Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-08-23
From the Cleaner.
The Cogitations Of Uncle Join.

So VIII NY " Wy I'm oi' yehuer noun.
tain, and let us take a survey Of tbn
works of nature. Behold the scttirc .u MY
How glorious are his beams. Look
broad thro' the valley. How green ,ra
the pastures. How fragrant are the meade
See the fields of grain ripenine for tba
sicle, and mark how majestcally wonder
river moves to the ocean. Hark? do
you hear the teathered sonesters Of tIa
grove chant their vespers to theirA!aEeI,s
praise ? Surely this IS a delig0tfai
place.
But 10 the moon that rules the mont
ascends the eastern sky, and the heay1er,
are hung with innumerable stars. Ho,s
splendid How delightful! But amid,
the wonder and delight Of this sublime
view, the mind is impressed with So.
Tenn awe, and the soul irQuires.
Whe hath made these fields, and ar
rayed them in the rich aid fragrant YES.
ture that clothes them! Who hath eiyen
music to the sosgsters OF the valley
What hand hath fixed those glorious
lights in the heavens ? And Q bv
whose power doth the cpleud;d orb Of
day pour forth his flood Of light and
life upon creation ?
These are the works of the Almighty
hand, Parent of thy universe. " Tie
Heavens shine by thy splendcr.-The
earth smiles with thy beauty-and all ma
ture is eloquent in thy praise
And who is the favored Child whom
the Almighty Father hath placed in this
pleasant vineyard ? 70 whom it is given
to possess and enjoy this charming val
ley. 1t is to a being " feartulIy and
wonderfully made" With power to dis
tinguish good from evil. Capable OF
the highest enjoyments. Morally free.
And endowed among ali created beings
on the earth, with the wonderful preroga-
tive of reason. How vast are his powers.
Not confined to this earth, his mind
scars into other regions OF creation.
He measures the sun and moon, as with
a rule. And he predicts, with unering
certainty, the revolutions of the CRIBS Of
Heaven.
When we consider the power Of iEte,-
lectual and moral attainment, indicated
by what has already been produced il
arts and sciences, it cannot be denied
that the soul OF man is an emanatlon from
his divine creator.
This is the being who is maze lord Of
rs earth. Man, is the favored Child
Tor whom this vineyard is planted. 10
nim it is given to possess and ENJOY tins
delightful valley.
And what are the terms of the lease !
What considerations are to be paid tOr
such amazing goodness :
AS the Master is great, and the vine
yard excellent, SO are the conditions ca
Fear and love to God-to walk u.
rightly and to be charitable to our iei'
low men.
Happy people How delightful mustit
be for such goodness. to perform the
pleasure of their heavenly parent. 4
Alas while we readily acknowledge
the obligation, how slow are we topper
form it. Shameful unthanktuIness; Mon"
strous ingratitude Every part of these
easy conditions, is waDtonIy broNeIl'
And man too often turns rebel to k!S
God, and deals urrightecusly with hl'
fellow men. The consequence IS as H.
evitable, as the cause is certain. lie IS
as miserable as he has made blh>seif slh'
full. AS man neglects bis moral and So
cial duties, he becomes wretched' "A"
he with upright intention; endeaH0fS 10
perform them, he becomes happy.
While we deeply deplore the wIcSso.
ness, and consequent wretcheoneSs 'h3.
prevails in the land, TIE phlianthroFo
mind is led to inquire what can be d0AS
to arrest its progress. H.
There is an evil-a master vlce-('8
psoIiic mother of thousand woss:-'uS
spring ofbmntjess m'ssI :,
prevailing in the land, which can only IF f
arrested by the fiji m perseferlng ea0!'' -
the wise and good.
That vice IS INTEMPERAECE.
It prevails to an unboupded extent, ~
fecting all classes Of the ccmm"m ~,
from the humble co,tgge to TIE lo''y
dome; bringing in I'm moran ue""'
witty, disease and dea ,c
by the influence of his dread !; J., con Con
.aminating vice; the pobie mjrd o. pan
hat places him first in the sFhs:e OF Gre,
lted beings and as8imi'stss hln 70 III ~
-.