PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

S04
sistible,as when seasoned with obscenity, and cmpioyeu
upon religion. But in proportion a' these noxious prin ..
ciple~ take hold of the imagillution, they infatuate the
judgment; for train~ of ludicrous and 11nchaste associations,
adhering to e\yery ~entilnent and lnention of reli.
gion, rendf:!r the mind indisposed to receive either conviction
fror'l it~
evidence, or ilnpressions from its authority.
..\nd this effect, being exerted upon the sensi.
th·c par~ of our frame, is altogether independent of ar.
gument, proof, or recu,on; is a, formidable to a true
religion, as to a false one; to a well grounded faith, as
to a chimerical mythology, or fabulous tradition.
Neither, let it be observed, is the crime or danger less,
because impure ideas are exhibited under a veil, in
covert and chastized language.
Seriousness is not constraint of thought; nor levity,
freedom. Every Inind which wishes the advancement
of truth and knllwledge,in the most important of all human
~esearches, mu:;t abhor this licentiousness, as violating
no less the laws of reasoning, than the rights of decency.
There is but one description of men, to \vhose
principles it ough.t to be toierable~ I Inean that class of
rea~Oller~, who can ~et' littleiIl (~nri~tiaI)ity,even supposing
it to bf' true. 1'0 SU{ .. Il adversar!~~ ,ve address this re·
Hecti()n-H~d Jr~,us Christ de!ivered 110 other declaration
than the following: ". fhe hour is coming;in the
which all that are in the grav·e .~.hal1 hear hi~ voice, and
sllall cOlne forth; they tl1~t have dOIle good, unto the
resurrt'ction of life, and they that ~ld\'e done evil, unto
the resurrectioll of dan1nation ;" he had pronounced a
m~\~a~e of illC\till1able ilnportance, iind \vell \vorthy of
th:lt ~pl~ndid apparatus of prophecy and mir~des, with
~;hich his Ini~siol1 'vas itltrot of mankind would rejoice to
fi!ld an an~'v('r tCl their d()lll)t" ~rlll rest tC) their inquifi~:-:.
It is id Ie to say, that a future state had been discov(?red
already-It had been discovered, as the Copernit-an
~y'!tem was-~it was one guc~s ar.~r'· r many. Hc
al() :c (iiscover~) \v110 pr(jf1)cs: and ll() n1a~1 call pr~ve
thi~ point1 but the tCClchCl" who testifies by miracles
tll~Lt llis doctrine COl11CS J·rolll GOtl.