Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-06-27
Tome Editor sfthr MtsMsence,,

Is the columns Of your usefu! paper are
. frequently deuoted to pieces Of an in
struch'e and ed.fying nature, may
one Of y9ur subscribers claim Place
for the subsequent reflections, on the
propagation and progress Of Christi
Gnity. =. e..
Twelve men Of obscure and poor birth,
Of contemplate trades snd quality, with.
outlearning and witheut breeding; these
men were sent into the midst ct know
ing and wise world, to dispute with the
most famous philosophers of Greece, to
out-wit all the learning of Athens, to
out.preaeh all the orators of Rome, to
introduce into newly-settled empire,
which would be inpatient Of novelties
and change-sueh change as must de-
stroy all their temples, or remove from
them alltheir gods: against which change
all the zeal of the world, and all the pas
sions, and all the seeming preteuces
they could make, must needs be violent-
lyoPposed--a change that introduced
new laws, and caused them to reverse
the old: to overturn that religion under
which their fathers long did prosper, and
under whl2h the Roman empire obtained
great grandeur, for religion which Gin
appearauce) was silly and humble, weak
and peaceable not apt indeed to
do harm, but exposing them to all the
harm 10 The world, abating their courage,
bunting their swords, teaching peace
and qu,etness making the soldiers
arms IN manner useless, and untying
the military girdle:--a religion which
eontradieted their reasons Of state, erect
ed new ipdicatQries, and made the Ro.
man courts to be silent and without caus-
es IA religion that gave countenance to
the poor and Pitiful ; Put-iu time
when riches were adored,, ambiti.
on esteemed the greatest nobleness, and
pleasure thought TO be the choisest good,
it brought no. peculiar blessing to the
rich aud mighty, unless they would be.
come poor and humble On spirit "a
religion that would change the face of
things, and would also pierce into the Sc
crets OF the soul, and unravel all the in
trigues of hearts, and reform all vile man.
ners, and break evil habits into gentle.
ness and counsel that such religion,
in such time, preached BY such persons,
should triumph over the philosophy Of
the world, and the arguments of the sub
tie, and the sermons of the eloquent,
and the power Of princes, and the. int.
rests of states, and the inclinations Of na-
ture, and the biindacss of zeal, and the
force Of custom, aud the pleasures OF
sin, and the busy arts of the devil tina,
is, against wit, and power, and money,
andreligion, and wilfulness, and fame,
& empire, which are allthe things in the
world that can make thing impossible
this, I say, could not be by the sole force
Of such Instruments /. Wonderful, then
to behold! the religion of "Christ cru.
Cited" in spite of the multiform obsta.
cles to its progress, in opposition to L" Sc
many contradictions of sinners" in def.
:ance, Of the furious raging together Of
the heathen," and the " vain imaginati
ons of the people )" this religion, I re-
peat, equally de.pised and hated BY al
ranks and descriptions Of the Gentle
world, gradually increased its influence
and extended its dominion, till it plant
cd the cross on the capitol, and REDUCED
the whole Roman empire to the yoke O
Christ; till it Slapped the foundation O
every temple, overturned the pedesta
ofeyery statue, and silenced the predic
tions Of every oracle forever and ever !!
,- =
The oracles are dumb, -.
M .,x... =. .J;o.,. h,,r.