Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-05-21
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SCRIPTURES.
ESoNcLuDBn.l

u
preserved By the church with great
care. Dark ages followed the overthrow
of the Roman Empire; few could read
or write books fed. to the cloister.
During these ages, scorruptions, both IN
doctrine and practice, deformed Chris
tiapity and furnished its lus,re. But
the Scriptures were inexistence, which ,
ut the. reisrmatioR,. were sought alter
and copies thereof, printing having now
been discovered, were greatly multiPli-
cd Ii was yet twilight; tor tive CEN
turtles the clouds which darkened the
Christian world were only dispensing
Earope, dsring the obscure dawn, Vi
brated between truth and falsehood, the
belief and disbelief of the gospel. The
enemy, finding his time to be short, dis.
covered great rage. Under his inhu-
= ence, i'.fdeiiiy gathered strength, and
fsra moment seemed TO triumph.
burst all bounds and deluged Europe /;
ney, reaching America. the food press
cd on, with violence, which swept all
before it. But the voice of Omnipotence
ssopt its progress Thus far shalt thou
come, and no farther: here shal. tiny
proud waves be stayed"
Feeble attempts have never ceased to
give circulation TO The Scriptures; but
Of lats q bold spirit has been reused 1t
has been determined to eplighten the
earth, by sending the messengers OF
peace, to every part of the known wsrld.
Societies for this purpose were formed
ard met encouragement. From mis-
sionary, bible societies originated. They
repest the command, it isthe command
OF God, and must Be effectual, I" Let
there be light and there was light
The Bible has been translated into all
the languages OF Europe; into many OF
I the languages spoken in Asia; even the
African tribes have not been overlook
ed. The cry is loud; it Invertebrates
frem Est TO West, from North TO South,
"Give usfhe Bible"
There are regions Of the earth i'm
mease'y large, and foil of inhabitants,
Who have no sshbaths, no churches, no
hibles where myriads, in imitation OF
their deladed ancestors bow before
sen.eless idols, and practise supersti-
liens in the extreme cruel, obscene and
irrational. Of one thousond millions
who people the earth si2 hundred mil
lions are inveloped 10 fasan darkness;
,ve kundred millions In the defssioKs Of
lnahome. rhres Aiikons Of Jesps, dis
psrsed among the nations, obstinateiy
reject the Messiah; NOT fren one lam
drsd millions profess the Christian faith
in its purity, but only as 1t is debased
with the the gross sah"rstifions Of tie
Greek Is Roman ehHrches. The Church
has hitherto nisspent her strength, IN
Sisgraceful son,esis among her menu
bers, without one effectual attempt to
save a perishing world from ruin, by
the light of the Truth. But she is DOW
aroused; she has girded her loins, aud
is gone forth TO Sight the battles OF the
Lord. She begins to look forth as the
rnsrning, fair as mooo, clear as the
sun, and terrible as an arn,y with ban
ners.
The establishment of bible societies
isanew era in the Christian church
Christendom was in lansuishing state,
il not in death like sleep; whilst the
( enemy was active, setting an host OF m
6deIs, in theory and practice, IN array
AGAINST her. The alarm was given
Tn. P6ilistines Be xtor thee Sar'so7-
The champion swoke in his strength !;
he has burst his letters, and set The enc
INV AT deisnce. The full effort OF
Christians of all denominations has De n
broush M into operation they feel that
they are brethren, and, blushing at The
oe,sv Feud. which caused the enemy 10
triumph. with one heart and one hand
tbs, unite to bear witns&s to the truth
and 70 subject the nations 10 the doc.
trine Of the cross.
Nine years have elapsed since the
commencement of societies IN Britain
90 give circulation to the Bible In to-
reign countries. The zeal oil these 20
cietiss has been fervent, and their sue'
&c alms Il incredible. Their example
has sat Europe en- FIRE. and the lame ha'
aprcNd TO America. To the Bible Soei'
e,y 10 Philadelphia belongs the honor
in our own country, OF having taken the
!, lead in this labor Of piety, whereby 81.
milar exertions, IN almost every state IN
the uniso. have been excited
In OR Iay, nation riseth against ma
t;on. and si1gdom agains, kingdom
VIVA, rage and conflict chat noise and
tumviss wha, darkness and tempest
xhat arti6ee ana cruelty !! The sea roar.
and is troubled, & ;he mountains shake
by inc swelling thereof The churet
raises her peeeefui bead amidst shs
x,ofm She lceks with tempassicn OF
rebe,lioas race. She speaks to msf
Of the Maker add Governor OF Tux
world: Let them aeknoviedse ms sa
tho,i,y, and. submit to his sii'- de ha'
beea offended /: Lei them hasten pi'f