Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-07-30

mSleaQ OF Jesus thirst. | he same may
be SAID by the moralizins society, Tor
there is not devil among Us, but what
knows that the christian world has nei-
ther precept nor example In that old
master piece, tor any such society sepa-
rate and distinct from the church OF
Christ in their authority, yet bearing the
title or name of the church. You know
father that something like this was our
plan, when we succeeded IN establishing
our kingdom, the popisb empire, which
gave us power TO make such haVock
among The saints, 10 change customs
and times, while we robbed the church
oil her gospel ordinances, and establish
ed our OVID, made the church national
and its religion natural instead oil splriln-
al, and gave the keys into the hands of
the popes and priests. Your views ia
Their ol good man, alw4 D. hunting new
ways and plans 10 become useful, differ
very much from mine, for these are the
very men have pusied mp with so much
pride, self Conceit and inhibition, CLOSED
over with very great zeal, TO lead the
mind, OF the people from Christ, the on
by new and living way, and please them
with novelties, and ways suited to their
own carnal nature. Now father | think
you must say that | have GO, what is
no" called he religion Of Christ, suited
in The names and by the rn les of these
societies, 10 almost every mans taste,
and row think, that instead of doing
what we can against those societies, we
should still go on 10 encourage them as
arranged, for asltbai is wanting in my
view, TO complete oar point is TO bring
about . combination of those societies,
among the various sects in America,
then think We can do something in go
vernment, for I've shall have q great
weight of both money and power, and
this is all we want, for the spirit is in
some y! those societies, which is evident
by the attempts already made in govern
ment twill give you s',ort plain de-
ccripion OF some of our preachers,
which have the appearance of the mini.
sters of righteousness, some Of them
have passed through the seminary OF
learning, in which time they have learn
ed great deal OF the customs and nature
of the human family, their minds are
much set on tuItion, studying divinity,
and learning 10 preach methodically, and
how TO please their congregation, for
they know nothing else, and therefore
have no other guide. | must now OBJ
serve, tina, although | have succeeded
in some tew cases, yet il is one of th1
hard things, to get a man that the Lord
has called 10 the ministry to attend Sc
minary OF learning, for some how the
Lurd with the call, is sure to teach them
that their help is in their God, and that
1he wisdom OF the world is their enemy
bu, when our preachers leaves their
school, beng entirely destitute OF the
humbling qualities of grace and real
call to the minis ~, therefore blind and
ignorant as to the wisdom that is pure,
sbey are selt-conceited, thinking tha,
sbey know more than almost any body
else, very forward in alinos, every thing
.hat is civil, and particularly when the
goats are to be MIXED, | mem public
collections to be made from, the world
for religious purposes, they are very
zealous, and seem as il they can suit The
feeling OF alnIos, every man, and almost
every way 10 raise money seems to sui
them, they will complain much Of pri
va,lons, and talk much OF what the Lord
is doing; yet watch them close, and you
will find they settle the honors on them
selves, or the institutions formed to suit
their plans; and notwithstanding what is
called the little unlearned preacher is
doing much more against our kingdom
than they themselves, yet they will look
a, and speak of such with kind OF con-
,empt, and when such little preachers
stand opposed to these plans oil ours,
which is almost sure to be the case
Ihave laugh, our preachers TO hold out
the idea, that all such are opposed 20 the
spread of the gospel and increase OF
Christ's kingdom, and have got some
hardy enough to tell in some places
where it will sui BEST that such preach
crs have sunk and lost their influence, IN
consequence of such opposition, they
are fond OF a grea name and gay compa
ny, and their acts and deeds to be spread
abroad, they are very liberal in throwing
in for the supper, Of those societies, Gas
well as urging the necessity Of their
forma,ion,) but their object is 10 encoY-
rage others, and are pretty sure to have
i. SO fixed, that in the reaction OF those
contributions to get full share them
selves, il they have power to carry their