Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-25
ALEXANDRIA,:
THURSDAY, .M4 PCH 95, 1919.

To the Editor of the .1Israndria Gazette.
Mr.. SEowDEN,
lwould much rather cease to exist than
cease to be christian-and on this point
have such lively sympathy with all my
fellow creatures, that cannot contemplate
without extreme pain the doing OF any act,
or the circulation ofany opinion which tends
to exhibit christianity (which is too often
the CASEY, as if its doctrines were at va
rance with the rational and moderate en-
joyments Of life, being persuaded thai tho
severe discipline may, under the stitnula-
ton of enthusiasm, be endured foI time,
he moment its operation begins to flag, il
leaves behind relaxation very dangerous
10 that religious tone of the mind, which
alone can be uniformly and permanently
maintained by beings beset with appetites
and passions, and debiitated with human
infrmity.-The ample provision which it
has pleased the Almighty, inhis bound'ess
bene6ceEce, to make for the delights even
here below for his creature man, the means
with which he mas supplied US for procuring
rational pleasure, and the capacity ne has
bestowed upon US for enjoying it, must GER
tanly have been intended for use, not for
surly seli-conceited rejection. He might,
Rad it pleased him, have enabled US to live
without snnexing pleasure to eating and
drinking-but he has on the contrary rem
dered pleasure in all sound and healtbfi
creatures that live, inseparabie from the
support of life.-If the absence Of what we.
cali rational pleasure were desirable in mis-
sight, he might have mingled all our food.
with sgusting btterness--he would not
have shaped our organs Of hearing torthe
mos, Transporting reception ofsweet sounds,
nor covered the face Of the earth, in the
most bounteous Of his seasons. with odors
which regale and delight our senses and
can as soon believe in the doctrine OF ia
collation. with one christian sector OF per-
petual sadness and modification with some
o,hers--swing myself from high tree, by
means of an iron hook passed through my
rbs-or make bow to hold my arms per-
pendicuIarly erect over my head for my
whole life in penanee, like the debased
Hipdus, as believe that il can he pleasing
in the eyes OF God presumptuously to turn
away from the bounties which he has .v'-
IDENTIFY demonstrated he has intended for
our use, by prolusely scattering them
around us. 1t cannot be supposed that |
mean to argue in defence of the abu OF
these special bounties-no,-though | say
to my fellow beings, " eat, and drink, and
be merry God forbid that should preach
excess, or even attempt to palliaie the guilt
of epicurism, glultony, or dr,nkennrss.---
1t was once said, that ii the GSLakers had
made the world, it would have been ali
dressedin drab-but how would il be lift
was left to the disposal Of some of the sects?
The bare idea Of its condition, under their
dispensation, chills the heart. and the pre-
cious gifts of heaven, spurned by human
ingratitude and presumption, would be
dashed back without participation in the
face of the benevolent giver.-Be not
righteous over-much! was perhaps in the
contemplation Of that most learned divine,
and profound theologician, bishop Holsely,
when he said that the FAULT Of the Metho-
dists was not Eeterodoxy, but over-heated
ZEAL" Theatrical amusements, which have
for ages been favored by the wise, the grave,
the pious, and the pure, as combining, with
the relaxation useful and necessary to give
elasticity 10 the mind and soul, the most
impressive and salutary moral and intel
lectual instruction, and which have conse-
quently Aourished with luxurious elegance,
in proportion to the enlightenment of So
ciety, have of la;e been assaled with more
than usual frenzy in some parts Of the union.
In the ardor of a zeal, well meant do
believe-but also believe mistaken, these
disclaimers forget that love of pleasure is
a natural, and il moderately INDUCED, a "a.
tional principle, implanted for wise pur
poses in the bosoms OF US all that it is
unlawful to laugh, and criminal 10 pretend
to be happy-an impious idea, which pre-
sents the Almighty and benevolent Dis
poser OF the universe as tyrant, and man
as the victim ofsevere destiny--could only
have entered an imagination clouded with
despair, and impervious to the mild rays Of