Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-14

long disguised 1t, was exhlbIted TO the
world in all its grandeur and purity, u
hitting The attributes of infinite power,
wisdom and goodness, the characters Of
first creating cause, and of an overrul-
| ing Providence, that watches constantly
over his creatures with paternal afec-
ton. The Gospel explained to us the
deep mystery of our nature and destiny.
and revealed to US the transitory char
acter Of the present life, and the sub
Unity of our origin and future pros
poets. 1t gave to US perfect code of
morals, which ssnctifes all the social
ties, purities the natural affections, con-
soles and supports US in adversely, re-
wards us for every saci lfce, and inspires
the most complete and generous forget
fulness of self. The Gospel represents
the Divinity under the form of kind
and heavenly father, and commands us
to worship him in spirit and in truth.
II strengthens and sanctiies the notion
of moral duty, by connecting it with re-
ligious feeling, and with the hopes and
fears of future retribution. 1t breathes
into the heart of each individual ana
into the common frame Of society, the
new and living principle oflove to God
and man. Distracted with agonizing
doubts, and crushed to the earth with
a load of sorrows, the human race re-
ceiyed with transport the revelation of
this divine doctrine, which satisfied all
their wishes, removed all uncertainties,
and opened to the virtuous and the
wretched the most encouraging pros
poets. How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet Of those that bring good
tidings. Such system carried as it
we're in its effects internal evidence of
its heavenly origin. There was also
this distinct and peculiar blessing in the
Christian dispensation, that it was not
an exclusive gift, confined in its distri-
button to select few, but addressed it.
self freely and equally to all. In its ma
ture, it was common privilege, as
large and general as the air. 1t even
looked with sort of Partially upon
the poor and the humble. took by the
hand such persons as the world had a.
bandoned, visited the most obscure
dwellings, and caressed little children
with peculiar fondness. The mytho-
logical allegories of the pagans were
probably intended as vehicles of sublime
truth; but they were only communicate
ed to Il few, and as "A profound mystery.
Their philosophers had arrived by med
itation at the knowledge of many sound
doctrines in theology and morals; but
these we're still the subjects of grave
dispute among the deepest thinkers:
and could not be understood by the
mass of mankind. This forgotten and
neglected mass, nevertheless, covers
the face of the world, performs all the
labor, and endures all the sufferings
and it was the precise object of Crist-
ianity to raise the character, and i'm
prove the condition of this portion OF
society. 1t debased the proud and ex-
allied the humble; and it viewed all
men, of whatever condition or country,
as one great family of brothers.
"Such, in its primitive beauty, was
the theory Of our religion, and we see
it realised in the early practice of the
church. The first Christians were few
in number, and under the influence Of
firm faith, which with them had over.
come the prejudlces of education, and
all interested motives. They we're
penetrated with the true spirit of their
religion, and rose above the terrors o
persecution, danger, and death itself
How admirable is their conduct, as des
cribed i'll the Acts of the Apostles, ant
the writings of the Fathers, They helc
every thing in common, had but one
heart and soul, were full Of zeal in do
ing good, and patient in suffering evil
perfect patterns of kindness, generosity
and courage, real sages without know
ing 1t, and they outdid in their humble
walks of life the sublime virtues, which
we admire in the conduct of the great
est and best men,"