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PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, SATURDAY, JULY 13, 1878.
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The Contest Progressing.
Christignsty. It Creator, who »hows benevolence in all
child, who jiossessed his own n linea- I this was the cause of Christiansty.
meats and his own nature, belonged is abundantly evident from the con- his works, has given to all'organized
BT 8. 1!. HEDKJX.
to some other world, and some other stitution of the religion of Jesus, that beings of his hands, excepting man
Divine Origin of Christianity
(VMHFI >.
. .
,
Demonstrated.
order of creation. It would not be the lusts and errors, the superstitions alone, a law to guide them; and
Which
followed
leads
them
unerringly
and
interests
of
carnal
men
would
im
The contest between truth and error
possible for God to convince men that
bt j . r. AMIS.
a religion was from heaven unless it mediately yis^ up against it as a most along the way which conduces to their is as old as the history of men, and
soracu vii.
was accompanied by’ the marks of ] 1 irreconcile enemy. It is known that greatest good, and permanent happi though often changing its form, yet in
the learning and wit of the Greeks ness. The Christian believes that principle it is always the same. The
^Conclusion.)
divine power.
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Suppose again that some individual and Romans were early employed to God has revealed a law for man also, preponderance of one is called a period!
Our last article was mainly devoted
to the task of proving from the many were to ajipear in the world, he ridicule and obstruct its progress. It which followed, will likewise, result of light, and of the other, a period of
ppopheciea in the Bible that Christ claimeel to be a teacher sent from is known that all those priests who in the general good of the human darkness, and the history of more
• was a Divine personage, that none God, yet aspired to the performance subsisted by the superstitious worship family here, and in his eternal happi than eighteen hundred years presents
other than those endued, jyith divine of no miracles, to do nothing superior ! paid them, must in interest find theni- ness and immortality beyond the a mighty contest in which society Iia-
power could have foreseen so clearly to the wisdom and ability of other I selves obliged to oppose it. It is grave, Arid we think that law is re struggled ott , tiH to-day the attitude
and foretold so literally the adve'nt, men. Such an individual could never known that the princes of the earth vealed in the Bible. We think that of contending parties is one peculiai
life, death and resurrection of the make men believe that. he had a drew the sword against it, and armed law has been put to thypractical test to itself, perhaps a little different from
blessed Lord.- And that coming at special commission from God to es torments and death for the destruc for many,.many ages, and has never what it ever was before, or ever will
the exact time and manner predicted, tablish a new religion, for the simple tion of its followers. And yet it tri failed of answering in the fullest sense be again ; because each generation has
and fulfilling every particular in the reason that he has no grounds more- I umphed over all, though published ih of the word, all that is claimed for it. its battle, each age makes its progress,,
minutia spoken of in his life and than his fellows to support his claims ages and places celebrated for learning We know it stands to day a living and the quantity of trutjl yr erroi
,
death, he was the very Christ, the as an agent of the Almighty. But if and elegance ; and proposed not in an witness, the best evidence of its Own standing out upon the service reflects
divine paradetuff, and hence the Chris he could convince*a single individual ornamental and artificial manner, but divine origin. We know that the the character of that period to all suc
that he had wrought a miracle or that with the utmost plainness, the doc brightest, happiest, and best people on ceeding generations.
tian religion is of divine origin'.
However, these old maxims of
Tn the progress of these papers I he had power to do so, .that moment trines of the Cross being always ad this earth to-day are those who stand
closest
to
the
Christian
religion,
and
vanced
as
its
grand
foundation
a
his
claims
would
be
'
established,
in
“
history
repeating'itself,” “judge the
think I have shown by indubitable
obey
best
the
precepts
of
its
illustri
stumbling-block
bath
to
the
Jews
and
that
mind,
as
a
commissioned
agent
future
by
the past,” and that “ one
rules of evidence that the facts upon
ous
founder,
while
the
darkest
plans,
to
the
Gentiles:
”
from
heaven.
