“If I should say, that our modern demagogues have done more hurt to the souls of men, than all those stigmatized with the name of infidel writers have done together, the reflection would be thought odious. I would be referred to many passages in their treatises, asserting almost every branch of the Christian doctrine, in words not easily to be contradicted; and though I might fairly show a complete system of self-dependence to be contained in these same treatises, yea, to be the leading scope and design of them, yet it is easy to see that such a discovery, or any attempt toward it, behooved to meet with the greatest opposition from all who feed on this compound doctrine, especially from those who have the largest share of religious pride. For men do not choose to be scared away by arguments from the food which they love best” (Sandeman).
Certain Calvinist demagogues have done more hurt to the souls of men, than all those stigmatized with the name of infidel writers (e.g., Robert Dabney more than Robert Ingersoll; Douglas Wilson more than Christopher Hitchens).
“And well do the pastors, I speak of, know how to season and mix up the Christian truth with proper ingredients to suit the taste of the people, and the people accordingly flock in multitudes after them; or, to express myself in more obsolete style, They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. That I may not seem to have disjointed this ancient saying from its context, I would have it noticed, that the chief thing aimed at there is, to make us cautious of hearkening to every spirit or doctrine, by which men pretend to assure themselves of the favour of God, or that Christ abideth in them. The sacred writer, after showing us by what spirit he and his fellows were assured of this, adds, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God. Then giving us several rules to judge by, he sums them up in these words, We (the apostles) are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Keeping then this rule in our view, let us return to the examination of Aspasio” (Sandeman).
Why ought Sandeman to infer regarding certain heretical demagogues, “therefore speak they of the world”? Why is Sandeman not “rather disposed to think, that [their views] are somewhat unsettled and indistinct, which might occasion [their] expressing [themselves] inaccurately at times”? He asserted that nonsense with regard to Aspasio’s false gospel preaching (cf. Galatians 1:8-9). Why not do the same thing here with regard to other heretics? Next Page (6)
Agrammatos 