Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-09-15

wills of life, (ior if christianity regulated our
lives what evil OF magnitude would be let;!}
should say to her daughter, 9 You are now
old eaoug to read your billie understand
inply !; mike yourself acquainted with its
important truths, tor it is time YOU should
openly avow your belief in the saviour of
men in doing which, no one enjoyment
BETTING your age and sex need be foresone;
if YOU become member OF the church, you
ought to examine the scriptures, TO become
acquainted with the fundamental doctrines
of christianity, to labor to subdus every ir-
regular appetite, and counteract every Vi
cious propensity, and you are underno less
obligations to do it, il you do not become a
member in christian country where the
bible is universally read, those who indulge
knowingly in any one irregularity there for
bidden, are utterly without excuse, let thei,
professions of religion be less or more pub.
lie imbibc that religion taught by our sa-
viour, take your views of God from the III.
bic, and YOU will feel a cheerfulnsss not 10
be derive d from any other source, and dis.
position for every enjoy consistent
with health, peace and honor and unless
YOU wish to riot in excess for a few short
years in defiance OF civil and religious au.
thori'y, being professedly christian, while
it makes you better will make you happier;
and though sin is to be subdued and a
watchful guard to be kept upon the pas
sions and propensities Of our fallen natures,
every source of rational delight which So
ciety, conversation, books, or the mex.
haustless stores of nature yield, are open
still, and reple,e with more than sufficient
delights" fla mother, whose consistent
conduct proves her theory to be practical,
gives such a view Of religion to an iu,eli-
gent daughter, can she turn from it with
disgust? viii she apprehend that religious
life is death to all her JOYS Win she fear
that to have well regulated mind, to alb
stain from excess, to curb her passions, to
purify her thoughts, is tantamount to bid
ding farewell to social happiness, to all the
rrlaxations suited to youth, and necessary
TO age?
/ am far from vindica,ing that religion
that accommodates itself to petty faults, by
saying thew are natural, and must be over
looked Christ express y condemns The in
dulgence of zOish to dc wrong and who
shalj dare appeal from such authority? Pu-
yity Of thought is the very essence of chris
tianity but why need turity imply gloom
and austerity To know that we are sub
iec,s of divine care, the redeemed, if we
accept the offered grace of God, heirs of
immortal! glory, future companions of saints
and angels, are causes why we should re-
joice, though it be with trembling.
That family religion, which we sometimes
see steadily supported, is the best calculated
to impress the mind OF female youth. Chill
drer who are habituated regularly, if but
one day in seven, to join in family worship
with their parents, if they see those parents
look cheerful, if they aye called with af-
fcctonate good nature to listen to portion
OF the sacred book, and accustomed to be-
hold comptacent tho serious countenauces,
during the immediate address to the throne
Of grace, will lmbibe no terrific ideas of re.
ligicus duties. They Will assemble round
the domestic altar with delight, and witness
ing the cheeriulness ditfused over The faces,
and tuning the voices of their parents, will
love the Being whom thus to worship, har-
monies the souls of those they revere.
Parents themselves could not but be bene.
fitted by such practice. To pour out the
feelings of grateful heart before Him,
iromwhom are received hourly blessings, has
a tendency to soften the asperites of the
toughest temper, to call home each wander (
ing thought, to strengthen every virtue,
and to put to shame every iadulged offence. |
Parents cannot be excused for the neelec. |
OF so obvious duty. To say that the avo.
cations of life, want of ability to extcmpo-
rize ,.SSc. prevent, are weak excuses. Half |