AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE,
Let Truth and Falsehood grapple. Who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?-Milton.
J. WATSON, 15, CITY ROAD, FINSBURY.
MR. BACHELER'S TEN LETTERS.
Moral courage and generosity. Superficiality of sceptics on religious subjects. Moral evil. Remarks relative to Chalmers and others. Quotation relative to the French Revolution. Remark of Josephus on the character of the Sadducees. Ditto of Hall on Epicureanism. Persius on non- Immortality. Revelation necessary. Some evidence of its necessity adduced.
The Apocrypha no part of the Bible. Inconsistency of Mr. Owen relative to the subject of belief. The wars of Christendom not attributable to Christianity or the Pentateuch. The effect of infidelity in France. Ancient and modern heathen abominations and cruelties. Christianity the only remedy. Infidels indebted to this religion for their best ideas.
Correct religious views of great importance. The God of nature and of the Jews the same. The improvement of the condition of Canaan, in consequence of its occupancy by the Jews. Darkness of the heathen philosophers, and abominations and cruelties of heathen nations.
The Jewish wars no reason for other wars not commanded by God. The servitude of the Canaanites no excuse for modern slavery. The Salem witch- craft. The absurdities consequent on keeping on the fence between theism and atheism. Palestine improved by its occupancy by the Jews. The Bible not obscene; but, at any rate, a "Moral Physiologist" needs not object to it on this account. Abominations and cruelties of the Hindoos and Chinese. Concessions of infidels in favour of Christianity. Notice of the particular vices &c. of certain heathen philosophers.
Recapitulation of several topics in preceding letters.
Absurdities of the position between theism and atheism. The enormities of the French Revolu- tion. Absurdities of Mr. Owen's position relative to belief.
The apparent contradictions &c. contained in the Bible, evidence of its original authenticity and uncorrupted preservation. Sceptics have difficulties to obviate, as well as objections to urge. Various objections of Mr. Owen considered. Some of the absurdities of atheism. The horrors and abomi- nations of the French Revolution, as given in Scott's Life of Napoleon.
Infallible evidence of the Bible. Absurdity of rejecting it, even if it were not to have such, but only probable evidence. Sundry objections &c. of Mr. Owen noticed. Further remarks relative to the French Revolution. Reca- pitulation of the reasons for the necessity of revelation. Concessions of infidels as to the superior pretensions of the Bible over other books to be
considered that revelation.
The question under discussion, not the infallibility, but the authenticity of the Bible. Miracles no objection to the Bible as a revelation, but rather an evidence in its favour. The Bible miracles of such a kind as to leave on chance for deception &c., and therefore they stand on ground peculiarly their own. The credibility of a thing not lessened by mere length of time. Absurdity of doubting one's own senses, rather than to believe in a miracle. The miraculous conception and divine character of the Saviour. Religion the safe side. Any religion preferable, on account of its consolations, to scep- ticism. Christianity not an enemy to free inquiry. Remarks relative to the Christian fathers and the French Revolution. Character of our revolutionary patriots, and of the American people at that period. Instances in which religionists have been friends of reform. Unfairness of sceptics in charging the wickedness of Anti-Christians upon Christianity. Rousseau's testimony, that nothing but Christianity improves mankind. Prophecy an evidence of the divine character of the Bible. Internal evidence.
In what sense the Bible is the word of God. Inconsistency of Mr. Owen relative to the subject of miracles. How to distinguish between divine and infernal miracles. Certainty not necessary to induce belief. An almighty being can enable us to know whether a revelation is from himself. Every subject disputed. Difference in the cases of the scripture miracles and others. Characters of our revolutionary leaders. Mr. Owen's opinion on suicide considered. His sensual heaven. Extracts from various authors in proof of the genuineness, authenticity, and uncorrupted preservation of the Bible, and the rapid spread of Christianity in the first three centuries. Proposition to sceptics, to see if they can spread it as they say it was spread.
