Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-02-27
From HANNAH MonE's Works.
Retigion- Mistaken Hie,ps Of 4

Religion Mistaken Vie,ps Of it.
One cause which impedes the recep-
tion Of religion even among the we'll dispo.
sed, is that garment Of sadness in which
people delight to suppose her dressed and
that life Of hard austerity, and pining alb.
stinence, which they pretend she enjoins
her disciples. And it were well il this
were only the Misrepresentation Of her
declared enemies but, unhappily, it is The
too frequent misconception of her injudi-
cious friends. But such an overcllarged
picture is not more unamiable than it is
unlike; for will venture to affirm, that
religion, with all her beautiful and becom-
ing sanctity, imposes fewer sacrifices, not
only of rational, but Of pIeasurable enjoy.
ment, than the uncontrolled dominion Of
any one vice. Her service is not only
perfect safety, but perfect freedom. She
is not SO tyrsniziDg as passion, SO exact
ing as the world, nor despotic as fashion.
Let us try the case by a parallel, and ex-
anime it, not as affecting our virtue, but
our pleasure. Does religion forbid the
cheerful enjoyments Of life as vigorously
as avarice forbids them Does she re-
quire such sacrifices Of our ease as a:ahi-
ton or such renunciations Of our quiet
as pride ? Does devotion murder sleep
like dissipation Does she destroy health
like intemperance Does she anDihiate
fortune like gaming Does she imbitter
life like discord or abridge il like duel
ling Does religion impose more vigilance
than suspicion or half as many mortifi-
cations as vanity Vice has her Martyrs;
and the most austere and self-denyipg
Ascetick (who mistakes the genius Of
Christianity almost as her cBeAsies neyes
tormented himself with such cruel and
causeless severity as that with which en-
Wy lacerates her unhappy votaries.--
Worldly honour oDiiges us to be at the
trouble of resentiug injuries but religion
spares us that Inconvenience, by COM
manding us to forgive them; and by this
injunction consults our happiness no less
thap our virtue for the torment Of con-
stan.ly hating any one must be, at least,
equal to the sin of it. If this estimate be
fairly made, then is the balance clearly on
the side Of religion even 10 the article Of
pleasure.
Religion. following sentiments Of
an able divine deserve attention.
+" tits an error to believe that devotion
nourishes spirit Of severity, in judging
of the manners and characters Of others.
Under this reproach, indeed, it has so
long suffered in the world, that, with too
many, the appellation Of devout, suggests
no other character, but that OF sour,
recluse bigot, who delights 10 censure.--
But the reproach is unjust; for such a
spirit is entirely opposite TO the nature Of
true devotion. The very first traces it
imprints on the mind, are candor and hu-
mility. Its principles are liberal. Its
genius is nnassuming and mild. Severe
only TO itself, itmakes every allowance TO
others which humanity can suggest. 1t
claims no privilege Of looking into their
hearts or ofdeciding with respect TO their
eternal state. If your supposed devotion
produce contrary effects; if il infuse
harshness into your sentiments, and acri-
mony into your speech, you may conclude,
that under serious appearance, carnal
passions Turk. Aud il ever it shall so far
lift you up with self.conceit, as TO make
you establish your own opinions as an in-
falIible standard for the whole christian
world, and lead you to consign to perdi-
ton, all who differ from you, either 10
some doctrinal tenets, or 10 the mode Of
expressing them i; you may rest assured
that TO much pride you have Joined much
ignorance Of both the nature of devotion,
and Of the gospel Of Christ"