The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-02-26

privileged TO mcke snip and waste without
teng amenable 70 any power whatever.
From he Lincoln TtisgrGrh.
Should the bin on lhe suhject OF Parishes,
Which II l. understood has passed the House
OF Representa-, ~ e, continue ITS success. and be
enao cd INTO Law, 'lIe people Of our new
State will have reason TO apprebend the most
alarming consequences. Ii b not merely
question OF present expediency, or of tempo
rary poncy, where wise men may differ IN
opinion and good men may take opposite
grounds IN argument. Ii IS bold and daring
lnnos alton IN The dearest habits and most
sacred privileges. transmitted down 10 Us by
Our ancestors; and IN i,s operation if must
lend 10 the sub'ersirn Of pubIic morals.
Those, who iefeC' seriously and itmperaiely
IN he neg ltHces 81 such Law. will not
BIZ any remark too pointed a. severe, on
- moral and re glou~ tendency And ii is
onlJ ialiaciou> node OF reasoning, aud an
'nPerit CT view o. the history y. Religion, that
couid lead any sincere person to be rs adyo-
Gale tor 4 - wrong To condemn tie motives
Of IN blind because they cannot see where
They are gong. " has become Of late pop
ulsr mode OF reasOriDg. TIA, Religion as oslil q
concern 6etoeen nan and his Creator. 1his
proposIion - lalSe. Religion is soGe hing
noTe--Ii y concern also between a1an aud
h's fellow men IL as surely Of importance 10
me, 7Chether my nelgh6or as an upright pioas
man, or a rogue; IN either case, his conduct
affects not himself alone-it Effects his tsmIy.
his irlends and IN sone degree. even bis coun-
Try For members VI gfeat society. each
indlsidus!s happiness Is connected with .hat
OF his neIgnbor, and they with mat 81 lie
commual'y. GUIDED by naiule alone, nan IS
not disposed toiNe peacesbiyi or deal Justly
win man. Ga this account, laws are made.
aud constitutions OF government are formed
anu what are they without r. .igion
GEld hges SINE moriLus2
Every nation on earth has found ibis 80 be !
a solemn truth, aud religious zcorshiD. in some
shape or olhef. has ever been pubsic cor
Germ, fOr he support o. government and the
n. maintenance OF laws. II a'few instances nav
be adduced, where man has been Left 10 HIM
seit aud whole nation has Sc; aside and
irodden down all reverence Tor Deity, what a
state OF depravIty has followed Let the
learned feaaer look for moment ID the wees
and eDormitIes, which marked the age OF Do
mItian, a. uescnbed by Ju.euai, sod there
mari his ieason ioF ihis pubic depravIy it
was a mant OF thai Religion. MISERABLE and
Imperfect as II was, even the my lhology Of lhe
ancestors u hoHe LET sensible n al. only
remember the horrors oi theFrench revolution.
alter tney voted pubhcal, there Gus no God.
Ane LEI The pieus Christian, read lheChson,eIes
q The Jews, when they ivrgot The cuuii.und-
ments OF their Creator, ana iorsook lie a.lsrs
OF the holy P4trisrchs. That people can
remain prosperous, without some Religion. has
never yei been, nor ever vii be.
be question may ne asked. however
whether ibe tendency If Tins bIlI.s ~ serious.
l answer, ris. /, relieves men from ali oit,-
cations % support Christian teacher w any,
persuasion. Ii y calculated 10 break uD every
fsrisn ~ The State, anu 70 scatter every con
sresation aud TO leave every Pastor winou, a
Hook u y not, ibst each man may worship
uod m his own way, bUl bat be IS not obliged
70 worship him al all; and humsn natu.e II
such That many viii always be found IA every
town. village and parish. Iredisposed u do
eVii ahd 10 pursue corrupt way Il lie The
interesting examples Of parents going up I'd the
mouse ol devotion 10 aoore the God OF their
iaEners, VIII continually decrease. Children
VIII tnilow IN their Steps and seeing them, re-
mss or mo herent, on day ouce halloneL
and reseIentlaily regarded, and finding them
careless on SUBJECTS AZ an etefnal nature, they
Will gro" UP 9th principles OF conduct and
motives Of action, winch will brig sorrow
ana afaci'en OF -,cieiy What will be The
moral STATE Of Maine, III such lie tie law IN
ibe mosi important, on the very fundamental
principles Of society IiseIt The History Of
olhef Countries ought 10 teach Us, aud even
Legislators ought not 10 IT, wiser than the
Prophets Of old, and The orscles Of CD.
LII t.ntill A1 ihnr.rLL -