The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-04-03


penitent, though chief of sinners.
Lest the repeated asseverations that
I'VE are a highly favoured people, dis
tinguishingly exalted in point of Privi-
leges," shall be considered words of
course, unmeaning, or at best suggested,
and heard without deep conviction of
the important truth-it becomes us fire.
quently to inquire into the condition of
our fellow-men, and to compare other
nations with our own.
Ignorance and delusion, infidelity and
organism. now pervade that populous
and fertile part ofthe earth, where man
first inhaled the breath Of life, and became
bring soal-where the being of God
was first made known, and his glorious
attributes revealed-where the moral
law was first proclaimed by God himself
amidst flames of 6re-where the babe
o. Bethlehem, the despised Nazarene,
the meek and lowly Emmanuel, the inf
nitely compassionate Saviour, the Gre
ator and Judge of the world, first pub
lIshed the mysterious plan of mans re-
demption.
That quarter of the globe which
stands unrivalled in civilization and re-
finement, literature aud science, is over
spread with diversified shades of relig-
ious intolerance, bigotry, and supersli-
ton. The barbarous inquisition, pro-
fame indulgences, vapid rites, and iIlibe-
raj tests, still defle this reyered land of
our fathers.
The wretched inhabitants of the be-
nighted regions of Africa present wide
waste of moral Experimentation
civilization, without the lowest rudi-
ments of education, and without the
knowledge of our Saviour. In some
parts of the world the civil arm is rails
ed to support the most absurd doctrines
and profane worship; and in the most
civilized governments, religion, or that
which bears the sacred name, is made,
in greater or less degree, subservient
to the temporal power How vastly
preferable the condition of the people
of these United States how striking
the contrast land how ought we to
mourn for the desolation. that sin has
caused in the world, and sympathize
with the oppressed Christian! While
we are now witnessing, and compassion
ating the strivings, perils, suferings and
massacres of few faithful disciples Of
the cross, whose lot is cast in the terri
tories of Mahometan delusion and domi-
nation-while the Macedonian cry is
sounding from the regions of darkness
and the habitaiions of cruelty, we are
blessed with the light of the gospel
the oracles of revealed truth-the mes
senger of peace and salvation-the en-
hghtened administration of the word of
life, and the unrestrained enjoyment of
the Christian religion and worship. On
the charter of our rights are engraved
the principles of religious liberty; that
sacred structure which constitutes the
rampant of orr civil immunities, encircles
the inalienable rights of conscience
Let us, then, faithfully inquire what has
been our Improvement of these precious
privileges ?-praise God for their enjoy
ment; humble ourselves before him,
and mourn, for that in our lives we have
habitualiy disregarded them. Let us
cherish lively remembrance of the in
estmahle value of our free government,
and lmplore the continued blessings of
Heaven upon our nation-upon all who
are called to administer IN places of au-
thority, and upon all the inhabitants of
our land. Let US pray that the Chief
Magistrate ofthe Union may be literally
supplied with that wisdom which is from
above. and his station adorned with the
true dignity ofa practical, humble Chris
tian-that those who compose the coun-
Gil of the patton may devote all their
faculties to the advancement of the pub
lick good-tbat no demagogue may sue
coed IN desuding the people, and no
sycoPhaat enabled TO betray their rights
that the pillars of our republick may
not be frittered with Jealousy, nor rent
with factlon-that we may enjoy free
and friendly intercourse with otherna-
tlons-that our commerce may not be
depressed by unreasonable restrictions
abroad, or Liberal regulations at home
that the progress Of our infant manu-
iactures may be accelerated by the fos-
tering hand of government, and the lure
OF temporary gain not mistaken for the
permanent interests Of the country
Let US fervently supplicate divine ia
yours upon our own State. and all its in