The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-06-23
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For che Alexander, He

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| For rhe Alexandria Herald.
Mr.. Editor-The enclosed Sery inte-
resting communication to yQr Christian
readers, selected from thu Columbian
Star, paper published in Washington.
The state of religion which ianimadver.
ted upon is equally applic,le to both
sides of the Potomack, dout MOTTO ma
ny sections of our country. 1 beg you
will confer on an old friendhe favor of
an insertion of it in your papr. S.
"Depend upon ii, cold, dry, dOcfrial preaching
as not calculated TO draken dnets
Mr.. EpIToR-1hc intelli ene in a
late number of the Star, from, C,lpeper
county, Virginia, is truly cheetin, and
sh ould cause Christians in this Ditrict 10
be grateful, that the Lord will ddyn to
visit place within one hundred niles of
us. From the almost universal Stupidity
which prevails here, one NIGH safely
Judge that God has withdrawn the inslu-
ences OF His Spirit, and we are left to
hardness OF heart and blindness of mind.
The gloom and darkness which hover
over us, are rendered ten times more
palPable by the light that glimmers in
every direction round our borders. The
causes OF This death of religion are too
well known to need enumeration.
The Sabbath day is not hallowed a.
mong us Though the people generally
abstain from their labors, yet the day is
not sanctihed and kept holy, even by pro.
lessons of religion themselves. On tha,
day, any thing and every thing but what
should be, are the topics OF conversation.
ii'Sre 40 'rore N-'i, sAau, Hinien Edwo--l-
or gen. Jackson, than about Jesus Christ;
and II is te be feared that most Of our
Christians do more, even on the Sabbath,
TO raise their favori,e candidate y the
presidential chair, than TO elevate the
character, or circulate the knowledge of
their Redeemer' Our monthly concert
OF prayer is SO conducted as 10 destroy
most ofthe interest in the needing, and
is so t5inly attended as to discourage
those who are disposed to kee, it alive
even IN name. Professors aresadly con
formed to the world, initiating its fash.
IONS, ambitious of Its applause, and let
ting down their standard of pr;clice SO as
10 suit the caprices of the worldly min.
ded. There are, indeed, q few who
pray tor the peace and enlargement of
Jerusalem who ar disinterestediy en-.
gagged in diffusing evangelical religion.
But who are they! Alas : that the name
OF that Saviour on whose blood We are
dependent for salvation, should be so
blasPhemed and put TO open shame in
the metropolis Of our country, and no, a
SINGLE barrier raised by the lovers Of
truth TO prevent this food of bereticai
lniquiy from overwhelming the surround
ing region. When such lethargy OPP
poses the church, it is almost in vain TO
sound the alarm. Whoever undertakes
! 20 disturb her repose, and awaken her
from the bed OF sloth, may expect cen.
| sures, and 10 be branded with the terms,
fanaticism, 9uixotism, folly. D, for some
Jeremiah, some Ezekiel, soma Paui,U no
would not fear the face Of cIay,nor dread
| 10 declare the whole counsel Of God.--
We need some one whose preaching
could not be pronounced 'cold, dry, doc
trinal,' or speculative but who, COM
ing in the power and demonstration OF
the Spirit, should convince all that he had
thought Of heaven and Of he'll, and OF
them before he entered the pulpit, and
who should show in every act of his life
that he believed souls to be valu ole, and
that he was appointed by Heaven 10
watch for souls as one that must give &C.
count. In accounts oTrevivals,we learned
what kind Of preaching God is pleased to
bless-plain, pungeDt, sincere addresse:
to the conscience. Speculative discour-
SEES rarely affect the heart Those who
understand them may have their GaDcies
gTalihed, and at the same time congratu
late themselves that conscience is uDdis'
turbed, while the msiority find the whole
an excellent anodyne to lay both soul sDd
body asleep, and produce complete o
blivion of all their SORROWS. Had the
praying Christian no other source Of CON
ISOLATION and support, his soul would soor
pine away and die.
| How long shall Christians in the Dis
trict OF Columbia continue in their pre-
sen, state Not long, for, unless theJ
soon start from their slumbers, and a
wake to action, the chains Of sloth will bt
more 6Tmly Tiyettsd on their souls. Solo