Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-09-21
For THE GAZETTE,
70 he real friends ofReEglon.
Henry r

70 he real friends Of Religion.
NEVER was there time, when your di.
vine master called you to greater vigilance
and activity than the present Unto you
have been committed the oracIes of divine
truth IN which is contained, the dreadful
denuncmtion that unless you make wise
Improvement OF them, they shall be taken
from you, and sent TO those, who shall bring
forth fruit, 10 the glory Of God
The present situation of the nations of the
Earth, IS portentous ofsome great and awful
Revolution, efiecting by him, I" who work
eth sill things, according TO the council of
has own will" You are commanded, TO
search the scriptures they are given to
you TOR guide; it is your duty to compare
the passing events, with the predictions OF
the prophets. De intreated, carefully to OBJ
serve the signs Of the times, and you will be
aroused to activity for it is impossible that
you should not see, that Religion is in imi-
| nent danger, IN this Country. Be not delu
| ded by those, who tell you, that Religion
has nothing to do with politics. 1t is true
that Religion has nothing 10 Go with the
question, whether this man, or that man,
shall have an Office But Religion has every
thing TO do with the question, whether this
| measure, shall be adopted Because, BY the
result, the morals Of the people may be Sc
| cured, or impaired.
| Religion should be your Supreme object,
to protect 1t you have enlisted, as soldiers,
| under the captsin of your salvation.
| IL IS true, He IS able 10 protect it without
| your and, but in Infinite wisdom, He is plea
SEQ 70 effect his righteous designs, through
the fundamentally of means and BY Him,
| you are placed, as centinels, TO guard this
measurable treasure. Whatever interferes
win Religion, you are bound, As christians
to oppose.
SO long, as political measures interfere
not with Religion, you are not TO attend
them, any farther than their importance de.
mands, IN all minor things, it is your duty to
manifest conciliating, peaceable spirit
But when political measures are adopted,
which threaten 10 undermine Religion itself.
then, as christian soldier, are YOU TO grid
on your armor, stand to your post, and op-
pose the measure with all The powers and
faculties, afforded you by your divine com.
mander, that, whatever The result NAV be
you may receive the applause OF " Wei
done, good and faithful servants"
Has not the French nation, even burnt, in
tnelr Puolc streets, with every mark of derI-
SION, The Sacred Scriptures, and BY their DO.
i"lcS eAtermInated christianity from almost
the whole OF the continent of europe
ana are not the measures, adopted among
us calculated, directly, to assist them, in
tie AWFUL but vain attempts, to Danish il
from the earth
Shouldest thou help the ungodIy, and
love them, that hate me, saith the Lord !"
Al h., a
IRON henceforth, thou shalt have wars"
Whhe, engaged an war against nation,
tue individuals OF which, have done, and are
uOinS' more Tor the spread of the gospel
honS ths heather, than any other nation on
E@r'il' can you expect blessing from Him
VINO hath sand OF those who serve him, che
thSt loucheth you, toucheth the apple Of mine
eye Hls IN vain 10 say, the Government
81 Great britain is corrupt, grant it, yet. III
your arms are successful against hei., who
must suffer, the Government, or individu.
as WIN not the tsres be preserved, while
they are placed, IN such a situation, that
they cannot be Plucked up, without dastroy
hg the wheat For few years past. YOU
nave been animated, BY The revival OF an
earnest desire among you, to send the Cos.
pei TO the heather. These exer,ions begun
IN such a manner, an6 were spread with
such rsPIdiiy, that you were constrained to
say : this Is the Lords doing" You have
already seen surprising openings made, for
the reception OF the Holy Bible, in distant |
lands. Have you not reason 10 tremble, lest
me Lord IS thus preparing place II refuge
TOT ms two witnesses which you have every |
reason to fear will soon be driven from your |
iAad, lfyou still continue to assist the enc.
my Ofthe cross
My Christian friends, wish not 10 rouse
those party feelings which gender strife
out wish 10 rouse that christian wAtchfull-
ness which shall excite you to look around
you, III tins day of darkness and .ri6uauon,
snd 70 search the scriptures, with prayerful
uillgence, that you may learn the mind and
WIZ OF your Heavenly Master, and be filled
win christian torutude, 10 prepare you for
ne dreadful crisis which appears to be ap
'roachmg. God forbid that, any of you,
VINO profess to be the disciples Of tue Prince
d FeAce, should be found supporting meas
res which must prove an insurmountable
,ostacle TO The success o. all your pious en-
ieaVours to christianize the heather. I'll
ny Of you have, heretofore, cast your votes
OF men, who, by plunging YOU into war
sth those with whom you have lately asso
laied yourselves for the advancement OF
nc knowledge OF The truth, and thereby