Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-10-06

come Habits OF morality are not principles o.
religion. We may thank God that we are moi
as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adul-
| terers, or even as this miserable company OF
tTa9sgressors who are brought to condign pun
| ishment before ls, and sent to expiate their
guilt in the dismal penitentiary; and we may
furthermore givetithes of all we possess, and,
after all, have n, justification in the sight Of
God, and "go OWN to hell with a great deal
OF wisdom" ano external goodness. There
may be those. "lui juris nodos ct legum a.
nigmata solvat"-who 6 understand all mys.
teries and all knowledge - and who are con-
sidered the Denosthenes and Cicero of the
age, who yet will at last be found to be moth
a'g, not having in experimental acquaintance
with the "truthas it is in Jesus" While con-
siderable has ben said at our interviews on
polenalcGI Theology, and some doctrines have
been denounced with much acrimony and re-
proach, we are Oncerned to find how little
solicitude there appears in these controvert-
lists, each to liv up to the standard of his
oicl crede11da, and to be practically areligious
person according to his 0ICn creed and sense
OF divine requirement. &c 1t appears to me,
says one, an ungacious, if not difficult task,
to account for tie unwillingness that men of
learning discoVelto the avowal ofany religion
though at the sane time, am happy to grant,
that many may fleet a reluctance upon this
head, which hey do not secretly possess;
that which is dinifed and pure seems to be
naturally congnial with the INFLUENCES of
learning and wisdom. Religion nave snewn
TO be dignified and pure; Religion, one would
think, would BE therefore universally accept
ed and openlyssknowledged by those who are
alive to the Influences of learning and wis
dom; but apFehend the truth to be, that
there is in the World very small number of
deeply learned and truly wise men, We
may deceire, AMI be deceived. There is Sc
robustness whidhis not the seriousness of relig-
ion. 1t is moi mfrequent that men, intent on
their business q immersed in study, exhibit
saturnine cas1,f character, which passes for
Religious sobr$y and heavenly contemplation.
But the truth $, there is no piety or lowell
ness in this APPARENT gravity of mind. Zone
thing is lacking, one thing is still needful.''
Hear!-Religbl is wanting for the guide & ter
minus Of study and pursuit and how INDECENT
and orlorn he, who has great possessions
| and rumerotsterrestrial endearments, but no
treasure in Haven The piOus man, whether
he lives in sIrtuous or corrupt age-under
wicked or fghteous rulers-under Despot !
or King private or public life, is the
happy man ind he it is, and he alone, who
can meet vih equanimity the sudden. and
calanitous rWerses of fortune, and feel COM
posei and leigned under all the crosses and
berevemers of life. What dignity does it
give to The luman character to be adorned |
witt the exellencies of pious sentiment and
immaculate department.. Alive or dead, virtue
covers her blowers with an impervious shield,
and make them more invulnerable than
Achilles. With such armour, what safety
will attendus, and what adversely can harm
us And tile we are anxiously engaged in !
serving OF clients, let us not, like Cardinal
WOlsey, fcget to serve our God.
OBSERVATION.