Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-11-07

Ehe CY05S aSt{1E Seas"e tisSjsS - - sst 60 "
have been able to discover, M. Gregores
has kept I'D clear distinction between the
sumboi and the substance. He says" But
what do you call by this equivocal name,
(preiudices) asllwhat do Iperceive in the
midst OF IL: heaps OF this picture, which
sarve for emblens The attributes of the
catholic ministry, and, above all, the stand
ard of Christianity,t the cross Of Jesus Christ
Again--ss The cross and the Gospel, in pre-
pairing US for the happiness ofeteraitv have
civiliz ed the world. "-Ir is not easy to see
in what part Of .his letter, the cross and the
gospel are treated by M. Gregoire as the
same thing. This declaration has rather
more the air oi an evasion in MIR. Barlow,
then disposition fairly to meet and com
bat ,he argument.
vi. Gregoire in his letter, says" It to
believe in the gospel be a prejudice, permit
us to partake Of it with the feeble minds Of
Addison, &C." giving a catalogue of the
most illustrious names in the history OF the
world. Mr.. Barlow's answer to this re-
quest is certainly curious. He says" |
believe, and you have on this occasion com
PEELED me to express my belief, that the Co
iumbiad, taken in all its parts of text and
notes and preface, is mare faD0rable to sound
audr;gia meraLs, more friendly to virta1e,
more clear and uuequivocal in pointing out
the road to national dignity and individual
happiness, more energetic i'll it: denuncla-
tons of tyranny and oppression IN every
shape, injustice and 1viekedness IN all their
forms, and consequently mare c0nsonam to
zvhat psu acknowledge to be tie spirit q the
gospel, than ali tie 7r itl'.gs ct al that hstg
christian authors 81 the three last eyes, 7cho@
ysu haze cited as tie s1ciy Of edrlstendsm,
and strung them on the alphabet from ADJ
olson down to Winkeiman." Now among
this catalogue Of names, which amounts to
more than 20, we find Addison, berkeley,
Bacon, Boyle, Eoddridge, Groiins, John.
son, Locke, Milton, Newton, &c. Sc.--
names which have ever been ranked among
the most distinguished ornaments OF TIC hu-
man character, for genius, science and vir-
tue. Surely NJ. Gresoire' head must have
been buried deep in the pile OF prejudiees TO
have overlooked the excellenules OF this
prodigy of morals, virtue and plsty,when ne
was scanning is merits wifi SO keen and pc
ne "a g an eye Il h4~ ever fortunate
circumstance, since he biunaered over lis
pages in this strange manner, that ne mas
forced the blus!iirg author to PROFOUND to
m astonishd word It's genuine chan acter.-
How lucky it may De considered that no ut
of modesty interyened, to Bury this invaiua-
bic discovery.
M. Crego,re breaches one subject, which
appears IN some M, asure to have chcaksd
tie faculties {, his atfeCtionatc friend. and
nonpusssd him tor an answer. III. Gre
s,oirr has the following passages" but
what Will be the result, it,instead OF reason
ing with c.l,nn~ss and respect on religion,
the most important object for man IN the
course Oh his tusitivo existence, cauTnny
should point its sarcas;ns, and spread ITS
black colors over historical facts which 1t
misrepresents if. instead of speaking to the
understanding to cnlighten it, we address
ourselves to the passions u ssduce This
has been the conduct which our lnhdel
Frenchmen have followed, pluming them
selves with the title Of philosophers. 1t is
imrortantto reco)ect, and TO recoilect often,
that of those who have ccmbatted Chrlstia-
nitv. the greater part have vomitted the
most infamous things against decency and
morality Laaettrie, Voltaire, ]. j. Rous-
seau, Diderot, Mirab2au. For several
wears we were constantly under the axe q
esecntioners ca Ing themselves philosophers"
No one will surprised to hud Mr.. Bar
low notice thsse passages in the folio wing
manne--s, You will see that Mave notAing
to d2 zoith the unbeHevers who have attack
ed the Christian system, either before the
French revolution, or during or since that
monumental period. am not one OF them.
~ ..,hle t,ana not Ia nv thing