THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SCRIPIURES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3679, 9 October 1880, Page 1

THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SCRIPIURES.

, (To the Editor of the Evening Star.)' x I Sib, —The authenticity of the Soriptures I and revealed ■ religion are being tried ! before the world. The agitation is not ai to the doctrines of Hell or Purgatory, or eternal punishment, or creeds, or lay particular form of-Christianity, but whether its presumed authorship^*! being from the Creator,-is true or false. If the immense army of the clergy are unable to defend Christianity, the people—now well educated and directed by thePiyss —will determine the question for themselves. It is a great mistake to suppose that some few German writers are responsible for the scepticism of the day, it ! is the un-Chriat-like priest who is the truest source of infidelity. Who can . expect the people te believe wheir they ! see the clergy of all denominations only , half persuaded to be Christians. Free , discussion of theologioal differences could shake no man's faith, if the witness of the clergy and professing Christians to ' the, truth of their own Gospels were such as w« have a right to expect. When, therefore, Mr Cooper says that public ' discussion of sacred subjects U detri- - mental, and that the " other side always comes up to win," I presume he means to imply that hjs" side never " comes tab -to win," and that if they, could "wio< they would not. How. is it that the orthodox for the most part shun public discussion, and decline open debate upon religious subjedlsP How is it' that almost every orthodox literary production and almost every orthodox speech, teem with abuse, free thought, and-scienceP Is it because they*fear,the quiok, sharp refutations and retort of open debates, and prefer to fight behind the walls of sophistry, where defeat is not so crushing and conspicuous P. The subject * I deal with is not too deep or sacred to be dealt with in a reverent spirit, and the manner will, I hope, hot be thought too bold, when it is remembered, that perfection can. only be achieved by putting/aside with a determined hand all obstacles, until perseverance strikes the' mVICv-'^— Truth lies deep in an abyss, and ne&ls sometimes a strong hand to draw, it forth and give it that expansion which clears all that is dark. The test by which in my last I endeavoured to try the .authenticity of .the Scriptures was the steadfast, personal, wit* ness to Christ of his professed followers and the conformity of their lives to His of those who say they believe in Hito. -Hot > so far from this being the case,** I hare fully shown, the largeat part of professing Christians are inoonststant with- Christ's teachings or sayings: they understand and act from habit. Because their parents believed in this peculiar custom of superstition, they follow and believe the same— they do not percsire that Jesus taught , " poverty of spirit" literally as. a virtue, and " passive submission to wrong treatment "as a moral duty. They see that the haughty, proud, wealthy,'and powerful oppress and degrade the poor for their own sinister purposes; but they do not urge men to resist aud resent wrong treatment. It is a crime tamely to submit to injury and insult, yet we are taught.

" Blessed are the poor in spirit," " Unto whom smitrth thee on one cheek offer also the o'her." The whole of Christ's teaching is the actual literal absolute renunoiation of this world, and therefore commands what appears to us impossible, contradictory and absurd. Thus " passive submission " is pushed to extremity in the command, "Him.that taketh away thy coat forbid him/not to take thy cloak also," " Give to every man that asketh of thee, and from him that taketh away thy j goods, ask not them again." Of course « this would be an inconvenient and in many respects an unpleasant course to follow, 1 leading to much mortification of person as well as spirit; but who of the followers or professing believers act in any respect upon this command? Do the clergy of the national or any other church conform to this precept, even in its spirit, setting aside the letter? Do the clergy of the

national church when tho.j traffic in church patronage submit to this injunction? Do the bishops of the national church when they refused to refund the large amount illegally retained by them above the settled income •of their sees, act in conformity, y ith this rule? Do the parsons and priests and; people ; of any denomination, of Christians act up, to (this principle when they enjoy comfortable dwelling, fine clothes, magni feficent carriages, fare sumptuously every *'day, drink, dance, smoke, laugh, sing, and enjoy, as they say, all the innocent pleasures of life, while in their very inidst^-at their very doors-^are hundreds, thousands, nay, millions of their fellowcreatures enduring the pangs of hunger, nakedness, cold, filth, and ; indescribable misery. To be poor in spirit and content would render unnecessary the investigation into the cause of poverty or means for its prevention. Hunger is described as a blessing, and the rich take care that. the poor shall not lack it. Weeping and mourning are also blessings which the rich do not enry the poor, but I maintain that contentuent under such circumstances is individually and socially wrong. Again, Christians are taught individual salvation in opposition to the humanity of saving your fellow creature. An eternity of misery is promised to the many. For a few, everlasting bliss; setting aside for the. present the untruthful translation of the important words in this passage, let us enquire the conditions of eternal bliss, Are they to be good, charitable, moral, a loyal and) peaceful citizen, a loving and faithful husband, a land father, a merciful and just neighbor, a wise and honest councillor? No, you may be all this, you may possess every conceivable virtue, but you shall be damned unless you believe in. fictions, is which case you may be all the opposite, and be. saved and blessed eternally. You shall see with rejoicing your nearest and dearest connections and friends, your good and loving , wife, your virtuous children, your brothers and "sisters, your wise and generous neighbors, the best and noblest of man and womankind, writhing in the agonies of uuquenchable fire in eternal hell for inability to believe an incomprehensible doctrine, for a wild and, blind belief of which you s are rewarded with beatitude in Heaven! —I am, &c, Sceptic.