Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-12-21
NNAiGiDUS.
From the Illinois Intelligencer..

from inc lluiolS lntel.lTSiCCr.
Or. Nathan Pollard, Edifor ofthe Fa-
miiy HiSitor, Riakmona, Virginfa.
SIN From the title of your paper /
was induced to subscribe for il, with the
sxpecta,i3n of my family receiving hene-
fl from il, My attention being other
wise drawn, caused me to pay buI little at
tention 10 your paper-still recommend
ing them to my family, IS they appear
ed connected with the subject OF religion !;
bui at length | began TO discover thai
was guilty of practising fraud on my
family in so doing. And now, sir, |
feel it my duty to caution you against
leading heads Of families into such
gross errors, (hoping you will consider
their accountability to the Divine Being
for heir conduc, with their iamilles) by
bringing 10 your con %eralion some few
Of The errors of your paper. Your pa
per, SIR, has very inviting title; and al
the first view seems to be full Of the inn
portdnt matters Of religion, dressed in
fine pleasant language, calculated to
rouse the affections OF the tender-hearted
SAINTS, aud to make them forget that par
ticular caution OF their blessed Saviour,
when his disciples inquired alter the
signs of the latter day; stake heed,
(said hey that no man deceive you," &c
Bur when we consider this caution, and
reflect on the signs of the times, aud
view the spirit of your paper, we find il
full of philosophy, and enticing words
OF mems wisdom that lie in wait to de-
ceive. And, SIT, this is one OF your err
rors, and an awful one it is. Although
you seem as though you belong to nei-
tber side of the question, yet you seem
willing TO print only one side Of the
Mission subject, while you well know
this. is a controverted point; and as
well know that ialsehood is imposed on
the public from that source: and, sir,
you are the man that offered TO impose
some Of those errors on my family, and
prepare their youthful minds to receive
and give credit to all The lying wonders
that Pope or mother of harlots might
think proper TO impose on them. Sir,
refusing or ncgIecting to inform the pub
lie of both sides of conlroveted pom,
OF the matters Of religion, is principle
Of popery; and the way to exalt Pope
establish priestcrafl; lead people estray
make division among the saints and fl
nally terminate in an awful persecution
Of the Church of Christ. Sir, have
been at loss to know what tribe you
are OF, until got your paper OF August
"a then, sir, began 10 suspect you for
an Ishmaeite, or at best part, Ashdad,
that speaks half of each tongue, and can
not speak the Jewish language. Sir, if
you be either of these, come out from
behind the curtain like a man, and own
your name; and then perhaps you will
be at no loss to know what these move
ments, hints, phillppics, and squibs,
mean, that you talk about; for the ar,il-
lery of heaven is leyelled against the
workers ofiniquity; and the phlals OF the
wrath OF God IS preparing 10 be poured
out upon all them that have the mark Of
the beas and the sword Of the Lord and
OF Gideon is ready to Stay the enemies
OF God. Sir, you seem TO give us some
consolation in showing us way to get
rid of those men, trained up, or taught by
men, to preach, inssmuch as the heather
will receive Them. 1t is true. these
cnunterleits may be imposed on their ig-
norance, and perhaps number OF our
Americans, whose religion is founded
on the wisdom of the world, may be
pleased with these men of their own
grade but, sir, the saints OF God know
better, and instead Of being angry, they
pity the ignorance of those men that are
Boosting of wisdom, and rejoicing in tn.
the works OF their own hands there is
no saint but knows that true religion is
the immediate gift Of God; and no man
that is called to the gospel field, but is
taught of his spirit; that the ability of
the ministry is of God, and not of man.
And, sir, If you are saint, you know /
speak the truth. And If God has COM
mitted dispensa.ion Of his gospel to
your charge, you are bound to acknow.
ledge the fact; but if God has never call
ed and qualified you to preach his gos-
pei; or if you have not passed from
death unto life-you manifest your ig-
norance and folly in meding in the mat
tiers Of religion, in the way you do; and
in particular when you talk about train
ing up preachers, equalto that OF child
cayilling about mathematics, when he
is unacqnsin'ed with the alphabet. Sir,
when yoo talk about men teaching and
sending ou. well taught preachers, in the