no God. How were men induced
to adopt the theory that there is Supreme
Being? If as the atheist says, there is no
God, ,lhow is itthat all men, with few eX-
ceptions, have. embraced theory which
materially, directly or indirectly, affects ev-
ery other theory? Why is it that men,
with few exceptions, cling to this theory
amid all the vicissitudes of life ? These are
iouestions which the atheist cannot answer.
Notwithstanding the fact that speculative
atheism is monstrOusly absurd and a bundle
of self contradictions, it is probable that
some men have been so far deluded as to
actually embrace it. At any rate 1T has had
a few Votaries, and a few martyrs. Prac'
tical atheism has been common in allperl-
ods of the worlds history. The tendency OF
all men is to fall into practical atheism. By
far the larger number OF the human family
are practical atheists. In theory they adj
nit the existence of God, but in practice
they ignore any such being. The Psalm,
ist, in Speaking of atheists, says, "The fool
hath said i'm His heart there is no God"
Both the speculative and practical atheist is
called a fool. However ignominious the cpl
thet, we cannot question it's fitness, since it
is chosen and applied by the Holy Spirit.
"a fool is an Individual" says Webster,
"destitute of reason or the common powers OF
understanding an idiot" This is the lndl-
vidual who says in his heart there is no
God. He does not necessarily say 1t to
those with whom he associates, but he says
it in his heart. He thinks it.
The evidence that such an one is a fool, is
that he will not see facts at all, or II he sees
them does not see them as they are. we
would deliberately pronounce that lndivid-
ual fool, who standing beneath summers
sun saws: "There is no sun. 1t is all con-
ceit." By what better name than that OF
fool could we designate him who denies
that. there. is a. Being who hung the sun n in
space and lives and reignS and shines IN all
Els Works2 & & S@s9 * sla "a s,
The atheist is called fool, not 50 much
because off hisdnental inlbeeiitYsas on ac-
count Of hiSfnorat depsavity. Hroni heart
felt desire to live in violation OF GODS law
he would persuade himself that there Is no
God. He feels that practical belief in the
existence of God is incompatible with the
belief of sin in which he desires to live. His
wickedness is the parent Of his folly. We
regard him as fool who destroys his own
property, maltreats his friends and imperils
his own life. The Individual who returns
hatred for friendship, ingratitude for love
and contempt for favor, we stigmatlze as a
brainless and heartless monster with the
venom of the viper. What shall we call
that being in, the human form and with
human endoWments which says that the
God who made it and on whose providen-
tial care it is continually dependent, does
not exist. Is its name not fool? WHAT
would we call the man who would insist that
he had no parents? Would we not say ne
is fool-a man destitute of reason, with
out the common powers Of understanding {;
an idiot?
The atheist, whether speculative or prac-
tical, is rightly named by the Holy Spirit,
fool The Psalmist, guided by Gods
Holy Spirit, gives US the moral character
istics of the atheist. Here they are: "They
are corrupt; they. have done abominable
works; there is none that doeth good"
This is concise and comprehensive. 1t is
SO perfect that no sane individual can posi-
bly, confound either the practical or specu-
lative atheist with any other member OF the
human family. All atheists are corrupt,
they also do abominable works, and not one
of them does good. Moral corruption pro-
duces atheists and atheism produces cor
ruption.
Atheism is stagnant pool in whose
sinking waters is produced moral filth.
No man ever say a pure and Vlrtuous
atheist. Such aabeing does not exist. In
the nature Of things it never can exist.
Atheists are abominable in their words,
they'are abominable in their thoughts, they
are abominable in their bodies and they
are abominable in their souls. ''They are
filled with all righteousness, fornication,
Wickedness, covetousnesS, maliciousness ;
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malig-
nifty; Mhisperers, baekbiters, ,haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boosters, inventors of fevil
things, disobedient to parents, without un-
derstanding covenant breakers, without
natural affection implacable and unmer-