Distinction between real and false miracles and predictions. some of the Bible predictions. Reply to Mr. Owen's objection to several predictions. Original letter from Rev. Wm. Jackson of Alexandria, relative to the religious character of Washington. Original letter from Rev. Mr. Whitney of Quincy, relative to the religious character of John Adams. Difference between a revolution and a violation of law. Explanation of the seeming difficulty in the case of the prediction relative to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. Various prophecies noticed. Papyrus, parchment, &c. Confirmation of the Bible history and miracles, by the actual state of things, and by universal history and tradition. Catholics have never had the sole keeping of the Bible. The Florentine and Athanasian mira- cles. Several modern cases of a supernatural character. Suicide, &c., considered. Utility not the test of right and wrong. Character of heathen philosophers as given by Quinctilian. Character of modern infidel philosophers, by Rousseau. Parallel between Christian and infidel philosophers. The manner in which Christianity has always been opposed, and the unreasonable- ness of expecting to overthrow it now. Recapitulation. Conclusion.
Moral influence of religion on mankind. Virtue not the mere offspring of a creed, but exists independent of it. Human feeling stronger than creeds. Metamora. Frightful effects of religion. Religion distinct from morality. Loss of life in religious persecutions. Dissensions about the eucharist, Quarrel of the econoclastes and econoclaters. Bloody persecution of Theo dora. Burning of John Huss and Jerome of Prague. Holy inquisition. Religious war of Japan. Crusades. Massacre of the aborigines of the Western Continent. Eighteen millions of human beings sacrificed to religion.
Supernatural beliefs make men sometimes vicious, always unhappy. Na- zarene reformer worthy of admiration. The Bible the tyrant's defence, the inquisitor's credentials. Barbarity and cruelty of the Israelites. Murder of women and children. Triumph of superstition over nature. Frightful pictures of superhuman atrocity. Torquemado justified by the Pentateuch. Comparison between the Bible cruelties and gladiator fights. The Pentateuch not a record of cruelty alone, but of obscenity and unseemly imaginations.
All creeds judged calmly but our own. Imaginary dialogue between a Mahomedan and Mr. Bacheler. Licentious brutality sanctioned. No evidence of greater turpitude amongst the Canaanites. Spirit of the Bible neutralized by that of progressive improvement. Inviduous recrimination no defence of scripture obscenity. Errors of the ancients no proof of the necessity of revela- tion.
Submission of the question. Midianite massacre. A. Tappan and the Magdalen report. Merit of Moral Physiology not the subject of discussion. Lack of presumption not blameworthy. French Revolution grossly mis- represented. Excesses produced by British emissaries. Statements of Lafayette and Pinel. Arguments in favour of royalty and orthodoxy equally conclusive. Argument of American Protestants very heterodox. Spirit of fanaticism in the Salem tragedy. Persecution of the Quakers. Doctrines styled absurd and blasphemous. Origin of intolerance. Just belief often a blessing. False belief a misfortune, not a fault. Belief not to be changed at pleasure. Slanders circulated against philosophers unworthy to be revived.
General commands regarding idolaters in the Pentateuch. Particular examples cited. Test of jealousy. Slaughter justifiable if commanded by God. An unchangeable God made changeable. The conqueror, inquisitor, and slave-holder, commanded to act their parts if the scripture be inspired. Infallible proof must come through an infallible channel. Mignet's history of the French Revolution the most impartial. Festival in honour of the Supreme Being instituted by Robespierre. Bloody controversy political, not theological. Bishop Horne equally opposed to republicanism as scepticism.
The authenticity of the Bible, as a record from heaven, and not the truth of parts of it, which is questioned. Historical evidence scanty and insufficient. Liability to error before the art of printing. Ancient history. not to be depended on to prove any occurrence, much less miracles. An infallible revelation can come through the senses alone; cannot be imparted, and con- tinue a revelation to others. The miracles recorded of Jesus as unworthy of credit as those recorded by Livy. General character of Jesus too good to be the invention of his biographers. Flagrant confounding of dates and events in the French Revolution. Dissection. Sketch of the first years of the revolution. Walter Scott's declaration at an anti-reform meeting. Proof of the interference of salaried enemies.
The Bible-historical evidence only to support it. Impossible to prove miracles by ancient history. Stories of Curtius and Camillus. Miracles in every other history except the Bible discredited because they are miracles. Second sight of the high-standing Cotton Mather and the prestigious spirits. The most incredible stories well attested. Salem witchcraft. The Bible needs more effective vouchers than dreams to defend it. Utility of history not impeached. Argument that sceptics may lose but cannot gain, a common one. Doctrinal religion, if false, pregnant with mischief-reasons therefore. Origen and Celsus' discussion regarding demons. Eusebius' use of falsehood as a medicine. Practice followed by Chrysostom and others. Gregory's
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