if true, was not very
useful."

Youth and inexperience have been the secret of many young persons being
led astray, like Franklin, by infidel speculations; but age and
observation have convinced many of them that all infidel speculations are
empty and worthless. Look at the history of infidelity in France and
Scotland, and then look at liberalism in America, with Col. Ingersoll
leading the van. Can't you see that its only tendency is to loosen the
restraints of morality and "unchain the Tiger?"

The inconsiderate and inexperienced youth of both sexes, have need of all
the motives of religion to lead them from vice, to support their virtue,
and retain them in its practice until it becomes habitual.

Unbeliever, if you read this article, and remember that you have prepared
one sentence to cut one cord that helps to hold the Tiger, _burn it_. Do
not unchain the animal. Would you substitute infidelity for Christianity,
for the religion of the Bible? Would you do that in this country? The
enemies of this religion confess that its code of morals is holy, just and
good, its doctrine is dignified and glorious; its tendency is to purity
and peace; "it is pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full
of mercy and good fruits; without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
Montesquieu, the publisher of the Persian letters and president of the
parliament of Bordeaux, says: "The Christian religion, which ordains that
men should love each other, would, without doubt, have every nation
blessed with the best political and civil laws, because these, next to
religion, are the greatest good that men can have."

The Congress of 1776, speaking of religion, declared it was the "only
solid basis of public liberty and happiness." General Washington said it
was "one of the great pillars of human happiness, and the firmest prop of
the duties of men and citizens." What could we gain by exchanging it for
Deism, or Atheism, or Ingersollism? Infidelity proposes to break down the
altars of prayer, take away our Bibles and our days of worship, shut up
the doors against all our Sunday-schools and turn more than a million of
children into the streets, away from sweet song and moralizing influences,
and the pure morals of the gospel of Christ. This would bereave the living
of his rule of life, and rob the dying of the antidote of death.

Shall we "unchain the Tiger"--_unbelief_? What would it bring us in return?
Its doctrines are vague specula