Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-06-08

roach Of religious folemnities families are
United in the mott endearing bondssot af-
{etiion; former enemies are reconciled,
even the wicked experience fomething like
ren,orie Take religion from the heart OF
man, and by what will you replace it,
fit is not occupied by good, it mutt
afford place for evil. The mind and
the heart cannot long continue void. -
Thefe, he goes OIL TO obierve, were the
principles on which the government acted
in the plans they had formed for reitorisg
religious tranquility to France. He
fates the circumstances under which Chit
tianity appears to have the bett claims to
fupport, and the catholic iyffem is to be
the eaablifhed religion of the French peo-
pie. He eypa,iates at much length on the
beneficial effects of the Chriaain Religion
in accelerating the civilization Of all thofe
countries where its influence has been felt.
He aicribes to its influence many of the
bef efforts Of genius in the various depart
ments of literature and icience. " The
falutary influence Of the Chriaain Religion
in all countries into which it has been in
troduced has been noticed By all writers.
If the compass has opened to Us the DIFF
ierent regions Of the world, it's Chriliia-
rity which has made them the ieats of ci-
vilization. 1t may be fad that chrifia-.
nifty was abuied. But what is The infitu-
ton which has not been fubjea to abuie ?
What is the good which has exiaed with
out mixture of evil What IS the natl.
on, what is the government, what is the
public body, who is the individual, who
could fufain thefPecies of examination to
which the ehriftian pr;ef is exPofed ?"-
Fiegoes on to notice, that among thofe ma
tons where Chrii1ianity was eitablifhed,
the arts and licences had Aourilhed in the
gteateif iplendcr. It's influence he notices
in every department Of literature and the
arts. He defcribes its natural precepts and
religious doctrines, and points out in them
all that is mott interefing in the religion
ofnature, or in the profoundef dilcoveries
of philoiophy, attended with clearnefs
and precifion which philofophy had never
been able to reach. If nations, tfays he)
or individuals entertain clearer notions
than prevailed in the days of Socrates or
Plato. on the great truths oe the being of
a God, Of the Immortality Of the human
foul, ola fate of Ietribution, to what are
we indebted for it, but TO chrifianity :"
After abiding to the inaitution of the
Chrifian Priefhood, he AXIS, {" Is there
any religion better adapted to the fituati-
on Of States and to the policy of Govern
mentss this religion preients nothing pure
~ local, nothing which can limit its In
Auence to a particular country, or to
particular age. 1t difcovers itfelf as the
religion of the world. After having
therefore recognized the utility and necef.
fifty of religion in general, the French Go
vernment could not reaionably abjure |
chriftianiiy, which, beyond all other ef-
tabliihed religions, is that which is the
be& adapted to our religion and our man
ners." He is at pains TO fhew that this
Of the French Government
is by no means inconlihent with policy,
or contrary to the mott enlarged princi-
pies Of federation.
The ideas which they have adopted, |
while they will have the effect Of retor-
ing the influence of religious ientiment in.I
France, he contends, partake in no de-
gree OF the bigotry, or the pertecusion, o.
on executive fyitem Of religion. He fiates
with comfortable perfpicuity the differ
ence betwixt giving protection to reli-
gion, and rendering 1t executive and do
To protect a religion was
to place1it under the fapport Of the laws,
to prevent it from being molefed, to qua
rantee TO thole who profaded it the enjoy !
ment Of their fpiritual rights, equally |
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