So
certainly,
and
so
extreme
follows
another,” <kc., are
which rest the system of Christianity*
and
most
miserable
people
are
those
But
to
add
no
more,
as
to
miracles
intuitively,
do
the
minds
of
men
doubtless
true
in
general, ami are
.
are true beyond a cavil, unles^we
I
who
are
farthest
removed
from
the
and
the
early
progress
of
the
Chris
reverse
arid
expect
miracles
as
the
verified
in
not
a
few
instances in the
suppose those who lived and are said
influence
of
the
Christian
religion.
tian
religion,
as
an
evidence
of
its
credentials
of
the
divine
presence.
”
past.
The
Jews
’
religion
was perhaps-
to have witnessed those facts, were
Besides
all
this,
we
know
that
if
the
divine
origin,
let
us
from
the
light
of
The
apostles
understood
this
con
never more corrupt than in the days
universally deceived, or combined to
impose a fraud upon after ages, either | stituent of the human character, and nature itself draw a few reflections as Christian religion is not of divine that John the Baptist, Jesus and the
conclusion of which is impossible. I hence, often put the truth of what another proof of divine revelation origin, but a fraud, its founders were apostles, announced the kingdom of
'4iave purposely taken up'some of the they asserted upon the performance of All the lower animals are governed bad men, liars, stupendous villains, heaven at hand. The contest that
most difficult miracles, as that, of the. miracles. “ They did not merely as by’ natural laws so called, as unerring monsters of wickedness. But then, followed between Christianity’ and
passage over Jordan, by’ the children sert that. they. Lad seen miracles ly as effect follows cause. The horse, we challenge the world to produce a Jewish and Pagan traditions wa-
for instance, is controlled by a law of like number of men, as Christ and his fierce and long. Many a Jew driven
bv
of Israel, and shown how utterly im wrought
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J Jesus,
i ... , but
•. that he , had
•
possible such a thing, if a fraud, could endowed themselves with a variety.of his’ being w hich is most' consistent apostles, bad' men, wicked imposters, from his own position by the. st arch
have received credit, and how securly miraculous jHywers. And - there .they with its organism, and is calculated who has produced, or can produce ing evidence of apostles and prophets .
that event was fixed as a fact by undertook to display, not in such idle for its general good and perfect con such a system of moral ethics, incul- would doubtless go over to paganism,
every means of testimony’ possible, and useless tricks as sHght-ofrhand I tentment. And- what will apply to eating universal goodness, and for- rather than accept the truth, as offered
• knowing, full well that if 1 could-pro,- might perform-: but in such solid and one horse w ill apply to all horses. AH' biding the least appearance of vice, as by those who had broken through his
duce a conviction in the mind of the important marks as appeared worthy horses Lave the same habits. Feed that brought out by them, as shewn bulwarks of error ; so a weak faith
reader of the truth, of any one of those of a divine interposition, an 1 entirely on the same kind of food, procreate in the New Testament. Do this and often chooses-.the harder side.
grand—and wonderful* miracles,' .per superior to human power; restoring and- have their young at the same we’ll give up the case. But until you
Christianity while advocated in its
formed 1«^ 3"d through Moses, or sight to the.blind, soundness to lepers, time, lay down an,d get up at the do, we must sing :
purity was detrimental to the religion
" Hear the royal proclamation^
Joshua, or Jesus, that a belief of every activity to the lame, and in some in sa me time, etc., etci And what may
ot pagan R »me, and always came out
The glad tidings of salvation,
stances. life to the dead. Nor was be’said of the horse may be stated of
other fact stated would be easy.
conqueror. But a defeated enemv
Publishing to every creature,
And now in concluding these essays these things undertaken in a corner, i all other animals, fishes and reptiles ;
does not always make a good citizen
To the ruined sons of nature,
it seems appropriate that I should say in a circle of friends, or dependents; they are governed by unalterable
So, though paganism could not stand
Jesus reigns—He reigns victorious,
a few words
The philosophy of nor were they’ performed on such a* IjWs. The horse neighs, -the cow —- Over Leaven and earth most glorious, the contest, she found ft ‘easier to
Miracle^. The following statement is might be suspected >vf being confeder lows, the dog barks, the beaver makes
Jesus reigns.”
