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

COlitEditCu tiC SiiSSSS u ISL s ioi opsl s-sA.S
i'm on the happiness ofiociety. Theicep-
ricifrn OF an atheif, he remarks, tends as
much TO difconneet mankind as religion TO
unite them. 6 Itdoes not make them to-
lerant, bur renders them difpoled to turn
every thing facred into ridicule. L dill
folves all the ties which unite men toge-
Their; it dries up the iprings Of ienibllity,
and titles all the fponsaneous emotions OF
nature; it srengthens felt, and makes 1t
degenerate into gloomy felt Invertebrates (;
it fubffitutes doubts for truths it gives
new vigor to the padions, and is weak in
rcfifting error; and infpires pretentions
without giving additional light. From
l;centioulnels OF opinions it leads to licen-
tiousnefs of conduct; il hardens the heart;
it dearoys every endearing tie; it ami
lates civil fociety. Superitition and fana-
ticifm have their origin in the imperfect
ons of human nature. With a lively ina
gination, with feeble judgement or
fontraditted fpirit, an individual may be
fuperltitious in other fubjeets as we'll rs
thole connected with religion. Its not at
all contradiction for an individual TO be
at onceimpious & fuperititious. We might
produce as infances of this the infdels of the
middle ages, &lome atheifs ofour times. On
sthe other hand, every opinion, religious,
political, or Philosophical, may create en-
thuiiafs and fanatics. Mere points of
grammar have endangered civil war,
and contelts have been begun in nations a.
bout the choice Of a rope-dancer. It is
not fair, then, to impute to religion thofe
evils which have exiRed independent OF il,
or which would continue ito exit even if
it were abolifhed. Men in general have
need of faith to prevent them from being
credulous; they require form of external
worlhlp TO preferve them from fupcl fiti-
ons; an eaablif,ed religion is the only
barrier which can protect US agaInit the
sorrents Of falie opinions of more or les
dangerous kind, which the delirium of hu-,
man reafon would invent. lie: ms not
fear the return OF fanaticifln.
Our manners, our illumination iecure
US againtt its approach. We honor litera-
ture. we cultivate the licences by hew-
ing proper refped for religion; we may
be philosophers without impiety, and i'm
prefed with fentiments of religion with
our fanaticifm. He combats at length the
petition, that religion has been productive
Of diforder and miiery to mankind. L.
Thofe crimes from which the miiery orr
ginates he traces to their fource; and
ihews that they could no., with the
fnallea degree of reafon, be afcribed to
religion, but were the effect of caufes over
which even religion had no complete con-
trout. On the importance of public In
TRACTION, he expatiates with much abili-
lily and eloquence, and contends that with
out the aid of religion this mott interef-
ing object could never be accomplished.
F." Sciences, exclaimed he, can only be the
portion of a few, but with religion In
arution may be gained without being
learned. religion which dilcloles to man
every inrereffing and ufeful truth, without
either the means or the labor of painful
refearch." On this point he quotes the
fent!ments expreded by the members of
the feveral departments and aaembiies of
the republic, all of whom deplore the de-
cay of national intruttion, and earneitly |
urge the neceaity of making religious fen
timent the ground work of the education
Of youth. He Jays, " it is religious ideas
which have contributed more than any |
other circumstances to the civilization of |
1t is by the atifance of reli-
gious ideas>that the drtt Legislators fought |
TO moderate and foften the padions and
Affections of the human Eearf." He il.
luifrates his ideas by referring to the laws
Of all The great Legislators OF antiquity, |
who founded their rules for the education
0f vourh nm the GRAND haiic nc RELIGION -