Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-29

given by inspiration of God, before
was possible for him to take in tn,
arguments from reason, history, ira
dition, etc., which must be Joined to
gether to confirm the sacred canon
and prove the several books Of tn
Bible to be divine. Thus, like Tim
othy, "he continued in the thing
which he had learned, and had beel
assured Of, knowing Of whom he hat
learned them" Yet as his years ad
vanced, they thought 1t requisite t,
show him the solid and rationa
of his faith, that his hop
God and not Of men.
After he arrived at fifteen, he wa!
suffered to admit nothing into hi
full assent, till his mind saw tn,
evidence Of the proposition
ITSELF or at least till he felt the pow
er Of those reasons which obliged hin
to assent, upon moral evidence ant
testimony, where the evidences o.
sense Of reason were not to be expect
ed. He knew that he was not to hops
for mathematical proofs that there 4
q pope at Rome; that the Turks hav,
over Judea; that s. Pau
wrote an Epistle to the Romans; tina
Christ was crucified without the gate.
Of Jerusalem, and that in three days
time he rose from the dead; and We
that there is just and reasonable evi
dence to enforce and support the be-
lief Of all these facts. Where truthi
were too sublime for present compre'
hension, he would never admit them al
a part Of his faith till he saw the full
evidence Of speaking God, and
divine revelation.
His tutor never imposed anything
on him with a magesterial air, but BY
way of advice, recommended to hin
such studies and such methods OF i'm
provement as his experience had lonf
he gave frequent hints Of
the dangers Of some opinions and thu
fatal consequences Of some modisf
and mistaken principles. He let hin
know generally what sentiments ht
embraced among the divided
opinions of the age; and what cleal
and comprehensive knowledge, wha
Of judgment, serenity Of
mind and peace of conscience were tt
be found in the principles which hi
had chosen; but he exhorted his pu'
oil still to choose wisely for himself
and led him onward in the science
and in common and sacred affairs, Il
frame his own sentiments by Just rule.
Of reasoning. Though Eugenio die
not blindly confine his belief to the
opinions of his instructor. yet III
could not but love the man that in
dulged him in such liberty oi
thought, and gave him such an ad
clue, by which he could LEI
himself into the secrets Of knowledge
human and divine. Thus, under the
happy and insensible influences Of 81
prudent q supervisor, he traced the
paths Of learning and enjoyed the un'
speakable pleasure of being his OWL
teacher, and Of framing his opinions
By this means he begar
early to use his reason which free.
dom, and to Judge for himself, with
out servile submission to the au.
thority Of others; and yet to pay
Just and solemn Difference to per.
sons of age and experience, and par.
to those who were the proper
and appointed guides of his youth
and who led him on so gently In the
paths Of knowledge.
He was not kept a stranger to the
errors and follies Of mankind, nor was
he let loose among them, either tr
books or in company, without a guard
and q guide. His preceptor let him
hhOW lhC 6iOoo Lil6tohOo hho AZ
iquities Of man, ancient and modern
but imbued him with proper princi.
Piles of truth and virtue, and furnish.
ed him with such rules Of judgmen,
as led him more easily to distinguish
between good and bad; and thus he
was secured against the infection and
the poison, both of the living and the
dead.
He had early cautions given him tC
avoid the bantering tribe Of morals
and was instructed to distinguish 9
Jest from an argument; so that loud
laugh at his religion never puts hin
nor his faith out Of countenance. he
Is ever ready to render q reason OF
his Christian hope, and to defend nil
creed; but he scorns to enter the list
with such a disputant as has no ar.
tillery but squib and flash; no argu.
ments besides grimace and ridicule
Thus he supports the character Of 6
Christian with honor; he confines his
faith to the Bible, and his practice tC
all the rules Of piety; and yet think!
at least as freely as that vain herd Of
and deists, who arrogate the
name Of freethinkers to themselves.
You will inquire, perhaps, how hi
came to attain so manly q conduct ir
life at so early an age, and how every
thing Of the boy was worn on 81
soon. Besides other influences, 1t Il
much wrong to the happy manage
ment Of his mother, Eraste; she was
frequent in the nursery, and inspired
sentiments into his childhood be.
riper years. When there wal
company In the parlor, with whom
she could use such freedom, she
brought her son in among them, moi
to entertain them with his own noise
tattle and impertinence, but to heal
their discourse, and sometimes tt
answer a little question or two they
might ask him. When he was grown
up to q youth, he was often admitted
into the room with his fathers &C.
quaintences, and was INDUCED the
liberty to ask and inquire on subjects
that seemed to be above his years; ht
was encouraged to speak sentence ol
learn and practice a modest assur'
gone, he was approved and praised II
he behaved we'll, or received kline
hints Of admonition that he might
know when he had been too silent
and when too forward to speak
Thus, by enjoying the advantage Of
society above the level of his owr
age and understanding, he was al
ways aspiring to imitation; and the
excesses and defects Of his conduct
were daily noticed and cured.
His curiosity was gratifled abroad
with the new sights and scenes a.
often as his parents could do 1t with
that he might not stare
and wonder at every strange objec'
or occurrence; but he was made pa
tient of restraint and disappointment
when he seemed to indulge an exces
sive desire of any needless diversion
If he sought any criminal pleasure!
or diversions, attended with grea
danger and inconvenience, the pur'
suit OF them was absolutely forbidden
but it was done in so kind a manner
as made the guilt or peril Of them ap'
pear in the strongest light, and there
by they were rendered hateful or for
midable, rather than the objects o.
wish or desire.
When Eugenio first began to &c
abroad in the world, his companions
were recommended to him BY the pru.
dence Of his parents; or II he chose
them himself, it was still within the
reach Of his tutors observation, OIL
the notice of his fathers eye, nor was
he suffered to run loose into promis'
Gus company till II appeared that his
mind was furnished with steady prin.
ciples Of virtue till he had the knowl.