صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

of the reception of the Bible, and the firm belief that it is of Divine origin. And we state it as a great truth which we are persuaded none can disprove, that if the Bible were to be universally believed and adopted, and its Christianity were to be the governing principle of every clime, of every community, and of every heart, instead of "barbarism in its darkest and most horrid forms becoming universal and eternal," it would for ever be unknown in our world, for it would be banished eternally from among men. Civilisation, refinement, and intelligence; spiritual and physical freedom, intellectual dignity, and true excellence; the noblest aspirations, the most refined pleasures, and the most rational and solid enjoyment; the most noble and worthy sentiments, the purest morality, the most excellent principles, and the most honourable deportment; and disinterested the most unbounded goodness; friendly and affectionate feeling and intercourse, union and happiness, national, individual, social, and domestic, would extend and prevail throughout the length and breadth of the land. Christianity has totally abolished barbarism wherever it has been received in its purity, and has had predominent sway. Such was the effect of its benign influence in ancient Rome when first introduced there. Such are the effects it has produced in every part of Africa, Tahiti, the islands in the Southern Ocean, in India, and in every other place, where it has been embraced, and permitted to have its due and native influence.

Equally absurd and false is what Mr. Barker says about the stars and about nature. The stars would speak to him, meaning the Christian, but he dare not hear.' 'Nature would unfold to him her wonders, but he must not listen or attend to them.' Joseph should not have made such a statement, for how could he be ignorant of the fact, that, in every point of view, it is contradictory to truth, and offensive to common sense? Such an assertion may be applauded by infidels who are not sufficiently thoughtful and discerning, but its absurdity and falsehood will soon appear under the searching eye of the intelligent Christian. No man can so consistently and delightfully examine, study, and admire, the beauties, the wonders, 'the sublimities, the harmonies, the excellences, and the immense varieties of nature, as the Christian. No man has so many strong and powerful motives to pursue the investigations of science in all its departments, and to acquire a thorough and extensive knowledge of its truths and wonderful discoveries, as the Christian. The studies and investigations relating to nature and science, when combined with right affections, good principles, and holy dispositions, have a tendency to educate the mind-to fit and prepare it for the employments, the contemplations, and enjoyments of a future and immortal state of being. How very imprudent, therefore, must it be for any infidel to affirm that Christians must not, or dare not, listen to the discoveries, the wonders and teachings of nature and science, for fear they should meet with something not in accordance with, or condemned by the 'book,' for every intelligent and consistent Christian is, and ever will be, a true lover of nature, and of science too. Nor is it true, as many infidels try to persuade themselves, and would have all the world to believe, that the Bible is at variance with nature and science, or that they contradict and condemn what the Bible teaches and inculcates. There is a pleasing harmony between them, and each will be best understood, explained, and appropriated, when investigated and considered, in relation to, and in connexion with the other. " Geology, when in its infancy, was eagerly brought forward by a few sceptical and superficial minds, to serve the cause of infidelity. A few pretended facts, of an insulated nature, were triumphantly exhibited, as insuperable objections to the truth of the Mosaic history and chronology. But later and more accurate researches have completely disproved the allegations of such sceptical philosophers, and were they now alive, they would feel ashamed of their ignorance, and of the fallacious statements by which they attempted to impose on the credulity of mankind.”

As Geology advances in its investigations, along with its kindred sciences, the facts which it is daily disclosing appear more and more corroborative of the description given in the Bible of the original formation and arrangement of our globe, and of the universal deluge." Any one of our infidel friends are at liberty to refute these statements, if they can; and if any one make the attempt, we will endeavour to examine his objections and arguments with calmness and fairness, to dispose of them with candour, and to treat the infidel himself with kindness. It will serve no good purpose for us to behave towards the infidel himself with any degree of bitterness or rashness. His system has no charms, attractions, or excellences connected with it; and whether true or false, it is not calculated to do him much good. But the Christian has the advantage every way for, if Christianity be false, he is no worse for being a Christian; for Christianity is well fitted to make him a sober, honest, diligent, benevolent, worthy, and honourable man, and consequently a good member of civil, social, and domestic society; and therefore, if there be an enjoyment to be realized, the Christian is very likely to find it, even if his theory be a false one; but if Christianity be true-if its origin is Divine, and not human, if God is its Author and not man-Then the infidel's principles and condition are deplorable indeed; whilst the Christian's lot is most noble, most enviable, and most desirable, for his religion is profitable to him for all things in this life, and when the period, arrives which will terminate his earthly career, the same religion will conduct him to an eternity of blessedness in the heavenly world-to the place where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore.' Surely the Christian religion ought to recommend itself to every rational and intelligent person, for it is certainly the best and the greatest friend to our race of all the systems which have occupied the attention of man. I will now add a few quotations illustrative of some of the foregoing statements from the writings of the greatest men which either Europe or America can prode.