•compromise than
surrender, and
true beyond controversy : Man cannot, ate in the fraud, but they were done his dam, birds make their nests in the
the
friends
of
Christianity
never C'«^ 1
In concluding I here repeat that I
ng ftH’ I lay their certain number '4-..
in the p r esent cqpstrtuti?» of his fdten in the puU i c -streets in the-right |
have written
of these article
- Juake a greater
m in d, . Believethat retigtoir^has -y of enemies, on -persons cf SUCH as were ; of eggs and hatch their young in-a Hinder much disadvantage, sickness promise To compromise nr contam
divine origin, unless it be accompanied utter strangeis to the apostles; but certain length of • time, feed their (and one instance-death) coming into inate the true worship of God with
with miracles. The necessary in- sometimes well known to' neighlors i young.till they can lly for themselves our family qoon after I commenced the worship invented by man, alwavs
Terence of the mind is, that if an In- and speoifitbrs as having long luboied j anij then the parent ceases to further the series, and continuing until the has been detrimental to the age in
finite Being acts, his acts jvill be under those calamities, which, to j supply it. All moves on with tire present, so that I have been unable to which it is accomplished, and future
superhuman in their character; be- human skill were utterly incurable.”* precision of a piece of machinery do the subject justice, and have often generations reaver fro r. it very
And the apostles were -o -ticcessful i from year to year and from century to had to Iwrite interruptedly, and in slowly. Israel tqas a captive after hei
cause the effects reason dictates will
be characterized by the nature of its under the perlormance of these^ century, without variation or shadow „great ha ■ t>', not even some .times experiment and tp.aily loat-hei <it
cause. Man lias the same leason to miracles, backed up as they were by of difference. Thus, has God given to taking time to review my manuscript and nation. 'file- ix.....•
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expect that God will perform acts | the Holy .Scriptures and their unan the lower orders of creation a law. before Ending it to the office. Hence, tianity in the third and fourth cen
above human power and knowledge- swerable arguments “ that l linv in But if man has not a revealed law for .1 have doubtless committed many turies compromised the true worship
that he has to suppose the inferior i the next age after the apostles testi- his guidance, God has made an excep erroi s in'composition, as in punctua of the Gospel of Chi i-t, or rather en
-orders of animals will, in their actions, i fies,” “ He found the heathen temples tion in his case. He alone is left tion, spelling, ami grammar, ami have deavored'to substitute for its truths
Fink below the power and wisdom in Achaia almost deserted.”' And without a knowledge of God’s will re- I fear caused the patient compositors and m< ins of guidance the supersti
which characterizes human nature. Tertullian afterward boasted “ that all garding him. But it is evident that ami our beloved Bro. Stanley, of the tions of Jews and Pagans, and there
Jor, as it is natural for man to per places except thoAe temples were ' this is the case if the Bible does not M essenger , much trouble, and may by a cloud of sackcloth hovers over
form acts su[*erior to the power and filled with Christians; so that were j furnish that revealed law. For, o’ hap vexation, and I here award them the world for over twelve ce.rturies-
knowledge of the animal beneath they only to withdraw, tire cities and all the animals that move on the my thanks for their many courtesies 1 his dark night of vice and miserv
him, so, reason affirms, that it is na provinces should be depopulated.” earth, man when left to his natural and'Christian forbearance throughout became like i’haraoh’syoke, too heavy
tural for God to develop his powei by And Justin Martyr, who jwrote not inclination is the one who knows no our labors.
