Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-06

question the manners, temper, OF Chris
iian principles OF Mr.. Adams. But 10 a
request made within few months, by a
CHRISTIAN Society, for permission to pub
fish these letters, Mr.. Adams has given
refusal. When they can BIZ published,
without any suspicion OF the motives for
publication, we have no doubt they will
be given to the world, and will add
another iilustrious testimony oil great
ness to the truth of our religion. AL
though these letters have never been
printed, many manuscript copies Of them
I have got abroad, and hundreds have read
them, and they have been introduced in
i TO private schools. And we trust, when
the purpose for which we quote them,
to defend MIR. Adams against a most
cruel attack, is considered, we shall not
be charged with piracy, in making few
extracts from them.
! Our quotations viii be to two points
Mr. A ans ohiaion of he Bible, and .he
religion it inculcates-and his opinion
of the operation and government of the
hassions.
"In your letter of the 10th Of January,
to your mother, you mention, that you
| read to your aunt chapter in the bible,
or section from DR.. Doddridge, every
evening. This information gave me
great pleasure; for SO strong is my We
ner'ttion for'ihe bible, SO strong my be-
lief that when daily read and medilsted
upon, it Is of all books in the world, that
viii contributes to make men good,
wise and happy; that the earlier my
children begin to read it, and The mere
steadily they pursue the practice of read
ing it throughout their lives, the more
confident will be my hopes that they vii
prove useful citizens to their country,
respectable members of society, and
real blessing to their parents" ladvisc
you, my son, in whatsoever you read,
and most OF al! IN reading the bible, TO
remember that it is for the purpose Of
making you wiser, and more vrtuons.
have for myself, for many years made
it practice to read through the bible
once every year; have always endea-
vored TO read it with the same spiri, and
temper Of mind which now recommend
10 you; that is, with the intention and
desire that it might contribute to my adj
vancement in wisdom and virtue nv
desire is indeed very imrergec,.y sue
eessiul; for TIE yoo, and the Apostle
po~l5 4 fin'l law IN my members war;
ring against the law of my mind. But
as know il is my nature to be imoer-
feet, so know that it is my duiy 10 atm
at perfection, and feeling and deplorIng
my own trailiies, can only pray Al
mighty God for The aid of his Spirit 10
strengthen my good desires, and subduc
my propensities 10 evil for it is rom hin.
that every good and perfect gift descend
eth.--My custom is 10 read four'or five
chapters from the bible every morning,
Immediately after rising from bed; i,
employs about an hour of my Ting, and
seems the most suitable manner Of be-
ginning the day." Every time | rea
lie bible, understand sonc passa ~.
which | never understood belorc."--
=" Heaven has given to every human be.
ing the power Of controlling his psssons
IL
his own, and he must be accountable for
II" 1t IS essential, my son, in order
that you may go through, life with com
Tort to yourself, and usefulness to your
leiiow-crcatnrcs, that you should form
and adop, certain rules and principlcs
for the government of your conduct AMI
temper; unless you have such rules and
principles, there will be nufnberiess &C.
casions in which you will have 10 guide
lory your government, but your passions
II is in the bible you mus, learn these
rules and principles"
Speaking of those parts of the Scrip
lures that appear mysterious, he SAYS
F" All this is undoubtedly marvellous and
above our comprehension; much of
is clearly ignralive and allegoricai, nor
is it easy to distinguish what part OF it is
to be understood in literal, and wha, in
symbollcal sense--but that which il
imports us to understand is plain. The
great and essential principles upon which
our duties and enjoyments depend, are
involved in no obscurity -. When one
of the personages in one of Terence's
comedies, the first time uttered the line,
Homo sum, ct humani a me nil alienum
puto," an universal shout of app ause
burst from The whole audience, and that
in so great multitude of Romans and
OF Deputies from the nations their sub
jects and allies, there was not one indi-
vidual but felt in his heart the power of
This noble sen iment. Yet how feeble
and defective is Il, in comparison with
the christian commands Of charity, as