Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1811-01-21
Jethro-No. 8.

The truly Christian magistrate will be
governed, in his public conduct, by devout
regard to Gods glory, and the happiness of
mankind objects which are perfectly coin
cident and agreeable TO each other. He
will not seek, from the mere love Of hon
eur, to exalt his own country above other
nations any more than his own family, or
person, above those Of other men. The no
bic principle of emulation in real excellence
does indeed influence him yet he does not
! indulge it to the least infringement of rec
titude. Shall not the Lord Of all the earth
do right :" This il the glorious example
which be sets before bis eye, aud Bis heart
exults in the consciousness of aiming at ths
resemblance Of Divinity, and ranking on the
side OF everlasting truth. The satisfaction
he feels in hsStng it in his power 70 pro-
mote reverence for the sacred and COM
prshsnsivs sentiment Of public justice,
abundsntlv comPensstes ths cares Of an
srduous and responsible situation.
God is God of peacs; and the divine
( Saviour of mankind is emPhaIically styled
the Prince of Peace. Hence the magistrate
that would maintain the faithful worship, i'm
itaton, and obedience Ut Hun, who is the
rightfuI Governor of the world, and the
pattern Of all perfection, must make it his
wish, and endsavOr TO promote social har-
m0By, both at home and abroad. he can
not, therefore, indulge any feeling OF COM
plscency in those little disturbances, which
will sometimes fall within his jurisdiction,
however they may demand the exertlon OF
his authority, or contribute 10 swell his
cmolument. He k9aa; ntOre pleasure IN
reconciling differsncSth sn in terminating
Them BY his official %6wer in which lat
Ter case, besides the qualification OF some
improper views of his '6yn, portion Of
malice would probably be left to fer.nent
in the bosom of the disappointed party
The true lover Of peace will never espouse
the cause Of q mere faction. The only fac
tion which he acknowledges IS his country !;
his party is the worlds, He kh Gws that his
duty begins at home 'yet does not end but
with the farthest bound of humanity. New
er, perhaps, was il more necessary to'incul-
cate q sentiment of thii kind upon our fell
low citizens, than Al the present period.
! say not that the plea 9of moderation will
be heard it will, NOR probably be lost IN
! the popular Glamour. Yet ttntta whether
regarded or no, must rot iorbsstro " Int up
her voice like a trumpet" She now ad-
dresses you, not as mere POLITICIANS, but Is
the professors of arelgion, which, however
| pure and holy, has been made the msulted
instrument of narrow and contemplate
| views. Observe, in this respect, tina char
! acter of demagogue, the bolste Gus ieAdsr,
or at least advocate of fragment, mere
shred Of the people and ask whether q
| man Of this description be suitable deposit
| for the public confidence. am wiling 60
! suppose you would not encourage The open
! in6del, the profaue scoffer, or any one gross
(; ly Negligent of sacred institutions but be-
ware lest We be imposed upon by the plots
of hypocrisy. The Christian believes, that
"promotion cometh neither from the east,
nor from The west, Eor yet from the south (;
but God is the Judge, he putt~th dowa one
| and setteth up another" He cannot, tAere-
| fore, employ sacrilegious artihce for secur-
| ing from man what he is conscious OF re-
ceIving only at the hand Of God. In short,
| to be- :" carried about with every wind Of
| doctrine" to fall passiye!y INTO that ude Of
religious opinion and custom, which often
| requires resistance, instead OF any add
tioI,al force, is SO unworthy the dignity oi
a magistrate, that one chargesb!.e with
| such conduct, not from mere inhrHNy, bu
with political design, cannot be COO soo
reduced % that hgtl, where, because seen
only It 5 snaAGSisacS4 ne oar % thc 'e-'>
! rn,.olaeF. x.