to be borne, and the first dawn of
means, and in ways above the skill much above an hundred years after law, and is controlled by none. A
To the reader I have to say that a light of the fiiteenth century was a
and ability of mortals. Hence, if Christ’s death, declares : “ That there , dozen men will set out on the journey simple desire to defend the cause ot tit opportunity for the rush for
God manifest himself at all, unless, in were r.o nation of men,- whether .of life, but will pursue that journey Christianity and in response to a re freedom. - And while Luther began
accommodation to the capacities of Greeks, or Barbarians, not excepting by dozen different directions. But quest from Bro. Stanley for some of the march toward reform in 1517,
men, he should constrain his mani those savages that wandered in clans man, being an intelligent being en his scribes to write a series of articles translating the Bible in 1522, gather
festations within the compass of from one region to another, and had dowed with reason ng powers,it would on the “ Divine origin of Christiani ing atrength day by day as the battle
' human ability, every act of God's im no fixed habitation, who had not seem by his own efforts discover ty,” must be my apology for troubling grew heavier, and Roman Catholicism
mediate power would, to human capa learned to offer prayers, and thanks-1 a law that would supply the place of you.* I could have wished an abler sees her ranks thinned out by deser
city, be a miracle. But, if God were givings to the Father and Maker of j the law of instinct. Yet, the whole hand to undertake the task, but no tion in large numbers every day ;
____ of » i heretics,
to constrain all his acts within the all, in the name of Jesus, who was history of the human race from its in one responding to the request for forming the mighty army
limits of human means and agencies, crucified.” But as the forcible and fancy to the present, shows, beyond months, and lieing confident of the who, disgusted with the curruptions
it would be impossible for man to dis chaste Fleetwood remarks: “ Had I controversy, the fact that man, left correctness of the Christian religion I of rorne, and supposing it to be the
criminate between the acts of the God this new religion been formed to alone to his own resources without stand ready noiv as I hope always to essence of all religion, sought for
head and the acts of manhood. And sooth men’s vices, to countenance the aid of revelation is utterly unable be ready, to give a reason for the faith nothing short of rationalism, thereby
man, if he considered acts as of divine their errors, to defend their supersti to rise above himself, so to speak, in that is in me. And now’ giving credit exemplifying how one extreme begets
origin, which were plainly within the tions, or to promote their secular in the scale of virtue and morality. That to the authors of " Liles short method another. , So long without any other
oompass of human ability, would terests, we might easily have account no people however learned in letters, with Infidels,” " The Philosophy of the than tilts, “ mother of harlots" to ex
violate his own reason. Supj-ose that ed for its prevalence in the world, arts and sciences, destitute’ of a true Plan of Salvation,” Fleetwood’s " Life emplify the truth that many in Heeing
God desired to reveal a religion to Had its preachers been profound | knowledge of God, and their relation of Christ,” and Watson’s “ Apology,” from Jericho ran past Jerusalem; so
men, and wished them to recognize philosophers, or polite and fashionable to him, their responsibilities to him
for most of the thoughts, and in some many, leaving Catholicism, ran be
his character and his benevolence in orators, many might have been and to one another, the Jaw ofJuture
instances, whole paragraphs contained yond Luther, and thus three parties
giving that revelation. Suppose, fur charmed, at least for a while, to follow rewards and punishment, as revealed
soon came forth in the contest.
in this series, I close.
ther, that God should give such a them; or had the princes and poten- j In the Bible, has ever been able to
Catholicism stood as the repiesenta-
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revelation, and every act, and every j tates of the earth declared themselves • ascend above a state of heathen idol
W hat la P rayer .—Bowed knees tive of a false religion ; many of the
appearance, connected with its intro- its patrons, and armed their legions atry, the social substratum of which and beautiful words cannot make men who rebelled against it, took up
duction, was characterized by nothing for its defence and propagation, mi|l- is made up of legalized crime, as niur- prayer; but earnest desire from a the other extreme of rationalism ;;
nuperior to human poWer, could any titudes might have l>een terrified into der, debauchery, lewdness and sujier- heart bowed by love, inspired by God's while thousands with Luther and
vational mind on earth believe that the profession, though not a soul could stition.
Holy Spirit, and thirsting for Qod— Melanchthon, as the Reformers,
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sought
aqch a system of religion came-from by such means have been rationally
But Ajie Christian world are not so the living God—will do it, any wher£ for The Bible truth, and a retum^to-
God ? Impossible 1 As man could as ( persuaded to the use of it. But every [ ignorant,.ungrateful and blasphemous, or in any place, at any time.— Dr. the apostolic order of things.
easily be made to believe that hisown | one knows that the very revere« of | as t6’ adopt the idea that the great Channing.
^How natural that Rome should
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Communications.
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