INFIDELITY VS. CHRISTIANITY.
By J. D. Rice
DEAR READER: Do you believe in the existence of a God? Have you ever examined the evidences in favor of the inspiration of the Scriptures? Have you ever thought that the Bible may be true, and if it is the revealed will of God unto us, to know and obey its teachings is certainly worth more than all things else? What does a man gain by opposing Christianity even in this present life? Is a man happier for being a murderer? Do you think a thief enjoys life any better than an honest man? See that drunkard, a slave to his appetite! Is his condition preferable to that of a temperate man? Is licentiousness better than chastity? or a lie preferable to the truth? Men often say, "We believe in morality, but not in Christianity." Now what is Christianity but morality? If you oppose the one, you do the other. Every good principle taught by infidels is so much borrowed from the Christian's code. One of the most common arguments used by unbelievers against those who believe, in justification of their own course, is the failure of professors to live up to the standard of their profession. Thus by condemning the man they confess the doctrine to be better than the practice. What unbeliever has not often pointed to the great sin of David, as though that would justify him in doing the same thing. There are many who counterfeit religion; that is, pretend to be Christians while they are not; but did you ever know a man to pretend to be an unbeliever and at the same time be a Christian? Of course not. Men do not counterfeit Infidelity for the same reason that they do not counterfeit copper coin. The genuine itself lacks in value. But does any one refuse good money because there may be a worthless imitation of it in circulation? So, do not refuse true Christianity because there is so much of the spurious in circulation. There is no reason why a man should refrain from business because so many have made failures in all branches of industry. And yet how many point to the failure of some professing Christian and say, "There is nothing in religion, see what this man has done." Dear reader, there is a reality in the religion of Jesus. The Bible is the word of God, and we will be held accountable for our course in life. J. D. RICE.