[ocr errors]

"It is the Christian religion which, in spite of the extent of empire and the influence of climate, has hindered despotism from being established in Ethiopia, and has carried into Africa the manners of Europe. Wherever Christianity has been received, it has completely abolished the absurd system of polytheism and Pagan idol atryll ah, wit the cruel and obscene rights with which they were accompanied; and, in their place, has instituted a system of doctrine and practice not only pure and rational, but level to the comprehension of the lowest class of society." Multitudes of different climes, who were formerly under the influence of the most cruel superstitions and idolatries, who adored the most despicable idols, who sacrificed on their altars, multitudes of human victims, and were plunged in all the vices and vile abominations which can debase the character of man, we now behold transformed into civilized and Christian societies, their minds enlightened in the knowledge of the true God, their tempers moulded into the spirit of the religion of Jesus, their savage practices abolished, industry, peace, and moral order spreading their benign influence on all around, and multitudes rejoicing in the prospect of a blessed immortality. Where barrenness and desolation formerly prevailed, and where only a few savage huts appeared, beautiful villages are now arising, furnished with all the comforts and accommodation of civilized life. Where Pagan alters lately stood, and human victims were cruelly butchered, spacious temples are now erected for the worship of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and seminaries for the literary and religious instruction of the young. Where sanguinary battles were fought, amidst the furious yells of savage combatants who cruelly massacred every prisoner of war, the voice of rejoicing and of thanksgiving is now heard ascending to Heaven from the peaceable habitations of the righteous; all which effects have been produced by the powerful and benign agency of the Gospel of peace."

DEDICATION.

THIS VOLUME,

Containing discussions on the most important questions that can occupy the attention of man as a creature of God, a denizen of the universe, and a candidate for eternity, is humbly and respectfully dedicated to those who value truth above all conventionalities, all orders, all castes, all authori. ties, all interests, and who render it the homage of sympathetic, true, and earnest lives, by

Their servant in the truth,

THE EDITOR.

PREFACE.

OUR first year's labours terminate with this second volume. These labours have been pleasant as well as arduous. Many have encouraged us by their sympathies, while some have afforded us material assistance. To all who have aided in the good work, we beg to tender our most hearty thanks. We would gladly have addressed them individually, had time permitted. They will accept this general acknowledgment instead. In the commencement of our work, we knew the difficulty of sustaining a periodical of a purely unsectarian and undenominational character. We felt assured, too, that from sceptics generally, though they profess to be freethinkers, we should have little support. Fully anticipating all these difficulties, and yet feeling it imperative to fill up a felt want in our religious literature, we are all the more grateful that we have been enabled, by the blessing of God, and the help of our friends, to sustain our weekly work. At the close of the year we raise our Ebenezer,' and inscribe upon it, YAT B 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Our work has been carried on at intervals snatched from unavoidable engagements, and sometimes from sleep. In these circumstances we have. not been able to accomplish all that we had desiderated and planned. Weekly have we felt the pressure of our position, and have longed for a fuller breathing-time to do greater justice to the work. This we have never had; but have still laboured on in hope." If we have not reached the standard which we had set up for ourselves, we have, at least, had some cheering signs of success. From many young men, engaged in the workshops, the counting houses, and the places of business in our large towns, and have had the assurance that our WEEKLY has been a welcome visitor, and that they have derived information, satisfaction, and moral stimulus from our pages. Difficulties that appeared insuperable to some, have been removed; not only the truth and consistency, but the practical bearing of many 'dark passages' of Scripture, has been shown. Doubts that like dark clouds had gathered around some minds, have been dispelled and some have been saved from the cold and barren regions of Scepticism.

The discussion on Atheism which appears in almost every number of this volume, furnishes another proof, if proof were needed, of the audacity, the inconsistency, the bitterness, and the weakness, of the opponents of

Christianity. Determined as they are in their efforts to pull it down, they do not so much as loosen one of its foundations. The truth has less to fear from them, so long as it is fairly defended, than the skies have from the artillery of earth. The influence of Secularism on the minds of the working classes is fast waning; and Christians have only to be true to their principles, and earnest in the exhibition of them, to prevent that or any other system of error from gaining permanent hold of the public mind.

Although infidelity has now adopted another line of policy, and is again threatening to change its name; we must not suppose that it has abandoned its antagonism. It is therefore, our duty to keep an eye upon its movements, and sound the note of alarm wherever it appears. Moreover, the masses of the people require Christian instruction; and one of the most important modes of communicating it, is through the press. As the sagacious Arnold said, The people want articles on general subjects written in a Christian spirit. These are reasons for our continuance; and we are happy to inform our readers that with the new year, we shall somewhat change our position, and greatly widen our means of usefulness. Bible and the People,' edited by the Rev. Brewin Grant, and 'The Defender,' will henceforth appear in one, as a PENNY WEEKLY, under our joint superintendence. We have no doubt that it will thus attain greater efficiency and power, and be worthy of the support of the Christian public, and of all true freethinkers. Let all our readers order

'The

THE BIBLE DFFENDER the first number of which we expect will be ready on New Year's Day, published by WARD AND Co., and HOULSTON And StoneMAN, Paternoster Row, London.

J. H. RUTHERFORD.

« السابقةمتابعة »