Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-04-15
No. Xxx.
o., cart. Peace, good gvin tospards .Mer.

Il The extracts which have been made from the
seven numbers of the {" Friend of Peace" aud
which have been communicated TO the public,
through the medium of this Gazette, in the nine
teee preceding numbers were concluded in the
last If they have been interesting TO the reader,
or have excited in his mind, wish 10 see the sub
iecs at large the writer wond suggest TO him, the
benefi of both TO himself and to the public, Of join
ing the Massachusetts Peace Society, which, las
mentioned in a former number) supplies each Of its
members the /" Friend of feacen aud other publ
cations at the wholesale price, or he may become
member OF. the I" Peace Society of Maine" lately
established in the town of Portland, which may,
and probably will furnish its subscribers, with the
same pamphlets, at the same price. OF the design
Of this Society, the public have been informed, by
publication Of its constitution, the last Gazette
1t is design which (howeyer il may succeed) the
writer thinks none will disapprore, though some
may at first consider il utopian and its object unaf-
tainabe. The object isindeed beyond the reach Of
men, unaided by the power of God, but they have
good ground 10 hope that this power will be excit-
ed. to obtain it, for the time eiH come when wars
shall cease. When, is known only 10 Him who
sees the end from the beginning--not perhaps TO
them who have passed the meridian of, life, yet II
may come soon The prophecies are fulfilling, more
rapidly than we may have yet conceived--and all
| perhaps, through the instrumentality OF men, Men
mare Oeen exciteu, employed, ana uHeCtcu W oooi
| to carry on his great designs.
1t is one that the Gospel shall be preached 7" TO
every nation and kindred and tongue and people"
What a rapid spread of it is seen and heard OF,
at the present day How remarkable is IL, that
this is effected by Of Bible Societies and Mis-
| sonary Societies, the former ct which have been
multiplied in Europe and America, TO an astonish.
ing degree, and the latter already become very
numerous. Through these, it appears to be the
will of God that the command OF his son should be
obeyed " Go We into all the world, aud preach the
Gospel to every creatnre,o and why may il not be
reasonably supposed that, by means of Peace soci-
cites, that prediction will be fulfilled which declares
that g Nation shall not lift up sword against ma
tion.n When the wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
| **ss and none shall hurt or destroyin all God 1
holy mountain LII by such means, the great
Governor OF the world, executes his purposes, who
can decline the honor of engaging IN his service
of being co-worker with him, in effectIng them
Il Say rot that the little you can do, will be Of nc
avail, in SO great cause. Though an individual
can do but = little" an association, or the combin
ed aid, of many individuals can do much.-In tn
erection of building however large, every bricl
. is useful. a
What stupendous works have been accomplished
bv united exertions.--s' What wonders uBiol
aud perseye ranee Joined with vigorous enterprise
continually eHectng, in the important concerns Q
the world, in commerce, politics aud war lie
him who is inclined to doubt and despond, when |
great work Of benev oence is proposed, contemplate
the pyramids of Egypt" or ST. Peters Church q
Rome.
s'Tsey were executed by human hands. Or Il
to take an object with which our readers mor'
familiar let him see the oaks taken from our for
ests--the ore from our hills and the hemp from on
fields, and trauformed into ship Of the linen
But who should despair cf eifecting work which
infinite wisdom has planned, and ia which almigh
ty power is engaged.
To conclude, by word OF excitement 10 thris'
tian contributions Let the foregoing consdera
tons stimulate every one who has disposition 4
serve God to enlist with cheeriulnes in his servic
and let him attentiveIy and seriously enquire wha
God would have him to do.
The writer trusts he shall be excused for making
no exemptions; for every one" he thinks car
aid bis cause in one way another. The poor, by
their prayers, aud by prompting others TO engage
il, and the rich, not only by these means, but by
pecuniary contributions Reflect, wealthy Chrls
tans--that our property is under Gods contfoui
and that you are accountable to him, for all that
YOU possess If part of il be wanted TO further BIZ
designs, yield il with alacrity. Consider that
though your Gold and Silver is His, lie asks il o.
YOU only DIS oan-He will repay you thousand
fold.
His demands are very reasonable too. He asks
but little" although his occasions for il be q
vast Importance less, far less, than you would re-
quire for mere personal qualification.
There are many associations at the present day
all formed, We trust, froR aprnciple Of love tc
God and benev ocnce to men, with view to pro-
mote the purposes OF His will. Leave not their
support to the comparatively few who have formed
them but unite with them, and thus with the CO.
Ioperation Of Him in whose cause they are engaged
be instrumental in advancing that cause and there
BY of promoting the glory OF God and the happi-
ness Of man. Tits not however from al, but from
those only who have than their necessities re-
quire that contributions are expected. They are
expected according to what man hath, and not
according 10 what he hath net-and il il left to ev
ery- one TO Judge of his own ability ; but let
him Judge righteously, between his all bountiiul
benefactor and himself--and according 10 the inn
portance ofthe object for which MS benefactions
are requested.