Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-17
MoNTToRY..
o Tsou ! y1o.e word from cold dark
mess struck
That spark, the Sun, strike wisdom from
my soul! YOU'VE.

fear: love or hatred ambition where
the object is sometimes worthy, at other
timesIunworthy; what we see' OF what
we anticipate ; Joy, or sorrow take al
ternate possession of the mind, and' like
the raging wiads, toss men now IN one
direction, then in another. Hence the
upstesdiness which marks the human
character, and the disappointment at
tending those who trust in man and
make flesh their arm.
Religion excites, that it may regulate
the passions it harmonizes what is dis
cordani it stills the tempest, and pro-
duces great calm. The religion OF the
Bible, has appeared under dispensations,
varied to suit the state of society. The
ministry of John the Baptist; and the
ministry Of his immediate successor, the
Son of God, were we'll calculated, al
though in different ways, to reform the
world, and to restore that peace of which
degenerate state has bereaved US.
John was naturally reserved, and be-
came more so, leading a recluse life in
the wilderness of Judea. Never did he
fatter any, nor spare the vices OF the
high or of the low. The incestuous
practices of Herod, the reigning Prince,
were treated with the same freedom and
severity, as they would have been in the
meanest Of his subjects not even the
sacred character of Jewish Priest, could
afford any protection when it was cloak
for covetousness and oppression. His
external appearance gave strong indica-
tons of his mind. In diet and dress he
differed from others, neither eating nor
drinking in public, but living on locust
and wild honey; far from the use of fine
or shewy apparel, he was clothed with
a garment of camel's hair, and girded
with leathern girde. His character
and appearance qualified him to execute
the high office of the Reformer of the
nation. His mortified life added weight
to the lessons Of modification which he
gave; his intrepedity checked vice
when most bold; his manly eloqucnce
enforced his doctrine and multiplied his
followers.
AT the time when John entered on his
ministry it was necessary to rouse the
fears of nation cenfding in their ex-
tsrnal privileges; to excite jnster views
of religious character, and to dispose
them to welcome teacher now among
them, invested with powers more extern
siye, and of character more dignihed,
than had before, or for the future should
ever agsin:visit our world and for these
purposes no ministry can be conceived
more suitable.
The ministry OF John the Baptist was
succeeded by the ministry of the Son Of
God manifested in the flesh, who from
early life was open and communicative.
When twelve years old, at one Of their
festivals, he astonished the wisest among
the Jews, in different conversations with
them, during three days. Having at
tanned manhood, he went into all COM
panies, and conversed freely with per-
sons of every distinction and class, with
the rich and poor, with countrymen and
strangers, with rigid Jews and hated
Samaritans. He was present at feasts
and entertainments, affecting no singu-
larity in diet or dress, bat he ate & drunk
as others did, and was like them also in
his attire, assimulating with them in
these Indifferent matters, that with more
advantage be might disseminate the
seeds Of piety and wisdom. The aus
terlty of John kept men at distance;
the courtesy Of Jesus invited them near
the ministry Of the one, like the tempest,
the earthquake and the FIRE asitated,
shook and kindled into flame the whole
nation; the ministry of the other, like
the still and small voice, engaged atten-
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