Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-30
ALEXANDRIA,:
FRIDAY, APRIL 80, 1919.

Thcre have been men eminent for both
| piety and erudilion, who have avOwed their
| opinion against introducing the sacred wri-
tings, as a necessary part OF our earliest
education: and their objections amounted
! to This, that the puerile mind was either
too inattentiye TO perceive the importance
o! the preCepts contained in the Old or
| New Testament. or too weak to break thro'
the obscurity Of some passages uttered I'M
! der the influence OF prophetic inspiration.
And therefore, that when advanced to
lnaturer age and boder force of discerning,
! they may be disposed TO thiRk highly Of
such expressions as they must remember
, had been difficult to understand. AT pc
| ROD then when criticism employs the pens
of so many writers, it would be well if
some of thehl would take the trouble to
point out the beauties and sublimity OF those
authors, the study of whose works is con-
nected with our present and future prescr-
vation. II would seem as if the pages Of
| the bible were read and explained rather
for controversial purposes, than Tor convey
ing those easy and simple instructions
which diiigent perusal OF them is sure 10
inculcate. How deplorable is it, that that
volume which comprehends every excel
, lence, superior to all the writings Ct other
nations and languages, should be neglected
by any one, and serve only as subject for
the raillery of perverted wit, the wicked
! auibbles of the vain and satirical, or the
endless soIemn alterations Of the serious
and grave.
Lett then be considered whether taste
| for comparing critically the several passa-
ges of scripture may not produce greater
desire and tendency towards tile promo
, ton ofreligion, than the strongest and most
subtle arguments which have been invent
ed or advanced in favor oft. Such a taste
must be acquired by little studious appi-
cation; and who can pretend to any degree
| of discernment in literature, that remains
| ignorant ofthe perfection of these writings,
so capable of amusing the mind and i'm
| proving the Judgment. There is no au-
thor, ancient OF modern, can teach US truer
lessons Of morality; no historian can re-
late more entertaining or more interesting
facts; no species of poetry is wanting to
delight and elevate the imagination. 1t
contains all the beauties OF epic, tragic, ly-
rio, elegiac and pastoral composition; the
fancy cherished and inspired by such d.
vine dignity Of sentiments, must be led by
| firm persuasion of these truths, which
| they were designed to establish: and may
not such persuasion be found more satisiac-
tory and permanent than the slow and la
borious conviction of studied train of de-
monstrative proofs, which few have capa-
cities able 10 compare, or perseverance SUI. |
fceht to continue TO a conclusion. What
power of argument can make SO forcible
and lasting an impression Oh the mind as
the following passage? 81 know that my |
redeemer liyelh, and that he shall stand at
the latter day upon the earth; and though
after my death, worms shall destroy this
body yet in my flesh shall see God. ~
job. 18th chap. goth ana 26h uerses. Such
is the eternal prevalence of truth, that two
verses penned by the dictates of inspira-
ton, operate more decisively on the heart,
than the youminous labors OF human saga
city. This preference given to The powers
| of the imagination over those of the rea
soning faculty may not appear erroneous,
| if we reflect that conviction is difficult to be
obtained except by persuasion, and that it
is often necessary to address and engage
the Imagination before we attempt to con-
vert or subdue the understanding ; and un-
! til philosophy is more generally difused
through all ranks OF the community, per-
suaslon will be proved more efectual in
religious subjects, than the nicer subtelties
of augmentation. Persuasion may be call
ed an imperceptible conviction, and is
sometimes successful of itself, without any
further instigation. There is. besides, an
obstlnacy III the human mindrepugnant to
conviction the ignorant are prevented by