Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-03-26

sudent support of tie teachers OF christianity, is
not inconsistent with its precepts; and no where
IN our part of the country do the clergy receive
more than proper and prudent support. The wri-
fer Of the Baptist" could not be ignorant of this
Yet, by these groundless insinuations, he would
incite the eeoplo TO withhold the little they now
contribute TO the maintenance of their pastors.
When he accused the ministers, of living in luxury,
and enjoying wealth, he knew that the charge was
utterly false. We think that the ministers of the
gospel should live Of the gospel" and that they
should be fully provided foF,by those to whom they
"break the bread of life; tina, they should be- d
BILE to devote their whole trle and all their
thoughts to the great work in Which they re en-
gagged.
The remarks on moned institutions are, il pos
,ibe, till moro exceptionabie aud unge1erpus than
those upon which we have already anmadyefted.
There are no restraints laid on the conscience in
our state. The existing laws on religion. liberty
were enacted during the administration of Mr..
Gerry. OF these laws, the party who made them,
cannot surely complain. The federalists have been
in Office since, and it was in their power to repeal
the law aud restore things to their former situa-
ton; but they have not exerted this power. Ii
congregatonalism was exclusively cherished by
the federal party; why did they rot irlnul the
law so injurious to that denominatonF The legis-
lature have never refused to incorporate Baptist
with ether sects These remarks Of the writer in
the Argus are destitute of any foundation He
could not but know that they were groundess
This is crafty attempt to embroil christians of va
rious persuasions with each other. The most ma
lignant enemy to religion could not devise a more
efectual plan to injure the cause OF Christ. An
enemy creeps in. and, under the guse ola friend,
exces in the minds of his unsuspecting vctims the
most unchristian feelings. lncalculabe injury la:
been done by irregous men, who have NEEDLE,
with the affairs of the church All their efforts t.
advance its interests tend only to secularize ant
corrupt.
The attack upon the Institution at Hsdorer, de
serves the most severe apprehension. The write
might with much reason, charge the holy Au
thor of cur religion, the promoters of this insti
ton, with some political design. Such an accuse
ton was indeed brought against Him and agains
His immediate followers.-No institution could b
founded on more liberal plan than this. g IL 4
open for admission 10 Protestdnts Of ALL DENoMI
NATIoNs."s These, L believe are the very word
Of one of its articles. Every sect of christians ha
its institutions, for the education of its ministers
The dissenters in England have very large and re
spectacle institutions for this purpose. y he bap
fists in this District have thought il not imprope
TO use these means of qualifying their young mel
for the office of teachers of the gospel. We hop
they will be able, to supply their churches with q
Bile, learned, and p1us pastors. We should rejoc
to see them possessed Of men with the liberal, cha
liable, and jealous spirit of a FULLER :, and "
hope that in spite of the attempts of such writer
as the author of the s. Baptist" they will cultivat
and preserve temper of enlarged and christian
charity.
CHRISTIANS.