Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-24
&C Wait the grea. teacher DEATH"

contemplating that eventful period when
they must put off this mortal state OF sx-
istence, has not same solicitude as to the
fate that shall await him. The soul
shrisks back upon herself at the thought
and star:!es at destruction. The divinity
that stirs within us, points out an here
after, and intinates eternity to man. But
thro' what variety of untry'd being,
thro' what new changes must it pass :"
These are questions SO natural and
momentous in themselves, that they viii
force themselves upon every man Who
considers himself accountable for his
actions. They are enquiries which hu,
man nature he's ever poured fol- th, but
to which no satisfactory answer was ever
given by human reason or philosophy
The sagss of Greece and Rome, the
Areopagus Of Athens, the decisions OF
oracles pronounced from their sacred
tripods, conld give no rational, no salts
factory information upon subjects so ne
cessary to be known. What was the
will of the grea: Sovereign Of the Uni
verse ?-wkat his perfcc,icrs ?--wh.t
the duty and destiny OF man-a'! these
were unintelligible to the boosted reason
of ages. But what human reason and
philosophy could never achieve, has
been most clearly and glorionsly effected
by the gospel. 1t has brought to light
life and Immortality. 1t has brought
faith and common sense to apesioct "a
greeuent in the revelation it has given
US that God has appointed day in
which he will Judge the world in righte-
BUSINESS" 1t has bruasht down from
Heaven the pardon of God for all the
sin. of simple man, pardon bought and
sealed By the blood of the ever blessed
Son Of God. 1t has provided an atone
ment fer past sins, which reason teaches
Us could never have been expiated By
the future reformation of the sinner 1t
furnishes divine assistance which expe-
riencs teaches Us is necessary to change
our evil propensitiss, and to breas these
adamantinc chains which bind Us to err
lasts. 1t holds cut the highest sanctions
and motives to the purest prccepts the
world ever saw AMI as it requires, SC
it enables Us to attain that purity Of
heart and holiness of Ifs which reason
prescIibes as essential to our happiness
here ard hereafter. And il oFcIs to cur
hopes happiness in reserve, inconceiv-
able in degree, and eve' lasting in dura-
ton. 1t is in short, such gospel as
suits sinful, dying and accountable be-
inss.
If the Immortality of the souI. says
Cicero, be . de!psion, it i: = happy de.
fusion, as il is one which fI&hc. Sne a
happier and better n>s9. The same
may be said Of the Christian Religion,
which Rousseau himself corfessas ia
eminently caIc1lated to make Road ci;i-
zens, ard good members of society in
every relation Of life. The force Of this
observation does not simply amount 70 :
negotiation for the truth OF Christi.ni.y
1t is an argument of no contemplate &
character, which suggests tl.ata religion
so admir- ably suited TO the scr:as CT
mankind, Gis enemies being judges so
sups'ior to a., the productions of human
might and wisdom, must have been, not
tie work of those irst prop.sators OF
the gospel but of GOO. who chose the
weak things of this world 10 confound
those which arc mighty an! wise.
Were the advantages CT the Christian
religion confined TO tie influence il has
upon the soul in the hour of death, they
would sufficiently attest its exceilenc;es,
nnd invite our hearty acceptance Il :.
If it Only enabled us to slip quietly d
easily out Of the wsrld, without tseli".
these agooies which guilt esssariiy
infiicts, it would be worth all the Pains