Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3721, 27 November 1880, Page 2 (Supplement)

Correspondence.

THE PKOPEB METHOD OF CONVESTING INFIDELITY AND DISPELLING SCEPTICISM.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib, —Reason and experience prove to the sceptic that the Bible, without interpretation, is useless, and that Christianity I is confounded with civilisation. The injunctions laid down at large in the | scriptures are never attempted to be fulfilled, and its plainest passages are mystified and confounded by expounders and commentators. The church with its pomp, pride, and wealth is no more than any other secular profession in which bargains may be made and where the entire system is worldly and mercenary. They see the priests and parsons have in olden times falsified scripture, and heathen j writers also, for sinister purposes, and at the present time they twist its words to suit their own particular purposes. If in their favour/ the words are to be taken literally. If positively against them they are to be considered figurative, emblematical, typical, or something or nothing. This kind of reasoning has brought the sceptic to discredit the Bible as a divine witness, as a primary instructor it is unintelligible as to God. Its histories and records may be as some great Christian Hebrew scholars say they are, mere Hebrew legends and myths. The New Testament may be a mere code of morals worked up from heathen sources into a profound and subtle superstition. Unbelief and Seeplicism will never be cured either by an appeal to revelation or to external nature. The Creator so appeals only to believers or to waverers. To the sceptics and unbelievers he made himself known by miracles. By suspending the laws of nature —going back from the miracles of Christ to ths column of smoke by day, and fire by night, and the plagues of Egypt or the burning bush—-the manifes. tation of divinity has been through revulsion and suspension of natural laws. Miracles are the expected and accepted evidences of Almighty power, but it is of their very essence that they should be seen. Traditionary or reported miracles, of which their are many millions, exclusive of those happening now in Ireland, are treated as myths—crossing the Bed Sea—the standing still of the sun, or rather the earth—the relations of fires and aphrodite—are all, more or less, disbelieved because they cannot be seen. The least of unfathomable mysteries seem to be self creation. But if the age of miracles has passed (although many Christian sects say it has not, and that their priests still maintain miraculous power) are there any living personal witnesses to supply its place. If it be true that the Creator has revealed himself ' by Christ the proof that you atheists, deists and sceptics ask for will be abundantly supplied by millions of living witnesses. Supernatural belief is required for a Supernatural God. The appearance of the Redeemer would contradict all false doctrine, heresy and schism. In the absence of miracles God-deserted men rightly disbelieve. Belief in God involves a contest between faith and reason as intense as the existense of truth. Whose mind can contemplate much less comprehend the infinite ? This has baffled, bewildered, and overwhelmed the efforts "of

the greatest intellects. If you cannot sight, you can have that which is ten thousand times better than all recorded miracles presented to your sight. You can have the testimony that has been specially given by the creator to supersede miracles/ that renders superfluous any reference to books, doctrines, or appeals to the majesty or mystery of external sature, ana you shall have undeniable

convincing evidence. Yon shall be constrained to believe in Christ and God by proofs so tangible, living and visible that no doubt can remain. Behold the proof in millions of living witnesses, scattered up and down in all parts of the world. Behold the meek and humble followers of the gentle and lowly Jesus—look upon their sad and anxious countenances, overwhelmed with the dreadful fear that they or some of the human family may perish—l myself tremble when writing the word—in everlasting hell. See them individually and unitedly by precept and example doing all in their power to save their fellow creatures. They have no time for. soirees, concerts, tea meetings, love feasts, holy picnics or Jack and Gill entertainments. Believing Christ's state* ment as to eternal hell they cease not night or day working and praying, imploring them to seek mercy. Observe theirvisible premeditated mode of life, its Godliness, its ascetism, the absence of all thought but your own and their salvation, caring for nothing worldly, giving all their lime_ to God's service, never relaxing in praying for and doing good to you. Neglecting all things that obscure duty to the Creator; leaving trade and politics and money alone. Behold them martyred at the stake and in the dungeon, derided, mocked, laughed at, and . ridiculed. Watch how closely they imitate his pure ', and spotless life and constitute themselves the corner-stone of Christian practice, and that by this practice all Christianity becomes consistent and harmonious, and learn hereby how hell can be overcome and heaven attained. See the Church, Bench of Bishops, and clergy give up to the poor £20,000 annually, and at one blow rid their Christian country of the stain of 6,000,000 (six million) of paupers. See the rich laity give up their riches for the same purpose, and exercise their power to promote good manners and virtue. See the young and old of both sexes sobbing aloud for the misfortune and sins of others, struggling against temptation, following the steps of Jesus. Note how they treasure every' word and saying of His, struggle to model their lives by His. By their preaching, practices and prayers, by their hopes and fears, they are truly Christians. See by their ministrations poverty and misery disappear. See crime transformed to virtue. See honesty and truth rewarded. See pain and suffering soothed and succoured. See the ignorant taught, the naked and hungry clothed and fed. See the com* passion for the aged, tenderness for children. They believe in God because they see him in Christ, and they manifest their belief in Christ by making,their lives like unto his, the mightiest miracle of all. These his followers are, they he has set his hand as marvellous witnesses on which reasonable searchers after truth can believe more confidently, than in the most astounding miracles, thereby completely converting atheism, and dispelling scepticism.—-I am, Ac. ■ .. ■...■■' g* SCIPTIO. '