The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-07
From the Me,c-HarmoN Gazette.
LETTER I.
addressed 10 conscientious Clergyman ofMe Es-
taJlishea Church Of Engiond

.fddrtSsed 10 CONSCIENTIOUS Clergyman OF the Is
taJlished Church Of Engtond
have asked myself several times what effect
the preliminary letter addressed to you was like
ly to produce on your mind. Will my opinions,
i said to myself, be listened to without prepos-
session, and judged of without prejudice NO."
said Experience, ''do not deceive yourself; the
ideas of a lifetime are not changed by letter,
however true and logical it may be. The mind
clings to long believed opinion as to an old
friend whose truth and justice it is painful TO
doubt" True, said |, it does
My dear friend, | wish this were not so; for
your own sake wish it. But it cannot bel
know your sincere desire to discover truth; yet
vii expect of you is, that you will listen to inc,
if you can, without impatience, and not pro-
nounce final judgment on the mattcr---if you
can help it'll you have heard me out, and till
you have asked yourself in a moment of dispas-
sonatc reflection: is it not a possible case that
the established church may be in error, and that
this man may reason correctly
Ipray you, give your best attention TO what |
am going to say to you. Do not overlook it be-
cause it is simple, nor despise if it appear almost
self-eyident, nor think the less Of it, though you
may already have read similar opinions and al
ready condemned them as untrue and injurious.
Great general facts, when clearly stated and CON
cisely explained, often appear simple, and some
times ef-evitlent:--and the most valuable truths
may be expressed by an Individual, and then,
because the world does net understand him,
they may be overlooked or disregarded forge
or ages after his death.
Endeavor then to dvest your mind of all such
considerations, and to form your Judgment on the
merits of the case itself.
Man, in common probably with all other ami
mated beings is born with the desire fhqppiness,
and retains that desire through life, from the first
consciousness of existence till his reason forsakes
him.
The sun shines and we know it: yet the fact
admits of no other proofthan an appeal, individ-
uay, to the evidence of our senses Neither
does the great general truth have Just express
ed, admit of any other. And truly it requires
none.
Let me ask yourself: Can you, by any effort
Of your will, desire to seek after misciyl Ha.
there been one moment of your life at which yor
could say with truth: do not wish for happiness
of any kind, personal or social, present or fu
turel know that there has not, and moment
reflection will convince you that am right
We are agreed then that man, so long as he re
tains consciousness of existence, retains dcsir,
of happiness
Now, one step further Does man erer desir
AMI THrse ELSE but happiness? This is an i'm
portant question--lct us examine it closely.
The objects of desire are innumerable. Spar
tan mothers desired, sincerely and ardently, tina
in case of defeat, their sons might never re
turn, but might fall in battle, (all their wound
in front) so that their friends need not blush fo
them after their death. What British mother e
yer desired a similar fate for her sons, or return
ed thanks to Heaven, after defeat that they die
not return Spartan mother considered that
desirable event which British mother re cards a
the greatest misfortune.
Objects desire, then, are not so in themselves
they are not priced jor their o,cn sake. else al
sentient beings would equally desire the same oil
ects. 1t is the prospect happiness they are belle
we'd to contain, or(which is tae same the prospec
Of escape from misery they appear to hold OIL,
which renders them desirable objects Let TIL,
prospect be changed, so that we erpect no happi
ness or relief in the attainment of the object be
fore Us, and from fha. moment It CEASES 10 un