Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-01-16

,yAS at no loss 20 ohue'
but he could not clearly perceive "he'
,b.r the prophet spake thus of himself
or Of some other person, until Philip ex-
ol,ired the passage. Those who con-
tend that the bible is p'aln' simple
hook, level with the most common c'p"
City, ought to consider,that 1t Is not 'n0'
plain and simple, than the alphabet OF
than the rules of arithmetic, &C. &C.
And vet all the world find it necessary
~ teach children these things. l cannot
hut think that if it had been the inteh-
,;or If the author of the bible, that 1t
should sup-rcede all living instructlo''
he would have given US very dlfferen'
kind of book. What kind OF book II
might have been, l cannot conceive; but
l strongly suspect it would contain no
mission to evangelists to go into all
the world, to preach the gospel to every
creature, SC" In short, if knowledge
be at all necessary to christiany, 1t Is
contrary to all analogy ard experience
to SUPPOSE, that it can be propagated
universally and perpetuated to the sue
eessive generation of men, without llV-
ing instruction.
The principles, or as some say, hrst
principles of truth, or Of science, are
the simple perceptions of the mind
When they are at fist perceived, l.
seems to the mind as if it had made an
instantaneous discovery. It is not true
that principles are generally acquired by
experience and practise; we only thus
acquire the habit Ct reducing them into
operation. That two and two make four,
is a simple mental perception, and the
principle of all arithmetical computa-
ton but though no perception is more
simple, and this principle is found in all
the school books, &c.-what proportion
of the rising generation of any age, or
country would acquire knowledge of
the rules Of arithmetic and become
practical calculators without instruction!
We require adventurous aid, either di-
rect or indirect to tic formation of all
our ideas.
Hypocrisy, ignorance and vice, have
been detested in public religious charac-
tiers, All parties agree in this censu'e
But perhaps the reason for this univer.
sal odium, has DOT been SO universally
admitted II confidence in wise and
good men were not Necessary 10 Chris
tianity, and if ignorsncc, vice and hypo
cricy arc cot the 5ane OF all confidence,
in what does the exceeding sintulness Ct
these sins cf public characters consist
Ii c. risliapiTy Gid not require conf
dcnoe in wise ard coed men, should we
not want an irrpnEtant let Of evidences
OF the truth OF ,elis zion? A true reli-
e0p must BE- true to man (if one may
speak SOY as we'll ys to God--true rela.
lively as well as abstractly. When fools
and knayes under the merited odium OF
tie public shall subserve the interests
Of Christianity, then will truth and error,
virtue and vice, be utterly confounded
When confidence ard distrust shall be
equally benefited BY the examples and
instructions of wise and good men,
When faith and unbelief shall partake
in common Of the benefits of the COS.
pei, then must human nature, and the
present laws of buman Intellect be
changed.
The conclusion to which our thoughts
conduct Us is-that true religion must
be true to itself. We my pity the de-
luded victims of misplaced confidence
but let US not suppose that Christian
ity can abandon its own principles and
intentions, in order to prevent the con
sequences Of reconsideration or pre-.
sumption. Be not deceived, God is rot
Knocked" Let nc man deceive you
with vain words, for because of Ties
things the wrath OF God conetb." A
wise and good God challenges universal
confidence from all his creatures. rs
alone can be perfectly and externally