Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS. 259practice. It would be manifestly preposterous to look for this where theclergy, who were the teachers, did not practically obey the precepts, butwent ahead in the race of iniquity, whichever way the current might lead,and almost everywhere as desirous of wealth, and power, and worldly distinctionas other men. The imperfection of the evidence of scripturaltruth, on which the belief in it rests, or that false moral sense derived fromeducation, which makes the person affected just as tenacious of one creedas of another, whether it be Judaic, Christian, or Mohammedan, causesthe fiiith thus arising to yield whenever the moral sense is impaired onwhich it rests. Not being supported by reason, as soon as the educationalconscientiousness on which it was founded is blunted, any faith built uponit forms no barrier. The individual perceives that his opinions were notformed by himself, but imparted, and would have been different, had hebeen born of different parents. Thus faith rests upon morality, not moralityupon faith; and when morality goes, faith ceases to be a barrier.But meanwhile those who abandon morality, find in their educational impressionsone which is a salvo to them, however sinful. They find thatChrist died for those who believe in his divinity or in his divine mission,and of course, that by closing their cars and eyes to allevidence or argumentimpeaching Christianity, and continuing to cherish the early impressionsmade by their teachers, they may be redeemed from future punishment;whereas, as Dr. Berg alleged in his debate with Barker, '^A sinnercannot he saved out of Christ/'1332. But one consequence of this interested, bigoted belief is, thatanimosity which, itwas foretold by Christ, would cause such horrible discord,and would make his advent equivalent to a severing of all thedearest ties between relatives and friends, the superior and his subordinates.As at this time any idea of a religion would be scouted with indignationwhich shouldthe primary object, itnot make a future state of rewards and punishmentsis inconceivable to me wherefore the Old Testamentshould be an object of veneration to those whose thoughts are heavenward.How could there be any thing but worldliness where nothing but the thingsof the world were objects of desire—no heaven beyond.1333. From what has been urged, is it not manifest that, in the firstplace, it is of great importance that the evidence of a future state shouldbe placed on a firmer footing than on recorded and translated traditions,or on the decretals of a most profligate priesthood ? Would it not be oneof the greatest imaginable blessings that those who have not the consolationof believing in immortality, should have that consolation, and thosewho already believe in a future state of existence, should have a betterknowledge of that state, than that given by Josephus, sanctioned by Christ,even as collated by the pious and learned clergyman, Dr. Harbaufrh? (750.)1334. If Christ had nothing but the vicinity of the fire prepared for thedevil and his angels, agreeably to Josephus, and his story of Dives and