Southern Christian Advocate

For the Southern Christian Advocate.
HOW IS THIS?

Messrs. Editors,-I recently met with an intelligent gentleman of much reading and reflection, in whose religious history I was much interested, as he was under deep religious concern when he related it to me. And at some of the facts I was surprised, particularly at the following:-He was brought up by strictly religious parents, but left them and went abroad into the world at about nineteen. Up to that time he was utterly unacquainted with all the forms of infidelity, and had never heard one of the objections that are brought against christianity. Under these circumstances he met with "Stackhouse's history of the Bible," which he read attentively,the reading of which, particularly the objections to Christianity which the author introduces, shook his faith in the system, to such an extent, that he had not recovered from it in more than forty years. Now as he read the whole work, the objections, and the author's answers, why did the work produce this effect upon his mind? Was it from the fact that he was wholly unacquainted with the subject up to that time, and its novelty made it more effective, or was it from the unskilful manner in which the author has disposed of these objections?

Upon the solution of the above questions I conceive considerable consequences to depend. If the result grew out of the first circumstance, then important questions arise as to the time and manner of making known to the young, the fact, and nature of objections to Christianity. If out of the latter, then manifestly, this is a dangerous book for the young and inexperienced. Will you, Messrs. Editors, look at this subject, and give us in a few words your views?

WATCHMAN.
August 29.