Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser., 1802-12-20


are taken, but nave leen f.veral exuad5
from them, which exprefslycondemnthat
religion a. unfriendly 70 the inssreas Of
fociety and happneis Of man. The
writer of q peise in one Of tho:e papers,
fpeaking of the bible fays, !" WoaId Il
not be felicity to future generations
were The book and the blind tenets de-
duced from it, fcoated from the earth,
anu blotted forever from the memory
of man :"
The Importers Of that paper have
opened a (ublcription for the building
Of Hall in PHILADELPHIA for'the &c.
commodation Of thof. whom they en-
courage to attend on Lectures upon
Realon and Naeure, il opposition TO The
fublin= doarine, Of Revelation aad
altho the Judgment Of perfons in years.
and thof- OF lt-aJy a tbits, vii not bE
biAIied by the loPhilm of rhef. modern
in6dels, vet there is danger that incan
tious youth may be enticrd and led
airay by their f4lcinatiag dif-ourfes--
They 90 further 10 their impisty,
aiming not only at the defrudica OF
ChudianitY, but Of ali religion what
ever.-H1ear another extrad from the
fame paper, and be altonilh=d ar th=ii
bold and impious attempt.
The dogma, ceremonies, morality and
virtue, prelcri5ed by every eas5hlhrd religion
-. - r. a., .f a
the power or augment the cmo'umcnrs Of the
founders and mmifers OF thof- fet1s The
45yz74r arc obfcure, incoEciuhge, lriahtful,
aud therefore well caleuia,ed 70 bewilder the
Imagination, and render the vulgar more ob-
fsquieus to the wall Of thoie who wl(h TO do
uiineer over them. The etyr@31iej aud pr4c-
tices procure the Pricls ichcs or refp-Gf-
Religious morality and virtue conhl, IN
fusmilIive faith. which prohibits the erercifc
of rc4ion in devoui hhmi ty, which inJures
Prielfs the fubmilioa BY their Alves--in an
ardent zeal when religion, ';hat j., when the
iutcrcG Of thole prie1s is in danger The
only object Of AL religious viriue IS evidently
the advantage Of ihe minitiers Of reIigon-''
Is il not The drty then, ofevery con
i lcrate perfoa, o. every friend 10 focic
ry and Of God, more Especially Of eve
ry ChriitiAn, while he Is attentive to his
temporal coAcerns,to think alCo on the!e
things, and take fuch rneafures as pru
dence may dr9ate, 10 c1nnterad the
efe4 Of rhplt tIeful leutincnts, snI
TO encourage an attention o true reli
gion--on tne luppoft Of which depend
the welfare Of onr country, and The
haPpinefs of indiydnals-I mean The
Chriltian religion--,he great head Of,
which i ale to ave % rhe u.term19
all who come uuto God through him.
Why then lhoulI we Be sihlmed IF hj,
golpel. o. 4 pthfil W his iervic-. Much
may be done OF perlons well iifpole
IN divers ways my they, witho1t in
fringing On religious liberty. promote
the importan' c+ule-a canf- ID which
all are inter eted, an4 which II il IN
cumbent on its friends 20 encourage and
fJpport aa1 in sl'ch we may firmly
hope that their Gerious er1l4vors W II he
prof5erei by R-M who is the proper OBJ
jea Of all religious relpea, and who will
undoubte ily lucceed the d=iIns of thoie
who NAV Be engaged the Elm, for it is cl
gagIng in his fervice, and a, il IS carry
ing on has own work Ia work which.
however lightly thought of by fome,
ieems in divers places prevailing for
Al extraordinary religions affection has
.ceriainly appeared among numbers of
people in fome Of the ion,hern Gates,
and a frious attention to religious
things has taken place in feveral parts
Of this aate.
| think therefore il lnould be viewed
as token of Gods will TO make Us
happy peop'e, five will but unite 10 hi,
fervice and while the enemies of reli-
gion are attempting 10 inlrie potion into
the minds Of the people to dalroy their
fpirltual hath, his friends thouli con.
ilder that they are loudly called upon
to attend to prepare antidotes in fsafan,
and the fooner they are adminilerei
the better etfea will they have to eaab
liih it on a good foundation.
I would not interfere with the rsli.
gious tenets of. any particular denomi
nations Of Chrifians, nor indeed with
any other religious fe9, if they be con.
icieutious IN their way, and carefully
enquire what they fhall 10 TO be faved
for have charity for al who are ier.
ouGy and piouly dilpofed. And |
think no ief who manifea aregard a to
religion, in Whatever manner il NAV