Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-03-09
Original PisrfIIanv.

Ma. SHIuLEY,
HAVING lately been presented with
Subscription paper, with a request 20 con
tribute my mite toward, raising a fund for
the support Of Missionaries Ia India, permit
me 20 communicate through the medium Of
your paper some observations which natur.
ally occurred IN rejecting On Tie subject.
The object held forth in the above men
toned paper, is noble one / reverence
those pious minds, that could conceive, sys.
temaiize aud carry into Operation, a plan
O.' outstanding the,ignor4nt and deluded
Indians. 1t Is worthy # saints on earth
Though all enlerpHZe o. Individuals, IL viii
reflect honor upon al enlightened commu-
nny-it will cover many STAINS Of intamy IN
the human char Acter-skcpucism will be.
lleye there IS beneYolence III man. But
when my views are Withdrawn from Tie
general principle of Tie undertaking, and
l regard some Ot Tie circumstances Of II Ill
relation 10 ourselves, more particularly he
strange Inconsls, cncy III Tie characters of
some Of its most active and apparently most
Jealous promoters, blush al The thought.
God grant, that the sad state of the conduct
OF many Christians Gfthey merit the appel
tation) among ourselves, may never be TOLD
10 the Pagans of India. They would say to
our MlsSlonarle s." You come 10 us pro
claiming religion from The only rue Gnd
hUinS God, who is represented as possessed
ol every virtue and every good quality, and
that you woslG have US be like hlm-are
the believers in this religion among your
country men 6oalike III their actions You
tell It's our hearts must be changed, and we
oil h42~ s,11aa
case among yourselves are not these ntzg
creatures actua;ed BY m-ny Of their old mo
u'es, feelings aud propensities, which you
say must DC laid aside Your religion
teaches 10 1--we an peace, love one another,
ana, aoUye ali 10 have charity-is there no
stfiie, W angling, CT cOHtenuOn among the
followers Ot Jesus III Our own land are
they all aCtualed with one heart and one
Innd do CHRISTIANS treat their fellow
CHRISTIANS On earth, as though they were
Wiling, or expected 10 be united with them
~ Heaven and do they seek, what tlcy
p'oirss 20, the glory of tue Lord, and not
e. own Return 10 vour country, and
Wien youc~h satisfactorily answer cur en-
quIles, "hd convince IS ,har the followers
OF 'hIS leliGion among yourselves are truly
what ycu tell ~ tnrY ALvs.id bU,t then will
"t believe lout rela 500 / nom heaven, al
that you come moi 70 us tvlGi lie in Your
mouths. These and may more queries 81
Ike nature, W mishI leaIliy conceive u
occur 70 the NAMES. Ot IlC Las, without be
Ih6 acquainted wt;h lie nnOiIsIrOus e1,ravA.
gances, prosecutions, and Cruclues oi PopisII
SUPERSTITION Lut L slight knowledge
N some OF our!rcliGlLus sccIeues who profess
'he pure declines ofthe gospel.
This is nol f.ncy or rc,ey-the slightest
observation viii eNnce lis BUSINESS Tgke
llIs place Tor INSTANCE. ! am not fond "a
! scattering abroad tke errors LEl fOllles Of
! my townsmen but open Censure may lead
( to CORE ctIon. publish no secrets-lhey
are facts otpubhc roiority, that some of our
| w4rmesi professors have Leen guilty Of acts.
that E4tma. men (ss they term Ihem) would
/ spun a. Though protesting the sincerest
Devotion % the will Of God. it IS regarded
as no crime for one Ia sacrifice his beneiac
! tor 1Or his own aggrandzement. When
| met by his fellow christian, who may enter.
tam some slight diversity OF sentiment. lie
Knows ann nOl-thOugh the friend Of his
| father, his superior iii ears and in religious
experience, he scans 10 associate with
mar FhaiIsalcal pride, 50 strongly rcproba.
Ied by our Holy Redeemer, has actuated
these his pretended followers, 20 transgress
'he bounds Of proPrIeIy. decency and Lu
| mainly, N their intercourse with their frl.
low citizens.
hope the above hints may be taken into
serious consideration b. those "a whom
they will aPPly. viii add but one more :
though lines ale dra wR bet yyeen th.. Ill fI,-r-
ent denominations Of christians on earth,
(WHICH certain characters seem most sed
u'ols not 70 ini:Inge) The kingdom Of HeA-
ven has no variety Ot sects, but all are made
welcome who are found the true followers
y me humble Jesus. CEPHAS.