Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-10
To aid the Cause q Trsxe and Religion
METHODIST TRACT SOCIETY.

METHODIST TRACT SOCIETY.
Extract frsm the Sirth Axnuai Report
of the Methodist Tract Society, in
Sh.Dfela, { Exgtahd) written BY Mont.
gomery, the Poet.
All the means Of grace have their pc.
cnliar advantages, and many are adapted
to peculiar circumstances. The dissem-
inatioD Of religious tracts is especially
lso There are persons who never read
1.-The word Of God, who nsrer attend pub.
lie worship, who, from heedlessness, pre-
Ijudice or hatrsi, concern not themselves
about the things that belong to their peace
Ia Tract 10 a missile weapon, which the
Shirt OF Ged may direct to the eonvic-
ltion and conversation Of sinner, unas-
lsailabIe from any other quarter. 1t falls
lin the way of such One--he would be
ASHAMED to look at it among his COM
Inanions. but he is alone. and he has moth
ling else to do--something in the title at.
tracts his eye--its brevity tempts his in.
dolence--hc begins to read it with indif
ference, perhaps with repugnance, but
Ibis curiosity being excited, and feeling
himself gradually more & more interest
ed. ne proceeds with diminishing preju-
dice 4 increasing seriousness to the end,
He has got through with it, but he has
not done with it /; he lays it out of his
hand. bat he cannot lay II out Of his mind;
its story has not passed through his imagi-
nation only, like an arrow through the in
vulnerable air, but il has pie, ced his heart
his understanding. his conscience, and in|
each it has left wound, that cannot be
healed the anguish Of which is only IN
famed by vain arts to assuage it for he|
shuns the recollection OF the things that
alarmed him, the closer they haunt him i
and the very attempt to forget the words.
indelibty axes them in his remembrance.
In this distress he seeks pleasure where
formerly he found it. but he finds it no
more he seeks rest in unbelief and OBJ
duracy, but rest is ne more there his
peace is slain; the wMld can never again
he to him what it has beer--happiness <
repose he must possess in religion, or re-
|nounce all prospect of either for ever.
Then, and not till then. when every re-
|fuge Of lies has failed him, he lays bold of
the hone set before him in the Gospel,
land in bitterness of soul exclaims, "what
shall | do to be saved fp-Ihe answer is
nigh unto him :-BeIieve in the Lord Jc-
|sus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. He
docs believe, and he is saved.
This is merely stating single exam
pie, among thousands that do, ard mil
lions that might occur, in the course OF
Providence, If these small but tffectual
calls torepentance were universally and
abundantly distributed We say uDiyPr-
sally and abupdantly- because though a
flew Tracts, carefully scattered, may and
must do good, yet what can be produced
10y supplies 50 disproportionate to the
wants of mankind, but here a blade OF
grass, and there perhaps foaer, where
lali vas barren before, and where all is
Isti,l barren around whereas to make the
lwilderness and the solitary place to re-
ljoice, and the desert to blossom like the
Ir0se, we must, iii our treasure. imtate
|tbe BOUNTY OF our hea,eply Father, who
causes the SUNNI his progress to shine OF.
Teyery spot of lard AID sea, and his rain
! u Tall .cn the rock and the highway 81
sci as oil ,he Iefiile plain and the cus
| uffa saiueE !iactsnust be unspariii..
j dlssenlnased,to produce extensive anu