Now! Then! A Leeds Mercury subscriber asks why Christians do not seek to refute the claims of the Rev. Robert Taylor and Richard Carlile’s “infidel home missionary tour”

11 July 1829: A Leeds Mercury subscriber asks why Christians do not seek to refute the claims of the Rev. Robert Taylor and Richard Carlile’s “infidel home missionary tour”

E.T. 1829/07/11. [Lack of response to Taylor and Carlile]. Leeds Mercury. Leeds. Get it:

Excerpt

Allow me through the medium of your publication to ask what can be the reason of the general indifference, which exists among the advocates of Christianity to the attempts now making, publicly to prove the non-existence of Christ as the Saviour of man; and the consequent fallacy of the whole of the New Testament Scriptures? Does the silence which is preserved on this subject arise out of the defencelessness of the Christian cause or the negligence of its Guardian? If the former, what a cheerless prospect, what a pitiful hope is the Christian’s! If the latter, is it not time for the watchmen of Israel at once and for ever to wipe away the infamous reflections which these modern sceptics have publicly and impudently cast upon Christianity? Is there never a champion of the cross of Christ, whose zeal for the faith and hope of Christians will inspire and engage his efforts to interpose an effectual check to the promulgation of sentiments so blasphemous and dangerous?

Order the book

Subscribe to the free daily email

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

Gentlemen, Allow me through the medium of your publication to ask what can be the reason of the general indifference, which exists among the advocates of Christianity to the attempts now making, publicly to prove the non-existence of Christ as the Saviour of man; and the consequent fallacy of the whole of the New Testament Scriptures? Does the silence which is preserved on this subject arise out of the defencelessness of the Christian cause or the negligence of its Guardian? If the former, what a cheerless prospect, what a pitiful hope is the Christian’s! If the latter, is it not time for the watchmen of Israel at once and for ever to wipe away the infamous reflections which these modern sceptics have publicly and impudently cast upon Christianity? Is there never a champion of the cross of Christ, whose zeal for the faith and hope of Christians will inspire and engage his efforts to interpose an effectual check to the promulgation of sentiments so blasphemous and dangerous? – By inserting the foregoing letter in your very valuable paper next Saturday, you will greatly oblige,
Your’s very respectfully,
E.T., A Subscriber

196 words.