Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-02-14

II Oy ftilpiOtf DC nag '!it t'Ids K u , T AMI
conduct which seeks the honor Of God aaI
the happiness Of man, ne has no.aing els.
to do, but to promote religion BON in him.
seifand others, within the limits prescrlo.
ed him
Ba isrsat his agency c,4j'nsd 1, ss.a.a-
concerns ?
His agcncy relates to secular concerns
iir.asd1atsIy, but he ought ultimately AMI
ch5e52Y to seek the eternal interests Of men
in all his conduct.
WIHnot tbs 0ieto Of The subject c3af6ln3
the province Of a1e. magistrate, qoikl thatof
the ministers ofreHgion ?
Not at all to promote the bestiaterests
Of men by enacting and executing a good
systemic OF laws, and by provlling for the
common defence and welfare, IS very dis.
tinct from promoting the same interests
by teaching the principles of religion, and
enforcing them by the hopes and fears Of
the gospel.
Have the legislature Il right to maintain
religion, at the bublic erbsnce
They have Alright, and tits their duty
to do it, if the public opinion viii per-
nit
Whence does this right result
Ii results from their general right to do
whatever they may deem necessary TO pro-
mote the common good
Butts it prudent far them to eeercisehis
right?
The prudence of the measure will de-
pend on the existing state ofPublic oPlni-
on but if that willnot permit, civil liberty
cannot longbe supported.
Wiy can ztn0tbe Subb0rted2
Because, without religion there WILDE
no virtue, and virtue is the basis OF civil
liberty.
Is nat the bromise efGod to support rs!i-
giion sufficient zUith0ut h,onan aid2
The promise Of God will be verified but
this promise involves the use OF humaa
means and exertions.
Still the question remains, IS tie pub
lie maintenance Of religion one q those
means !?
1t was mean Of supporting religion by
divine appointment under the ancient Jew,
ISL Theocracv; it has been mean in all
Christian nations since; and it viii be a
mean in the most prosperous state OF the
church of Christ on. earth when kings shall
be its nursing fathers and queens It's nurs-
ing mothers.
D7eS not tie principle a80dnced imply a
riqht in the legislature to cho9se sohat kind
oc>.sj:o,;o4, TN ;,,y;y,fo;t9
1t does public opinion alone must DE-
eide this custom.
Waltdeg nat, then, maintajna c0rYIbtrt-
Egioa, vHere sueh q religion preUais am0ag
the feople ?
They will; butcorrubt religion IS more
useful to the state than atheism or t7tqi IT.
religion, for all the various systems which
have prevailed in the world, agree IN some
common principles, the belief Of which has
contributed to that order and peace lnso'
cietv which have existed.
What are those common priacjbleS2
The chief are, that :here is Supreme
God who presides over the universe that
we are accountable to him for ourconduct;
and that he will reward or punish us IN a
future state, according to our works. Il
belief Of those great principles has been'
and ever will be the basis Of society.
Hozv are MeyMe basis ofsociety :
BY operating on our hopes and teaFS'
which are the most powerful springs OF az
ton, they restrain wickedness IN degree
beyond our present conceptions; they arc
the Foundation of all judicial and oHlcS
oaths without which, trials at law woula
be a farce, and investigation OF truth u'c
terly hopeless; ands they are the source 0.
all that truth and confidence which exist
between man and man.
W1u nat hojest men speak the truth as
witnesses, in judicial proceedIngs, aDI"!o
ait being Under the obHgati9lls Of an 0qhl