Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-06-01
From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle.
ENTHUSIASM.

Looking over late paper, We were
very forcibly struck by u report of the
success of the Moravians in the propaga-
ton of the gospel. Many very affecting
instances of heroism are there recorded,
which would appear perfectly incredible
10 those, who judge by the common feel
iDgs and motives by which mankind are
usually stimulated to action. What shall
we ssy for Instance to az example OF such
selfdevotion to the cause of Christianity,
as this; two Moravian missionaries who
contemplated the erection Of the standard
of the Redeemer on the burning sands of
Africa, were given to understand, that the
tribe of natives to whom they proposed
TO dispense the light Of salvation, would
endure the residence of no white man
amongst them, unless in the character of
a slave. He who measures human actions
aud human motives by the ordinary stand
ard, would be led to believe from this
formidable obstacle, that the enterprise
itself was abandoned. No! quite the re.
verse these two missionaries, with zeal
and devotion little short of Apostolic, en-
barked in this expedition with firm de-
termination to sell themselves for slaves,
if their object could be accomplished by
no other means. This severe trial by
the mercy of Divine Providence however
did NOT await these faithful servants of the
gospel; they were received BY the natives
with open arms, and abundant success
crowned their labors of love. What is to
be said to all this? The common cant of
the day is, that this is to be attributed
to enthusiasm only. Yes! it is enthusi.
asm that enthusiasm which renders the
concerns of this life subordinate to bet
ter-that enthusiasm that would dispense
life, and hilarity, and perennial joy, as
wide as the dimensions Of the world that
we inhabit-that enthusiasm that, in the
accomplishment of this noble object, sac
rifices ease, all the allurements of pleasure
aud grandeur, and devotes itself to per-
secution, to sufferings, TO privations OF
every kind, to calumny more cruel than
the sword, to dungeons and to death.
Examples Of this kind of self-deyotion,
are by no means rare amongst Christians;
hut the infdeI, startled by the fact; as
tonished by such evidence that ne cannot
explain, account for, or deny, flies to the
word enthusiasm for shelter; which 10 his
sense of the phrase, is absolutely word
without any meaning whatever. But we
will now suppose that this strong priuci-
pie Of enthusiasm, as it is courteously
termed, had been turned, not TO the sal
walton, but to the destruction OF the hui
man race; that its effects were seen in the
tears of the widow and orphan, in the
conflagration Of their dwellings, in church
yards prematurely filled with their silent
and butchered inhabitants. All this is
termed warriors pride, aud the million
shout with rapture at the approach OF this
sanguinary hero. This principle, SO de-
structive in its application, is no longer
called by the name Of enthusiasm now
it changes its character, and the word
glory, is regarded by the infidel as more
than an equivalent for all these enormities.
Let plan be suggested for assuaging the
miseries of our unhappy race. whatever
hazard may be incurred 10 the attempt,
is sufficient to dishearten any one engaged
in the enterprise; he is laughed to scorn,
aud denounced to the world as an enthu-
siast. If this enthusiasm once turns to
the destruction Of our species--to invent
engines of death Of more speedy and GER
tain execution; to devise any plan to-
hasten the approach Of the king Of terrors,
and he is hailed at once as public bene'