Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-11-30
indeed have been callous. Such men a

| OF brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and
| friends, must be destitute of the finer
feelings of our nature.
was particularly pleased with SER
| mon on the following TEXT That zvouid
il hroft man if he acre TO gain The
gvhole world and lose his oyn SOFT The
soul was commented on at larry e-and
the sermon was such as could not fail to
| harrow up the feelings, awaken the in
lellects, and instruct all present. | heard
some complain of their feelings being
100 much wrought upon. But surely
these men cannot think to be born heirs
of Heaven without the pains Of birth.
| Preachers should speak the truth, and
that not as though il were doubtful, or
cowardly; but as openly as the Bible
publishes it. Truth is often painful, it
has no degrees. Truth is truth, never
raising higher or sinking lower. We
have often heard OF orators who plead the
cause of justice to the CONSERVATION OF
the villanous; but never does the
power seem to have been attrlbnt-
ed to Clay, Henry, Cicero or Curran,
to infuse into their hearers, sentiments
that made their countenances more e.o-
quent in the cause righteousness, than
the deepest pa,hos. Such were the looks
of men animated in The cause of our Sa-
viour. One Of the old divines spoke so
winningly Of the effects of the gospel,
that tn most obdurale deist would have
been coerced 10 hank bis God that be
lived in land OF Gospel Grace. Were
it no, for the unfaith.u!ness OF memory,
would give you the sermon. Parts oil
it l retain, which (begging pardon of its
author for the injustice feel | shall do
lO were as follows
Religion is not only calculated to
give to the rich proper mind to ENJOY
prosperity; but it makes the poor rich
in hopes of rewards hereafter enjoying
in swee, contentment their humble por-
ton. Her task is not to e I'd the high
born soul; but to robe in virtuous peace
alike, those who WELD the affairs OF en-
pre- and their lowliest subjects. 10 give
to the orphan father, and make the WI
dow smile in placid obedience to the
will OF Heaven. To stop the inroads OF
vice and paths of corruption to the heart |
To take from the fraudulent trader the
mantle Of deceit, and clothe hiH in the
garb of honesty. To unlock the mlser's |
chest and relieve the needy. To guide |
the frail vessels of earthly life, into the |
pure channel Of heavenly love and resig-
nation, that smoothly pours into the
sormless ocean of eternal bliss. On her
bosom, those who have los, their sublu-
nary prop, may recline in certain secu-
rity. Do we see her tract through the
earth by trail of human blood No
but by viewing a bright galaxy of human
honor and lnprovement-Mercy, JOS
tice, Truth and Wisdom, have in her
march irradialed the night of human mi
sery. He who would, through lust, have
violated female chastity, is made It's
strong defender. Al her approach the
assassin drops the nerveless arm, and
the man is strong in virtue. He who
a month since would blaspheme the God
Of quick and dead-at whose horrid oalbs
devils Of the deepmos, hell, deep rolling
On pillows Of flaming wrath, writing in
tormen,s, made all the yawning gulphs I
OF damnaion resound lond echoes OF their |
peals OF laughter, which burst from their I
parched lungs with growing flame, is
now SO purified by the Holy Ghost, that
angels, charmed by the honeyed sounds,
viewlcss to mortal eyes, hover around in
b!ss!ul ex,acy to drink The s,reamy me- |
lody, which, sprinBing from the Holy !
Spirit, ponrs grateful, joyful, uadetled /
yard ro,er, who, drowned in the famcs
Of the intoxicating bowl, has often, when |
yelled and iistless nature sought quiet |
invisorsting slombers-when she, in |
youth the Boosted partner of his soul, had |
for moment sunk into forgetfulness OF
snaerings that hourly rive her heart, en-
tered his home with brutal ferocity, and |
drown his tender bleeding spouse and I
hildren from his abitation-unshieltled !
from the piercing blast of winter, TO moan
her heart-rendlng lamentations to the pi-
1icss winds-whilst naked. cropping in
darkness, they seek protection oil neigh
Dor. O hear me /. this midnight revel-
Ter, and almost assassin, having en-
braced the christian religion, no longer
otfends God, nature, or man-but having |
drank Of the Holy Spirit, becomes an
ornament to society, grace to religion,
and protector TO his family. Alike
when the golden sun beighlens the cas-
tern and western horizon, he is found in
the midst Of his family, uniting his with
their thrice happy peaceful voices, to
sound Hosannas to his God. Eyewitness
es to these facts now surround me, who