Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-06-19
@onitorial.
FOR THE GAZETTE.

Sypf."
THE chapter which contains this pas
sage clearly proves, by plain, unganished
relation, that in the midst Of prosperity,
men are most exposed to temptation, and
communities in the greatest need CT firm,
upright. able directors. 1t proves further,
that the purcst system Of religion, and the
beat constitutions of government, will not
prevent men from falling from the true
faith, following false prophets, and embra.
eng the most dangerous and delusiye the.
cries
i. seems that Moses, the man of Gel. IA
Bored necessarily for the rnod Of tie PEG
pie Of his charge, regardless Of their good
or al opinion, while lie felt secure of the
appreciation Of his Maker. He knew that
the children Of Israel, though the chosen
people Of the Most High, were but men
nor purer, but (if history is to be credi,edl
rather more tickle, volatile, and prone TO
novelties, than their neighbors. Though the
time IN which Moses was absent in til.
mount, communing face to face with his
Maker, for the good of Israe;, and receiv-
ing the Law and the Commandments. was
only forty days and forty nights, yet the
people, in that short period, forgat the
strong band and the stretched out arm.
which had thus far protected them. & even
began to vent their contumelious re,roach.
es or the memory of their political father.
They gathered themselves together unto
Aaron, and besought him to make them a
god =" for as for this Noses" said they.
1.-THE man who brought US up out of the
land OF Egypt, we wot not what is become
Of him." The simple fact is, Moses was a
stern, infiexible patriot. He knew none Of
the "twistings and turnings" of the "sup-
PIE courtier !" or. if he knew. yet lie dis
dained to use them.
Aaron, however, though TO him and his
seed, God had ordained the priesthood, does
not seem quite SO exempt as Moses, from
those weaknesses which are the common
lot OF men, He certainly could not suppose
that the Almighty had taken Moses to him.
sell, and abandoned his chosen peopl.. Tho
at this distance Of time, we cannot, with
accuracy, determine the particular motives
OF his conduct, yet the conduct of men, IN
cur own times, will auihori1e the conclu.
sion, that he cnyied the authority and influ-
enee " Moses and that BY catering and
eajo1sng the people, INDUCING and pa,oper-
ING their worst appetites, and weakening
their common bond Of union, he Hoped to
snFplant Muses. in their affections, and pos.
ses, himself Of those honors winch ne saw
he could moi otherwise obtain. This con-
clusion is also strengthened by the context
for we there see that Aaron had secured to
himself the first place in This tangled
order Of things. We read that {" .fren
built an altar before the image Aaron
made proclamation" sc. Il is certain thai,
he was weak enough to yield to the fashion
OF the day He assisted in making golden
calf. /" And they said. These be thy gods,
O Israel, which brought thee up out of the
land of Egypt"
But the children Of Israel, foolish ard
blind as they were, did no more than thou.
sands have done in all ages before and after
them.
When God had left man in a state of bliss
in Eden, with no other token of his own
sovereignty than an introduction Of the fruit
OF the tree OF knowledge the man, intoxi.
-, "a g - al
sacrifice to the crafty insinuations & fiat.
teries Of the arch tempter.
Without doubt the tower of Babel was
built at the instgation, and under the di-
rection of some Willy and ambitious dema-
gogae, who Intended to make the people
stark mad with his new schemes, and,
while their eyes were dazzled, fix his yoke
upon them forever.
Men Of this description exist in every
community on Garth. And though the ter
ror of some great name may, tor time,
ave them into apparent neutrality and sub.
m.saon, yet "their worm dieth not" -
None but the "grisly monarch puts IL.
M step 10 their dark Vaccinations.
l.. the lifetime of Gideon, the servant of
God, W hear Of no evil connections. His
name was great. his government effective,
h.s Ii.e pure. Good men followed his ex.
amrit from princip even bad men were
loud n MS praise. while living, and, proba-
bly,. she's crocodile tears over his grave, be-
ca.f, !, vas fashionable, and would insure
aea aogu'ag.,y aut after this venerable