American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-08-20

be open infdels' or drunkards' Whatever plan
or religious works have tendency to lead to fals
estima,e and Judgment of the true nature anddu,ie
Iof religion; to crafty the pride and scflshness
lunregenerate men by the inducements held out Il
IJoln IN them or to SOW throughout the union III,
oaneul SEEDS OF clerical domination, must be charge
able in no small degree with moral poLlufion.-
And what Is the tendency-what is the absolute eff
iect OF the plausible schemes now going forward
1t not to deceive people into belief that religion
is IN very fourlshng condition--that Christianity is
making rapid progress in the world When in fact
1t we Judge from the conduct ofregious professors
we shall be constrained to admit, notwithstanding
the Strangers opinion that the church never was
in more prosperous condition than at present that
generally speaking, there seldom has been period
when real vital religion was at a lower ebb. Many
exterior religious duties, or what are so denomna.
ted, are indeed performed. There is much preach.
ing, much praying and talk about religion, but how
little discover of the fruits of the Spirit how
little humility how little of that genuine love which
was to be the badge of Chrst's followers; how little
self-denal and bearing the cross how little of the
meekness and simplicity Of the gospel If we enter
their places of worship, pride, land
all the fashions and beauties OF the world are, alas
too commonly visible in both preachers and hearers
and furnish striking contrast to every idea of the
sacred object for which they profess to have met.
1t is not surprising that who has travelled in
the land of Education Societies. who has received
his invoice of notions either in the original package
or secondhanded, from Ne,o- England, should be so
taken with the 'pomp and circumstance of these
popular works, as to think highly of the state of re
! gon. In this way thousands, am persuaded, are
ldeceiving themselves They think religion is in a
ourshing condition, because they view it as consis
ting in multitude of exterior works, while the life
and power of it is little felt or perceived. Thus
darkness is put for light and bitter for SWEET
Form is substituted for poacer and religious &C
tvity for genuine piety-Every thing now is to be
done by money. Thousands on thousands are to be
collected and expended in the erection and support
Iof Theological Seminaries and for paying mission
aries to carry what they call the gospel to the heath
ems. And what are the motives which are held
out as inducements TO engage in this enterprise
Such as every christian should blush to mention.
ministers the probability of getting good salaries
with little difficulty When the springs are once
opened say Mills and Schermerhorn, they will
always run Only get the people in the habit of
giving, and they will continue to appropriate for all
sacred purposes ~ The rich are promised the
qualification OF having Their names perpetuated as
the endowors oil professorshps and Scholarships
| y To professional m, of eminent requirements
and abilities, interest alone is deemed sufficient
| to engage them zeaiously in behalf Of Theolog.
al Summaries. Their tastes and feelings, their
intellectual superiority. the learning and elegance
with which the subjects Of their respective pursuits
are usually adorned dsincne them TO attend either
With pleasure or benefit to the discourses of those
|unprepared by proper course OF study (S) To
the different sects the fear oil losing their honour.
able standing'is powerful inducement. without
the utmost exertlons, say one society,", we shall lose
the honorable station we have hitherto maintained
Men of refinement and cultivation, will seek among
ra1--
improvement which own will be unable 10 afford.
(s) To sum up the whole. All who engage in these
enterprises, whether it be by hoeing corn, pla nting
potatoes, gathering rags wearing coarse shoes or
no shoes, certain OF the supreme qualification OF
having their WorEs, and, If they will only give
enough, their names too, trumpeted from Georgia
to Maine.
Does Stranger see in all this no moral pollu-
ton no unworthy object! no unworthy means in
accomplishing an object? What greater proof of
the moral pollution Of any societies can be conceived,
than the offer of such inducements to enlist in their
cause Religion is thus converted into tool for the
advancement of secular interests. 1t is made a
means to excite the basestand worst dispostons-h
pride, ambition and vain glory of the human heart
1t is turned into mere pastime, something to graf
ify the tastes and feelings of worldly minded men.
Surely, with great truth did the apostle say that
the time would come when men would no longer
endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears,
acoud heap to themselves teachers, after their oon
tssts or desires. And of what possible use can The
illogical Seminaries be, but to heap up such teach
ers will please itching ears and crafty tastes
and feelings? They neither can confer divine
rail- nor any one of the qualifications Of true
gospel minister. The distribution of these, God
who will not give his glory to another,' has ever
reserved exclusively to himself. And that no flesh
should glory in his presence he has declared & the
wisdom Of this world to be foolishness.
As it relates therefore, to the business of an evan.
gelist, these institutions chargeable with total
imbecitity. AS for the Strangers iarrago, in
which he attempts their justification, can find in