Infidelity's Acknowledgement.
By W. N. GLENN
Infidelity demands that the Christian shall be upright, honest, reliable, above reproach in every respect; and promptly brands as a hypocrite any professed Christian who fails to manifest these traits in his daily life. In all of the infidel's railings against the faults of inconsistent Christianity he never calls one a Christian by way of reproach, but condemns him as one who pretends to be a Christian. But, strange as it may seem, no one ever compliments another as being a true infidel. Why is it that infidelity is never attributed to any one as a meed of praise, even by infidels? Because it does not imply even a profession of virtue. However much one infidel may desire to laud the character of another, he never speaks of him as a "thorough infidel," an "undoubted infidel," or in any way expresses the thought that infidelity adds aught to his character. Anybody can be an infidel, and no one will doubt his infidelity. He need not be loud in his profession, either. No one ever suspects that a man is not an infidel who claims to be such; yet there are many reasonably suspected of being infidels who claim to be Christians. The basest criminal on earth may profess to be an infidel, and no one will doubt his profession; the veriest apostle of infidelity will not accuse him of hypocrisy. There is no moral character required in the make up of a genuine infidel. He merely denies Christianity and his recognition is assured. What, then, is the conclusion? Infidelity being the judge, Christianity is the true standard of human character. It can only be recognized where there is unfeigned moral rectitude as a voucher. Infidelity needs no voucher, no detector, for there is no counterfeit. Be it ever so profligate, it is infidelity still. This is its own verdict. But infidelity ought to be a little more charitable in censuring hypocritical Christian professors. In condemning such it simply condemns its own; for one who claims to be a Christian and is not, is in reality an infidel. As infidelity's principal aim is the destruction of Christianity, it ought to laud and sustain such hypocrites, as they work far more injury to the Christian cause than the ablest avowed infidel can possibly do. There are many infidels who, for mercenary purposes, would fain be deemed Christians; but no Christian ever desires to be reckoned an infidel.