Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-12-10
.aoraI alto 2seI(glosls.
RELIGION.

RELIGION.
Religion has planted itself, in all the
purity of its image and suficiency of its
strength, at the threshold of human mis-
cry; andls empowered to recall the wan
ddrers from their pilgrimage of wo, and
direct them in the path of heaven. 1t
has difused a sacred joy in the abodes Of
poverty and wretchedness; it has illu-
Minated the dungeon of the captive; il
has effaced the wrinkles from the brow
of care-shed a CLEAN of sacred and
tranquil joy in the chamber of death.
gladdened the countenance of the dying
with triumphant enthusiasm, and diffus-
ed throughout the earth, faint foretaste
of the blessings of futnri,y. 1t is as be-
nign as the light of heaven, and compre-
hensive as its span. And II is in the sky
OF the Oh ristian, it qulckens persever-
ance with the promises of rcward-re-
animates the dropping spirit--invigor-
ates the decrepitude of age-and directs
with prophetic ken, to the regions Of
eternal feE lefty. Like the sun, it gilds
every object with its rays, without being
diminished IN its lustre, or shorn Of its
power.
On the 10ase Of L;fe.-In the last vol
ume of DR. FrankIin's Memoirs, is the
following artisle on The waste of Life
We are persuaded its perusal must pro-
duce wholesome reflection in the minds
even Of the most dissoInte -.
"Amergus was a gentleman of good
estate; he was Ared to TO business, and
could net contrive how to waste bis hours
agreeahly be bad no relish for the
proper works OF life, nor any taste fol-
the improvements of the mind ne spent
generally ten hours of the four-and-
twenty in bed. He dozed away two or
three more On ais couch, and as many
more we're dissolved in good liz, or eve
ry evening, if he met with company cf
his own humour. Thus he made a shift
to wear off ten years of his life since 'he
paternal estate Tell into bis hands. One
evening, as he was moslug alone, his
thoughts happened to take a most unu-
slal turn, for they cast a glance hack
ward, and he began to reflect on his man
yer Of life. He bethought 10 himself
what o nnm5er of beings have been made
. sacrifice of 10 support bis carcase, and
! how much corn and vine had been min
gled with these offerings; and he set
himself to compute what he had devour-
ed since he came TO the age of man.
| "'About a dozen feathercd creatures.
small and great, have one week with a.
nother, said he, given up their lives
to prolong mine; which, in ten years,
amounts to at least six thousand. Fifty
sheep have been sacrificed in a year,
with half a hecatomb of black cattle, that
| might have the choicest parts offered
weekly upon my table. Thus u thou
sand beasts, out of the fi>ck and herd,
have been slain in ten years time to feed
me, besides what the forest has supplied
me with. Many hundreds of fishes have.
III ga tLiCh EdliSiCNs DcCu loDDCu Vi lie.
for my repast--and of the smallest fry
some thousands A measure Of corn
would hardly suffice me with fine flour
for a months provision, and this arise:
TO above sig score bushels; and many
hogsheads of wine, and other liquors
have passed through this body Of NINE
this wretched strainerof meat and drink
And what have done, all this time, fol
God or man? What vast profusion O.
good things upon use!cssli life and worth
less liver! There is not the meanes
creature among all those which have
devoured, but what hath answered thr
end Gifts creation better than |. il wa!
made to support human nature, and i
hath done so. Every crab and oyster
have eat, and every grain OF corn | have
deyoured, hath filled up its place in The
rank of beings with more propriety thar
| have done. Oh shameful waste O.
life and time .
+" In short, he carried on HE moral re
Elections with so just and severe force
Of reason, as constrained him TO change
his whole course of!lfe, 10 break off hi.
foIlies at once, and to apply himself tt
gain some useful knowledge, when he
was more than thirty years of age. lie
lived many following years with the char
acter of worthy man and an excelIen
Christian. He died With peaceful con
science, and the tears Of his country
were dropped upon his tomb. The
world, that knew the whole series of hi:
life, were amazed at the mighty change
they beheld him as q wonder Of reform.
alton, while he himself confessed and
dored the divine power and mercy thai
had transformed him from a brute to a
/