Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-08-20

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be wiser, carefully 10 trace, in all their
remote bearings upon the prosperity of
his country, The influence of the Reli-
eious Tract, the Sabbath School, the
Scriptures, and the preaching of the
cross. But this wisdom, il would seem,
the Holy Ghos, alone can teach; and
blessed be God, that, though il may be
hid from the wise and prudent Of this
world, he has in mercy revealed it to
those who would 81, at his feet and learn
of him.
| There are actually millions in our
country, exceedingly destitute of the
means OF religious knowledge, TO whom
the, Tract System offers, a, present, al
most our only medium of success. Do
you ask where those millions are Fix
you eye on the mouth OF the Mississippi,
and let your imagination visit all that
vast country, waiered, as is said, by its
fifteen hundred tributaries, two hundred
oil which ore larger and longer than the
Connecticut or the Hudson, and twelve
OF which have an average length of three
thousand miles.
What means all that extensive terri
tory on which we linger with admiration
when we look on map of the United
States, and over which towns and vii.
lagos are springing up with rapiiiIy
that e!udes our utmost vigilance 10
! mark
And where are the preachers to carry
10 these mul'itudes the tidings o: the
Gospel? "ln eleven adjoining countless"
says an Intelligent correspondent, at the
West, exceeding fertile, and contain
ing population ct eighty thousand, there
are very few preachers Of the Gospel OF
any description. There is not Sunday
School; not Missionary, Or Education,
or Tract Society, in all these counties.
Yet" he says, ",here are many profess
sors OF religion, who, it the institutions
OF the Gospel were introduced to them,
would give them a cordial support"
The hands OF those professors OF reli-
gion, Brethren, let Us fill with Religious
Tracts; SO attractive in their appear
ance as to gain the attention of all, es-
pecIaily the young; SO striking and en-
'ertalnlng, that when the eye has cansh,
the first paragraph, the reader will be
unconsclousiy allured to the end; SO
plain and Ineligible that none can mis-.
understand them ; so puDgent that no
reader viii fail to feel that he is sinner
SO evangelical, that no one who feels he
is a sinner shall no, be, by every Tract,
pointed to the Lamb of God who TAX
eth away the sin Of the world" The
most favored State in the Union will tell
YOU OF its waste places, and many States
can scarcely show you the sprc OF
single church. But through all these
vast portions of our country Gpd has his
children scattered, and mourning over
the desc lations Of Zion by which they
are surrounded. Send them, then, Re-
ligious Tracts. Let the friends OF Reli-
gious Tract Societies increase their ex.
ertions, ill there shall not be christian,
within all our boundaries, who shall no,
know where is the sear of their opera
,ions, and shall not depend on them for
frequent and regular supplies--till not a
canal shall be opened, that shall not be
found carrying these publications on lis
bosom; and not road be made, but to
give them access to the families of every
village and neighborhood which it shal
pass through. And what would this be
but simply to apply the ART OF PRINT
ING to its Legitimate and proper use
Was this consummate art invented to
promote the interests of science, and
learning. and the arts. and the nolitical
and social interests Of men, bus to do
nothing for their eternal interests! Ra-
Their will not Providence make ell the
light which the Press has difiused, and
the influence it has exerted, an auxiliary
to the spreading Of The knowledge Of
Saviour
Brethren, with all the facilities we now
enjoy, there ought not to be benighted
soul in our country, to whom the follow
ers Of Christ have not energy and zeal
enough 10 impart SO small spiritual
blessing as Religious Tract!
Suppose the Apostle Paul were now
standing among US, with all the holy
zeal Tor his blessed Master which car.
ried him through stripes, and imprison
men,, and peril /; how would his soul be
stirred within him at the prospect and
the means Of usefulness which so pow.
erfully invite US to effort Some one
may perhaps say, it was Paui's method
to breach the Gospel. He did not at
tempt to convert men to Christ by cir
cula,ing Bibles and Tracts. He went
! onJ az. ;,.J ,h.,x, -, ,>orccn ,pd uifh The