The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-07

SeeAeA@eAf
A sermon on popular fallacles con-
corning religion and morals was dellv-
cred yesterday morning at the First
Christian church, by Rev. c. N. OIL
plant, the pastor. whose arguments
were lucid and connrmatory. The SER
mon is in some respects a timely one,
since the recent death Of Colonel Robert
Ingersoll has awakened some interest
In the arguments against Christianity.
Said Rev. Mr.. Oliphant:
Many are Influenced by error rather
than truth. Many. in this age, are sloR
to investigate statements to see II they
are founded on truth. This is esPec-
Tally true Of statements concerning
morals and religion. Yet 1.-THE law Of
the Lords perfect converting the soul"
What else is perfect? 1.-THE statutes Of
the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart"
What else is right, If these are not?
The Christian faith is disturbed by
mans failacles, that are somewhat
popular. What are some of the falla-
Giles?
First, Belief in God not reasonable
and the man who cherlshes this belief
Is weak and foolish. The Bible says,
..The fool hath said in his heart, there
Is no God" 1t requires only a moder-
ate exercise Of our reasoning to prove
this declaration true. Every rational
man must and does admit the eternal
existence Of some thing. If there had
been nothing In the beginning there
would be nothing in the end. From
nothing, nothing comes" Something
has always existed, and in that some
thing this universe had its origin.
What is that something? The Bible
calls It God. Mr.. Spencer called 1t, the
unknown and unknowable," Which is
correct? II that something is the par
emit of all other things 1t must have had
intelligence. If we are intelligent that
from which we came must have been
intelligent. Who can meet this de-
mand but God?
All in Harmony.
A musical instrument. with strings
meeting in harmony implies that a
musician tuned them. Thousands OF
men in field, marshalled under sew
eral colors, all yielding exact obedience
presupposes that general gave the
command; If in a watch we see large
and small wheels all SO fitted as to move
In order, we know there has been e1er-
eised the skill OF an artIficer; when we
see a fair building erected according to
a definite plan, we conclude 1t had an
architect; a stately ship. well rugged
and safely conducted to the port, proves
It had a pilot. So the world, which we
see and enjoy, is an instrument, an
army. a watch, building, ship and
without question proves God who
made and is the timer, the general, the
artiflcer, the architect and pilot OF ALL
There is a God.
Another fallacy is that the miracles
OF the Bible are not true. They are not
reasonable. Some have even said that
Jesus was a slight OF hand man." and
that he and thou, associated with him.
imposed upon the credulIty and ignor-
ance of men.
we all admit that the universe is a
creation and nearly all admit that 1t
came from a personal creation. The
same power that created the world
could work miracles, because creation
Iii
Christ performed miracles. Nlcode-
mus, a ruler among the Jews, man Of
learning and one not apt to become the
victim Of base trickster, believed that
Jesus wrought miracles. He said in
John s:2, "for no man can do these
miracles, that thou doest, except God
be with him."
The four evangellsts tell US that
Jesus performed miracles. One says
that we do not know who wrote the
four gospels. Well, the early writer's OF
the Christian Era quoted largely from
them, believing them to be the works Of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. More.
the enemies Of Christianity, in that age.
who we're bitterly opposed to the gospel
quoted from the gospels and never in
isnuated that these men were not the
authors of the four gospels. No oppo-
nent of Christianity for the first four
centuries of the Christian era ever
questioned the genuineness OF the four
gospels.
Miracles Wcrc Necessary.
These miracles were performed for n
good reason-that the people might be-
lleye that Jesus is the Son OF the living
God and the Saviour of men. John
2O:SO-3l. You ask, why are not the
miracles wrought to-day?" Not neces-
sary. We have the record OF all these.
After an arch is finished In building,
you do not leave the scaffold that sup
ported the workmen. but you say 1t is
no longer necessary. Hence you take
1t away. 1t would be useless to leave
1t. Miracles were the means OF high
err end. This working is no longer need
full. Read the record, consider the tes-
tlmony, study tho word, and you VIII
believe in Chrlsts divinity. Miracles
are as true as creation.
Another fallncy is that the Bible IS
an Infamous book" How did you dis
cover this? Did you hear some one say
so? You have not been reading the
moral Of God. Those who speak In this
way Of the Bible never read many IF
Its sacred pages. They know but little