Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-26


bly,, IN the course of the next week.
The object of Marcus seems 10 he to have Il
church which will permit the members of II 10
conform 10 the vain fashions of the world and
not one that will require those who wish 10 be.
ceme members of il 10 make their life conform
to the scripture rnle a church, into which
the lovers ofpleasure more than lie lovers
OF Coo, Will he received with open arms, and
admitted 10 all the sacred ordinances of it,
l. He states, that ministers have contented
themselves with watching that no man goes TO
lhe altar who is notorious for his evil lite.
|! lie meaus that such persons only are" noto-
fion> Ill lisers' who a,e guilty OF the higher
crimes, he msunderstandS the rubric. Tie is
an III liver, whether he commits what is called
the great or small sins-He is an i'll liver who
docs not make the law of God the ,nie Of his
cohuuct IN all things-He is an i'll liver Who
| follows after the " sinful desires Oft the HcSh"
Marcus says, the ministers have wisely re-
specied the freedom Of conscience, ieavin;- The
COMMUNICATE 10 satisfy his own heart To look
"lthin Marcus has misunderstood the resOlu.
ton of The convention il controls not lie
conscience. Ii only explains the general
terms OF the rubric, and of the canon of the
church. Ii does not force any person TO aban
don these scenes of dissipation, but il tells
them, while they feel a love tor these places
they should abstain from the communion. The
convention declares what the piOaS ciergymea
Oh the church constantly incuicaie. Marcus
cOnpialnS that this resolution invades The
freedom of conscience Ii he was a practical
be3erer OF christianity, and Episcopalian, he
would have found that the canons OF the church
| declare II 10 be The duty of every communi-
cant WHO IS the head of family, 10 live in the
habt,ual exercise of family worship :" 10 in
| SlFTct their families in The principles of reli
! ei0h. ana also that The members of the church
| he regular IN thciT attendance on public wor.
| ship These cauODS are as much an invasion
! OF Inc " freedom Df conscience" as the reSolu-
ton which Gems 10 disturb him so much.
| Inc cancnS Of the church describe what
! conduct is rnbecOmiHg Il clergyman 49,.
any lhat Is disorderIy, scandaiouS and mmo
| RAJ. gaming, or any other vicious or UnScemly
| DIVERSIONS. These are offences for which a
! MINISTER may be tried, and condemned, if gull
, " Ii Freedom OF conscience" isSO sacred that
| Tue Convention ought not III an atfeCtOnat e
manner 10 declare their opinion 10 the cummu-
hiCantS OF the church, that certain practices
are unworthy the christian character why has
not the sensbiilty of Marcus been excited in
henaii OF the ministers? Why has lie remained
so long submissive spectator of the yioIate ed
conscience OF the minis ersof the chnrchI But
Is Marcus aware of the extent to which his notion
OF The Tree dom of conscience will lead him If
me conscience Of lie COMMUNICATE is to be not
only his, but the conventions ard the ministers
ghide, then 1t would have been equally impro.
per Tor the convention 10 have declared that
DO thief, drnnkard nor adulterer ought to be i'd
| mltiod 10 the communion table, and il will be
nhpioIei Tor d'mlnlster to reject such chaTac-
iels. Inc conscience of the individual tells
him he ought TO take the sacrament, altho' he
means on the next day to resume his former
practices. TINS freedom of conscience seems
ID ms opinion, to be paramount TO all other
considerations, and it alone mn st give the rule
ms is the result to which this rule would lead
all his disciples.
Having made these remarks I shall endea
VOr 10 SHOW That the visitor of public ball Of
the theatre, the background, and the person
VINO INDUCES III gaming of any kind, is an evi
aver, in the scriptural sense of the term-But
tbs will be deferred for future oppoi unity
CONSISTENCY.
~ No. } Is rrceived-whioh, with The preceding am
Subsequent numbers, shall be promptly inserted.